This Week’s Finds

IN THIS EDITION OF MY CULINARY OFFERINGS

September is here and you know what that means – Fall has arrived. Love all things fall in the kitchen: soups, stews, hot bread and muffins right from the oven, some homemade jam and lots of comfort food.

Retailers are gearing up for their biggest season, so they often use the fall to promote some of their best sellers at discount prices to get early shoppers. I’ve been digging for weeks and have come up with some great items to share with you. Take a look.

Several of the items on my holiday “have to have” list went on sale last week. The LeCreuset Gravy Boat is on sale (Save $10.50) and their mini apple tart dishes (set of two) went on sale, saving you almost $20.

Don’t forget to get your mini pumpkin cocottes before Thanksgiving. Nothing is more beautiful than serving your pumpkin, butternut squash or sweet potato soup in these festive dishes. I’ve had mine for years and I look forward to pulling them out every year. They are on sale (SAVE $10).

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Head on over to Staub for some of the biggest sales I’ve seen this year. Items I shared last month have DROPPED in price again. If you didn’t grab them in August, look again. They have their cast iron 7 qt. round cocotte pot on sale for 27% off list price (a $120 savings). 6% LOWER THAN LAST MONTH. They also have their cast iron, 11-inch deep skillet on sale with a $70 discount and if you grab their 3- piece ceramic rectangular baking dishes, you’ll save another $70. Perfect for Nanny’s Stuffing and my Sweet Potato Souffle with Crunchy Streusel Topping.

I found several great ideas for affordable gifts this holiday season. They are unique and fun too. I love this Farm-to-Couch Artisanal Popcorn Kit and the Mini Heart Shaped Waffle maker arrived at my house a couple of weeks ago…Look for fun recipes soon. The Kissing Mug set is adorable and perfect as a housewarming gift or engagement gift.

The 24 Days of Tea Advent Calendar is perfect for the tea lover in your life and I love these flavored Cocktail Bombs. They add a little glitter to your cocktails too. Great for the holidays.

Are you a fan of MacKenzie-Childs? They have some of the most unique and delicious items in their kitchen and lifestyle store. Their quality and originality is unmatched and when they have a sale, it is always worth taking a look. Their large Patchwork Pumpkin is on sale (SAVE $109) and if you want something unique for your home, this might just be it.

Be sure to get the items you need for preparing and cooking those big holiday meals too. Buy quality and you’ll only buy once in your lifetime. You’ll need a Turkey Roasting Pan and it is on sale. Don’t forget a fabulous carving knife and fork set to easily carve that roast turkey. You’ll need a platter for the turkey (The turkey platter I recommended in August is already sold out!) and this one will work year-round. The Gibson Fruitful White Platter is a classic.

Gearing up for Thanksgiving? Check out some of the classic tabletop items I found at Sur La Table and Bloomingdales. The brown rattan placemats are on sale for under $10. The fluted acacia wood napkin rings go perfectly with the placemats and the linen napkin set – buy one get one 50% off. If you want something that leaves no doubt it is Thanksgiving, the printed linen pumpkin napkins are great.

You can’t miss with a solid linen tablecloth from Sur La Table. Or if you are looking to match your whole Thanksgiving look with tablecloths, runners, napkins and placemats, the Autumn Heritage Turkey print might be for you.

Amazon has a couple of items on sale that every baker should have and with the prices under $10, you need to go grab them. The Piping Set is a must for the holiday season and the Fall Cookie Cutter set has everything you need for now through Thanksgiving cookies.

For under $20, grab the seven-piece Silicone Bake Set and your muffins and cakes will never stick again. I love these Cupcake Boxes that hold 12 of your own creations. Box your cupcakes and gift to neighbors and friends. Add a big red bow, and you are good to go.

Let’s not forget about setting the table. It is what makes the holiday special…those extra touches. I’m a huge fan of the basic white plate. It makes the food “pop” on the plate and can be used year-round for all occasions. Change the linens and you can go from a summer brunch to a formal holiday dinner in a flash. This stunning Forest Leaf collection from Michael Aram is perfect for fall and will work on your Thanksgiving table. The collection is on my wish list.

I’m totally into the gold/white combination on a dinner table and this gold flatware set by Kate Spade caught my eye. I also love the simplicity of these glasses and the gold napkin rings too.