Give a new homeowner (or first-time apartment dweller) a fun and truly useful gift: A bouquet of six quality kitchen tools, arranged in a white vase! Five cooking tools include black nonstick extra-large spatula, a mixing spoon, and stirring/tasting spoon. Premium locking metal tongs and basting brush are capable of withstanding heat to 500F degrees. And don’t forget the scrub brush for cleaning up afterward. Ceramic tool crock (also works as a flower vase!) is 7.5” tall.

(Order five or more and receive a discount; just contact us and ask! This gift can also be customized for a special event.)

Decorations may vary slightly from photo. Do you need a special ribbon color? Let us know.

Lovely purple and black olives with green leaves on teal-blue kitchen towel, with purple patterned accent band. (Click on photo to view full image.)

18″ x 26″ / machine wash and dry / 100% cotton

The perfect complement to our Oil & Bread Serving Board!

Opulent red pomegranates and green leaves dance on a lime-green background. Bordered on one edge with red and orange floral pattern. (Click on photo to view full image.)

18″ x 26″ / machine wash and dry / 100% cotton

The perfect complement to our Oil & Bread Serving Board!

Our Contrast Band Towel Trio will bring a fresh note to any kitchen decor. Contrasting bands of color at both ends. A lovely trio of kitchen work-horses! (Click on photo to view full images.)

18″ x 26″ / machine wash and dry / 100% cotton

Only want one towel? Click here for the Red, Yellow, or Green Contrast Band Kitchen Towels.

Three vibrant waffle-weave towels are guaranteed to brighten any kitchen. Delightfully absorbent and deep rich colors have complementary matching stripes. (Click on photo to view full images.)

18″ x 26″ / machine wash and dry / 100% cotton

Only want one towel? Click here for the Red, Blue, and/or Purple Striped Kitchen Towels.

Admit it. You’ve ransacked your kitchen cupboards for a last-minute hostess gift, desperately hoping that you aren’t about to regift something back to the person who gave it to you in the first place. Or maybe you’ve found yourself at 11 p.m. standing under the fluorescent lights at your local drugstore, wondering what the heck you can buy for a Mother’s Day gift. Would she like a box of cake mix? A padlock? How about dishtowels? Nothing says, “Thanks for giving birth to me, Mom!” quite like a three-pack of festive dishtowels.

We’ve all experienced epic failures in our gift-giving adventures, whether we gave a gift that was somehow inappropriate—or gave no gift at all. Most gift-giving “malfunctions” can be traced back to one cause: a failure to plan ahead. Does this mean we must become uber-organized Martha-types with an entire room devoted to gift wrap and ribbons? No, because we mere mortals do not have time for such nonsense.

Fortunately, there is help! The nice folks at Mouse & Fork Gifts offer great gift-giving advice and ideas, as well as fun commentary on all things related to the Art of Giving The Right Thing. Spend a little time today thinking through your gift-giving dilemmas, and you’ll be prepared for any future challenges.

10)  Waiting Until Panic-Time to Begin Shopping. Yes, sometimes we’re caught unprepared to give a last-minute gift, but it’s more likely we just procrastinated until our back is against the wall. This is exactly what the maker of “Big Mouth Billy Bass” (the mechanical fish that sings “Don’t Worry, Be Happy) is counting on.

Solution: First, make a list of five acceptable gifts for this particular recipient. Then go shopping—in that order.

9)  Giving Candy or Generic Décor Crap. Nothing says, “I put exactly one minute of thought into this gift for you” like a box of ordinary treats you bought at the grocery store. It’s a great way to make someone feel very unloved.

Solution: If you want to give treats or décor items, make it personal. Buy the best, and better yet, buy something local and handmade.

8)  Thinking The Gift Is About You. You may think it’s about you—your fabulous taste in gifts, your ability to spend wads of cash, or your skill for inventive gift-wrapping. A truly awesome gift has nothing to do with these things; it’s all about the recipient.

Solution: Pay attention! Listen to the things they talk about, see the way they dress or personalize their office, and ask about their current challenges and accomplishments. Then ask yourself, “What is a truly useful or appreciated gift for this person?”

7)  Giving Naked Gift Cards. Everybody likes gift cards—that’s why they’re so popular. However, they can fall into that trap of “I gave this exactly one minute of thought…” unless you make a small effort to give that card a little pizzazz.

Solution: If you give a lot of gift cards, invest in a box of nice greeting cards and a bottle of rubber cement. The cards should be small, attractive, and blank so you can add your own short note of appreciation. Use a dab of rubber cement to attach the gift card (and your business card, if you like). The difference in how this gift feels to the recipient is amazing.

6)  Giving A Naked Gift. Similar to number 7, above. You may think gift wrapping is a waste of time, money, etc. but presentation makes a big difference. A gift seems twice as special when there’s a moment of anticipation before seeing what’s in the box, bag, etc. Attractive gift wrapping also implies a higher level of thoughtfulness on your part.

Solution: Gift bags are incredibly useful—they store easily and can be instantly ready for action. Buy a variety of colorful gift bags, and remember to buy a package of matching tissue paper at the same time. And if you give a lot of wine, buy a lot of wine bags.

5)  Inappropriate Gifts. Unless you really, really know the recipient, avoid any gift that references sex, politics, potty humor, or religion, especially in the workplace. Try to be aware of important food restrictions (such as vegetarianism, keeping kosher/halal, no gluten, etc.).

Solution: Pay attention! (See number 8, above.)

4)  Failure to Think of a Signature Gift. This one tip may change your life. Are you insanely busy? Do you have a talent or obsession for a particular hobby (for example, gardening, cooking, listening to bluegrass music, origami)? Does your business have a unique product or service?

Solution: Take some time RIGHT NOW to think of a gift you can give in most situations that reflects some aspect of your personality or interests. This gift should be useful, easy to make or purchase, and easily stockpiled.

3)  Failure to Calendar Major Events. Procrastination and ignorance are no excuse when the same events happen every year at the same time! This includes holidays, birthdays and other life events, plus some impending events like a new baby or a new house.

Solution: Get all your truly important birthdays and anniversaries on your calendar, and arrange early reminders if necessary! Find out when the baby is due or when escrow closes on the new house, and get it on the calendar. For major American holidays, go to http://www.usa.gov/citizens/holidays.shtml or http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_holidays_in_the_United_States.

2)  Failure to Give A Necessary Gift. If you’re an independent businessperson (such as an insurance agent, chiropractor, or a building contractor), gift giving will set you far ahead of your competition. Think of the truly important clients and colleagues in your life and decide how you want to acknowledge their major events.

Solution: The gift need not be expensive or complicated; a simple expression of your gratitude for friendship, business, and referrals will get the message across. At its core, gift giving is truly about building relationships with friends, family, and colleagues.

And the last major gift-giving mistake:

1) Thinking You Have To Find That One “Perfect” Gift. There is no such thing as a perfect gift; there’s only the gift you give (or receive) in this moment. The heartfelt attitude with which you give or receive a gift determines its perfection!

Solution: Put the gift recipient foremost in your thoughts. Think about what they value, the major events currently occurring in their life, or what brings them joy. Then put yourself in their shoes and ask yourself, what would be most useful or appreciated here? Then go find it!

Brought to you by Mouse & Fork Gifts, your source of gift-giving advice, Top 10 lists, monthly holiday calendars, and snarky commentary. Please drop by for a visit and say howdy:

www.MouseAndFork.com
www.facebook.com/mouseandfork

There’s ALWAYS a reason to celebrate!

Tisa Watts © 2012

The East Bay Gourmet Gift Basket is loaded with treats made right here in Oakland and the nearby San Francisco Bay Area! This basket includes Virginia’s “Live a Little” Mango-Lime dressing/marinade, Strawberry-Balsamic Jam from Company Jam, and a box of Numi Tea. Wild Rosemary Almonds from Oren’s Nuts and Krave’s Sweet Chipotle Beef Jerky provide a savory contrast, and local artisan chocolates complete this collection of delicious treats. See why the folks who live in Oakland/Berkeley call it a “Foodie Paradise.”

A great gift to give – or to keep for yourself!

Note: In warmer months, we reserve the right to substitute a more heat-stable sweet item for the chocolates.

This alderwood board is the perfect stage for serving fine cheese, bread, olives, and delicious condiments.
9 x 13-inch sustainably-harvested alder wood board manufactured in Oregon.
Ceramic bowl feature elegant hand-painted olive motif in black and green.

Makes a FABULOUS gift for birthdays, holidays, celebrations and housewarming/hostess occasions.

Decorative kitchen towels also available on this website! Look under “Textiles & Aprons.”

It’s always correct to respond to a BBQ or summer party invitation with “what can I bring?” Make sure the host remembers your thoughtfulness long after you — and the tequila — are gone with one of these gifts. Also see below for low-cost and free gift ideas!

Big Bob Gibson’s BBQ Book: Recipes and Secrets from a Legendary Barbecue Joint From dry rubs to glazes and from sauces to slathers, you’ll get the lowdown on Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q’s award-winning seasonings and combinations. You’ll learn the unique flavors of different woods and you’ll get insider tips on creating the right heat—be it in a charcoal grill, home oven, or backyard ground pit. Then, get the scoop on pulled pork, smoked beef brisket, pit-fired poultry, and, of course, ribs.

Yard games such as croquet, horseshoes, or badminton  Bring back summer sports EVERYONE can play, even the gravity-challenged among us.

Mouse & Fork Ultimate BBQ Gift Set  Our BBQ Gift Set has the tools and apparel to take your pitmaster skills to a higher level! This is the Gift Set true barbeque aficionados really want. Good times and great food await you, so get busy and get Q-ing!

Giant bucket of pina colada cocktail mix!  Just mix, freeze and lower the anchor; it’s time for the captain of this ship to relax and say aloha! Each Cocktail Rx Piña Colada freezer makes 16 delicious frozen cocktails that turn any occasion into a memorable one. Shakers are dishwasher safe and fully recyclable.

Mouse & Fork Cheese Board Gift Set  Our fantastic gift set includes a 10″ sq. Bamboo Cutting Board, 3-Piece Cheese Knife Set, 3″ Owl Salt-and-Pepper Shakers, 3 Waffle Weave Kitchen Towels, and The Cheese Course Book by Janet Fletcher.

Festive “Flames of Deliciousness” apron and mitt  This apron and matching pot mitt is sure to turn up the heat. Red, orange, and yellow flames on a black background. 100% cotton apron with adjustable neck strap and side ties. Matching oven mitt! Perfect protection for men and women in the kitchen, bbq grill, or while fighting wildfires.

Coleman 9949-750 Road Trip Grill  This barbeque grill sets up and tears down in seconds! It’s the perfect camping trip grill (or tailgate grill) when you want to cook for a crew! Has a fold-up stand with wheels that collapses down to a convenient pack-away size.

ThermoWorks Original Cooking Thermometer and Timer This is a huge kitchen favorite in commercial and home kitchens as well as industrial and lab use. Buy several for the kitchen, the BBQ, the RV, the vacation home or as gifts for friends. Extremely easy to set. Digital display of food temperature, alarm temperature and countdown timer; set the temp and alarm will ring when done. Set any alarm temperature between 32 F and 392 F. Rated #1 by Cook’s Illustrated!

Candle lantern or outdoor light set  Aaaah, candle light!

Donkey Pinata!  Because nothing says “summer fun” like whacking the candy out of a paper donkey with a stick!

 FREE or LOW-COST GIFT IDEAS

If you’ve got some talent in the kitchen, offer to bring something homemade: BBQ sauce/rub, salsa, jam, pickles, lemon pie, or fudge sauce for ice cream. Prized handwritten recipes on note cards make thoughtful, last-minute gifts. And the ultimate free gift? Offer to loan them your croquet set or hey—if you’re not on great terms­—challenge them to a game of old-fashioned lawn darts.

Plan B: The website Goodies For Gifts features links to great companies from across the country that make the most fabulous foods! They offer lots of desserts but also condiments, sauces, salsas, jams, pickles, and even pet treats. The best part? You can find regional favorites like Key Lime Bundt Cake and fresh Maine Lobster. (Disclaimer: I get nothing but your appreciation for this recommendation! I just love promoting small local businesses on a national scale.)

Note: You can link directly to Mouse & Fork on Amazon for more gift ideas HERE.

All content herein is created solely for the “Mouse & Fork Tales” blog. If you find something on this blog that you’d like to repost, please have the courtesy to link back to MouseAndFork.com. Thanks!

 Shawn McAndrew is a freelance writer and editor living in El Cerrito, CA. Like many of us, Shawn has tried her hand in a variety of job environments, from project management/print buyer for a large biotech company to her own one-person business today. Contact her at lcastle101@comcast.net or (510) 527-1103.

What are some of the corporate business gifts you’ve received over the years?

The biotech company I worked for made testing and analysis devices for scientific applications. For example, they created the testing equipment for “mad cow disease.” We advertised our products in a trade magazine that became very generous around the Christmas holidays. One year, they gave us nice leather portfolio with a pad of paper inside. Another year, they gave each of us a crystal decanter (wine decanter ) from Tiffany’s that I still have today. They had a tiered system of rewards based on how much money we spent on advertising, so some years we got better gifts than others.

 At another company, we received expensive umbrella —but with a giant corporate logo on it. Well, I only used it when it was raining out! Cookies and candy baskets were common in many offices. Technically, we’re not supposed to get gifts but it happens. Cookies are not enough to “buy” our business, especially when sealed bids are required by the accounting department. They were more to show us appreciation after a project was finished.

What kinds of gifts have you received from smaller businesses?

Over the past few years I’ve worked for a freelance graphics designer. One Christmas, he gave me an assortment of teas in a wooden box. Another year, he gave me a bunch of nice pens and writing tablets. Maybe he just raided his office supply cabinet, but I liked those pens. They were a nice quality and very usable. He’s a thoughtful guy to work for.

What’s your advice to business owners who want to give gifts?

 Appreciation means a lot. It can be a small gesture, but employees especially want to know that their work matters to you. Don’t give something too “over the top” or too extravagant to your clients because it comes off as insincere. You need to earn their business through other channels, not by “buying” it.

RESOURCES

This interview is one in a series about gift giving for business owners, clients, and employees. Do you have an interesting gift-giving story to tell? Contact us at info@mouseandfork.com , and if you’re story is chosen, we’ll feature you (and your company) in an upcoming article!

AUGUST CELEBRATIONS
brought to you by MouseAndFork.com
There’s ALWAYS a reason to celebrate!

Is this a great nation or what? How many other countries celebrate catfish, cataracts, and going topless all in the same month? Only the United States, thank you very much. “Win With Civility” while you enjoy ripe peaches and Hot August Nights.

Birthstone: Jade, Peridot 
Flower:  Gladiolus
Astrological Signs: Leo (July 23 – August 22) and Virgo (August 23 – September 22)

MONTH-LONG CELEBRATIONS:

National Peach Month: Tisa’s “Trust Me” Peach-Blackberry Pie Recipe 

National Watermelon Month

National Catfish Month           

How Rude! Manners Book

Win with Civility Month     

American Artists Appreciation Month

Black Business Month

Children’s Good Manners Month           

Cataract Awareness Month

Happiness Happens Month

National Goat Cheese Month

DAY OBSERVANCES:

Aug 1 – Woman Astronomers Day 

Aug 2 – Dinosaurs Day  dinosaur kit

Aug 3 – National Watermelon Day

Aug 4 – National Chocolate Chip Day* (according to National Confectioners Association)

Aug 5 – Friendship Day AND International Beer Day

Aug 6 – National Gossip Day

Aug 7 – National Night Out (always the first Tuesday in August)

Aug 8 – Happiness Happens Day

Aug 9 – Smokey Bear’s Birthday (debuted in 1944

Aug 10 – S’mores Day*

Aug 11 – National Garage Sale Day (second Saturday in August) 

Aug 12 – Eleanor Roosevelt Day 

Aug 13 – Left-Handers’ Day

Aug 14 – Senior Citizens Day  

Aug 15 – Assumption Day

Aug 16 – Roller Coaster Day (patent issued in 1898)

Aug 17 – National Thrift Store Day

Aug 18 – Bad Poetry Day  

Aug 19 – National Aviation Day

Aug 19 – Eid ul-Fitr (After observing an austere schedule during Ramadan [the Islamic holy month of fasting], Eid-ul-Fitr is welcomed as an occasion full of celebration, food, and fun.)

Aug 20 – National Radio Day

Aug 21 – Christopher Robin’s Birthday  pooh-related stuff

Aug 22 – National Gymnastics Day AND Southern Hemisphere Hoodie-Hoo Day (A special day for our Australian friends who’ve been waiting for their long winter to end. At 12 noon, remind them to go outside and yell “Hoodie-Hoo,” to chase away the winter blues and welcome spring.)

Aug 23 – Valentino Day

Aug 24 – National Punctuation Day AND National Waffle Day

Aug 25 – Kiss and Make-up Day

Aug 26 – Women’s Equality Day AND Go Topless Day

Aug 27 – “The Duchess” Who Wasn’t Day (celebrates the life of Margaret Wolfe Hungerford, a novelist who always wrote as The Duchess – also the name of her most popular novel.)

Aug 28 – Dream Day

Aug 29 – Mary Poppins Day (1964) 

Aug 30 – National Toasted Marshmallow Day*

Aug 31 – Sesame Street’s Herry Monster’s Birthday

Hot August Nights: (http://www.hotaugustnights.net/) The Reno-Sparks Event will begins on Tuesday, August 7th with show-n-shines, cruising and entertainment and concludes on Sunday, August 12th after our parade of cars. (The South Lake Tahoe Experience will precede the Reno-Sparks event and be held from August 3rd – 5th, 2012.) The 2012 entertainment lineup includes The Village People, Herman’s Hermits, and MORE.

International Assistance Dog Week (Aug. 5-11, 2012)

National Farmers Market Week (Aug. 5-11, 2012) Find a local market here

Paralympic Games (Aug. 29 – Sept. 9, London)

The first full weekend in August each year, Twinsburg, Ohio, celebrates Twins Days.

AUGUST was named after Julius Caesar’s grandnephew, Augustus, who defeated Marc Antony and Cleopatra and became emperor of Rome.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: MOST of these special days and month-long observances have been verified and yet—because the Interwebs are known to contain mistakes—a few may be of questionable provenance. Use your own best judgment, keep an open mind, and remember: There’s never a bad reason to celebrate!

Mouse & Fork
Your source for great gift-giving suggestions and snarky commentary!

www.MouseAndFork.com

[August 2012]

Rebecca Amato is the owner and principal architect at Amato Architecture in Oakland, CA. She specializes in residential, commercial, and restaurant design with a focus on green building principles. She’s been in business since 2001. 

Tell me about your business gift-giving philosophy.

I think it’s important to give something special at the end of a design project, after the client has moved into the space. I want to see how I can enrich their new environment with accessories, after the construction is complete. For a new home addition, it might be a nice vase to put on the mantelpiece. A unique plant in an interesting and colorful planter is great for a new commercial space or possibly a restaurant. I might bring over a bottle of wine or champagne to celebrate the completion of a new outdoor deck.

I like to acknowledge that the project is complete and to fill those empty spots with objects of beauty and style. It’s important to realize what’s appropriate to the architectural style of a home, and to notice what the owners care about. Residential design in particular means I’m intimately involved with their daily lives and then can give gifts that are appropriate. Do they enjoy cooking, or do they spend a lot of time on an outside patio? Sometimes I’ll designate a place to display objects and artwork during the redesign, which helps the homeowners thinking about the process of making their new home beautiful.

Restaurant clients are harder to gift because you can’t “give” something to a restaurant. Many times I’ve given the owner a gift certificate for a massage because I know [he or she] is stressed out! I use the Platinum Rule instead of the Golden Rule: Give them what they want, which isn’t always the same as what I might want. Treat others to the gift they would most appreciate.

What’s been your experience with holiday gift giving?

Some of my favorite gifts in the past have been from a former neighbor, a local glass artist, Jess Wainer (www.jesswainer.com) who created these beautiful glass ornaments. Some of my clients don’t celebrate Christmas or they might not have a tree to hang ornaments on, but these ornaments are unique enough to hang year-round.

After a project is complete, I still stay in touch with clients each year and may not send a gift, but will send a holiday card to let them know I am still thinking about them. I like the cards from the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. They’re expensive but it ties into the beauty and quality of my profession. I get a lot of new business after New Year’s because my clients appreciate my gifts and often refer me to friends and family.

Describe your working relationship with the glass artist, Jess Wainer

Jess is wonderful to work with. When I realized what an amazing, versatile artist she is, I worked with her and we designed a bud vase that I give many of my clients. It’s now a regular item for sale on her website.  Jess includes a postcard with each piece that describes the process of making them and what makes that glass piece a special, one-of-a-kind gift, which is wonderful to include in each gift bag I give my clients. Her pieces are also available through SF MOMA and Gump’s.

Any gift suggestions or recommendations for other business owners?

Make your gifts personal and reflective of your company philosophy. Select something that will last and be unique enough so that when your client looks at the gift, it reminds them of you! I’ve used two companies in the past: RedEnvelope.com and Vivaterra.com. I love the simplicity and presentation of the red box and white ribbon from RedEnvelope. They offer corporate-type gifts but with a personal touch. Vivaterra.com specializes in gifts made from recycled and reclaimed materials. This appeals to my environmentally and socially conscious clients. They might sell candlestick holders made from branches, or succulents planted in a bamboo box. Once again, it ties back into the “green” orientation of Amato Architecture! 

RESOURCES

Amato Architecture: (510) 420-0210 www.amatoarchitecture.com

Jess Wainer: (401) 952-1388 www.jesswainer.com
Jess Wainer is a glass artist based out of Oakland, California. She designs and creates one-of-a-kind, hand-blown, functional glass flower vases, serving bowls and lighting. Jess’s unique illustrations transform the surface of her artists’ cards, T-shirts, ceramic sculptures and glass vessels.

CranioSacral Therapy and Massage: (408) 605-8280 www.jenhilgert.com
Jen combines CranioSacral Therapy and Swedish massage to provide a peaceful and relaxing experience with a gentle, nurturing touch. The perfect blissful escape from the stresses of life. (Located in North Berkeley)

This interview is one in a series about gift giving for business owners, clients, and employees. Do YOU have an interesting gift-giving store to tell? Contact us at info@mouseandfork.com, and if your story is chosen, we’ll feature you (and your company) in an upcoming article!

www.MouseAndFork.com

JULY CELEBRATIONS brought to you by MouseAndFork.com
There’s ALWAYS a reason to celebrate!

While it’s no big surprise that July is National Grilling Month, did you know it’s also National Social Wellness Month AND you can celebrate Daiquiri Day (19th), Tequila Day (24th) and/or Scotch Whiskey Day (27th). Now you have four MORE reasons to throw a great summer BBQ and invite a few friends over! Here are a few more holidays (with links) to inspire your summer get-togethers — as if YOU need a reason to celebrate.  

Birthstone: Ruby (symbolizes contentment)
Flowers: Larkspur, Water Lily
Astrological Signs: Cancer (June 21 - July 22) and Leo (July 23 - August 22

MONTH-LONG CELEBRATIONS:

National Ice Cream Month

National Hot Dog Month (Be sure to take the Hot Dog Pop Culture Trivia Quiz and read up on Choking Prevention in Children.)

National Baked Bean Month (Best enjoyed outdoors.)

National Pickle Month

National Grilling Month

July Belongs to Berries Month

Hitchhiking Month

Anti-Boredom Month (Get out of the house, already!)

National Social Wellness Month

National Freedom from Fear of Speaking Month           

DAY OBSERVANCES:

• July 1 – National Gingersnap Day / Build a Scarecrow Day

• July 2 – National Anisette Day

• July 3 – National Chocolate Wafer Day / Eat Beans Day

• July 4 – National Barbecued Spareribs Day/ Independence Day

• July 5 – Graham Cracker Day

• July 6 – National Fried Chicken Day / Take Your Webmaster to Lunch Day

• July 7 – Macaroni Day

• July 7 – Ice Cream Cone Day

• July 8 – National Milk Chocolate with Almonds Day

• July 9 – National Sugar Cookie Day

• July 10 – National Pina Colada Day / Teddy Bear Picnic Day / Don’t Step on a Bee Day

• July 11 – Vegetarian Food Day / Cheer up the Lonely Day / All American Pet Photo Day

• July 12 – National Pecan Pie Day / International Puzzle Day / Eat Your Jello Day (Bill Cosby’s Birthday)

• July 13 – Embrace Your Geekiness Day / Gruntled Workers Day

• July 14 – National Grand Marnier Day / Bastille Day / Pick Blueberries Day / Tape Measure Day

• July 15 – Gummi Worm Day / Be a Dork Day / Woodie Wagon Day

• July 16 – National Corn Fritters Day / Fresh Spinach Day / International Juggling Day

• July 17 – National Peach Ice Cream Day / National Get Out of the Doghouse Day / Wrong Way Day

• July 18 – National Caviar Day  / Sidewalk Frying Day

• July 19 – National Daiquiri Day / Flitch Day, The Holiday

• July 20 – Fortune Cookie  Day / Ugly Truck Contest

• July 21 – National Junk Food Day / Cousins Day / National Tug-o-War Contest Day

• July 22 – National Penuche Fudge Day / Pied Piper of Hamelin Day / Parent’s Day

• July 23 – National Hot Dog Day / Mosquito Day / Gorgeous Grandma Day

• July 24 – National Tequila Day

• July 25 – Ice Cream Cone Introduced (1904 St. Louis World’s Fair)

• July 26 - All or Nothing Day / Take Your Houseplants for a Walk Day / Walk on Stilts Day

• July 27 – Scotch Whiskey Day/ National Sleepy Head Day (Coincidence? We think not.)

• July 28 – National Day of the Cowboy

• July 29 – National Lasagna Day / National Lipstick Day  (A match made in hell?)

• July 29 – Cheese Sacrifice Purchase Day 

• July 30 – National Cheesecake Day

• July 31 – Jump for Jelly Beans Day

JULY was named for Julius Caesar in 46 BCE, when he reformed the Roman calendar and renamed the month after himself. If he wasn’t already dead, he could party all month long.

In the Northern hemisphere: “Dog days” begin in early July, when the hot sultry weather of summer usually starts.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: MOST of these special days and month-long observances have been verified and yet—because the Interwebs are known to contain mistakes—a few may be of questionable provenance. Use your own best judgment, keep an open mind, and remember: There’s never a bad reason to celebrate!

Mouse & Fork
Your source for gift giving suggestions, commentary, and snarky observations.

www.MouseAndFork.com

 [July 2012]

In honor of National Ice Cream Month and the reviving American economy, here are some gift suggestions for the ice cream lover in your life. Or heck, buy yourself something sweet, Sweetie!

Note: You can link directly to Mouse & Fork on Amazon for more gift ideas HERE.

Cuisinart ICE-21 Frozen Yogurt-Ice Cream & Sorbet Maker, White. ($59.95)  Rated 4-1/2 stars (out of 5) by over 500 buyers on Amazon. If you’ve never had homemade ice cream, prepare to be STUNNED by its awesomeness.  If you can imagine a flavor, you can make it! This Cuisinart dream-come-true comes in 6 color options.

OXO Good Grips Solid Stainless Steel Ice Cream Scoop. ($14.99)  Stop ruining your good soup spoons and buy a decent ice cream scoop, already. Also makes an inexpensive add-on for a combo gift with the bowls and spoons, below.

Colorful Porcelain Polka Dot Ice Cream Bowls, set of 4. ($24.99)  I don’t care how old you are, polka dots mean only one thing: frivolity. And nothing goes better with ice cream than frivolity. And polka dots. These bowls are the epitome of … well, you know.

WMF Manaos / Bistro Ice Cream Spoon, Set of 4. ($13.99)  Admit it, you want these long spoons because they’re useful for so many things: getting the last of the ice cream out of a tall glass, stirring iced tea, flinging small vegetables across the dinner table at your companion’s head. Tell the truth.

Ice Cream Cone Holder and Cake Stand. ( $39.45)  I actually have one of these and it’s incredibly useful! In addition to holding ice cream cones, it comes with a tempered glass top to showcases cakes and other desserts, a cheese course, appetizers, and party food you want to raise above the tabletop. A versatile kitchen workhorse.

Ben & Jerry’s Homemade Ice Cream & Dessert Book. ($9.95)  This is my kind of cookbook: “With little skill, surprisingly few ingredients, and even the most unsophisticated of ice-cream makers, you can make the scrumptious ice creams that have made Ben & Jerry’s an American legend.”

Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams Jeni’s Picks Collection (Pack of 9). ($90.00)  Voted the best American ice cream by, well, everybody: The Food Network, Saveur Magazine, Dean & Deluca, and even my brother-in-law Darin who lives in Columbus, OH (where Jeni began making ice cream). Flavors include Black Coffee; Brown Butter Almond Brittle; Cherry Lambic Sorbet; Dark Chocolate; Lemon & Blueberries Yogurt; Pistachio & Honey; Salty Caramel; Ugandan Vanilla Bean; Wildberry Lavender.

If you’re on a diet, you can buy Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams Hats Off Collection (Pack of 4): ($50.00)  Ugandan Vanilla Bean; Goat Cheese with Red Cherries; Askinosie Dark Milk Chocolate; Whiskey & Pecans.

Tovolo Ice Cream Sandwich Molds, Set of 3, Classic Icon Style ($12.42)  and/or Tovolo Farmyard Ice Cream Sandwich Molds, Set of 3. ($11.59)  Isn’t it time you had the ice cream sandwich of YOUR dreams? Enough of these bland vanilla and chocolate after-thoughts; somebody make me a Caramel Swirl and Ginger Cookie sandwich!

 Ice Cream Cone – Adult Costume. ($36.61 – $54.99)  We here at Mouse & Fork don’t judge others by the content – or flavor – of their kinky little fantasies. We only ask that you don’t traumatize small children while wearing this outfit.

 Yonanas 902 Ice Cream Treat Maker, Black/Silver. ($49.95)   You shout, “This is not ice cream! This is a device that instantly turns frozen fruit and other flavorings into a delicious and healthy soft-serve treat! There’s nothing dairy about it!” You are correct. Now calm down and buy one so you can pretend to eat naughty food when really you’re eating fruit.

Questions, observations, or cheap shots? Add your comment below!

All content herein is created solely for the “Mouse & Fork Tales” blog. If you find something on this blog that you’d like to repost, please have the courtesy to link back to MouseAndFork.com. Thanks!

Note: Prices are approximate and subject to change by Amazon.com.

What is the “perfect” gift?  Some would tell you it’s a pair of diamond earrings, or a Lexus, or even a ham sandwich. Be wary, for these people are trying to sell you something. If you believe that suffering the punishment of endlessly trudging the shopping mall will somehow make you worthy of divine inspiration, I have bad news for you. Looking for the perfect gift is like snipe hunting — you’re searching for something that doesn’t exist. There is no such thing as the “perfect” gift.

There, don’t you feel better?

At its essence, gift giving is simply about human connection. It’s not about the “stuff,” although stuff can be important. There are appropriate and inappropriate gifts, which is why we don’t bring lingerie to a job interview unless we’re applying to be a pole dancer. The “right stuff” is why we don’t give Grandma a 30-pound chainsaw for Christmas unless she asks for it by make and model number.

It’s easy to assign all kinds of ill-defined, anxiety-driven job responsibilities to the humble gift in question. This usually results in a bad case of ill-defined anxiety. Get clear on what purpose you want the gift exchange to achieve. Ask yourself, is it to solidify a business relationship, to impress a parent, or to show a friend love? Suddenly a plethora of perfectly wonderful gift possibilities open up and it ain’t about the money, honey.

Remember that the gift is NOT the relationship, but merely a means to show mindfulness of the other person. Gift giving is not about YOU. Well, maybe a little but not really. It’s time to get over ourselves, people. When you stop searching for the “perfect” gift, you’ll see all the possibilities that didn’t exist before.

Questions, observations, or cheap shots? Add your comment below!

All content herein is created solely for the “Mouse & Fork Tales” blog. If you find something on this blog that you’d like to repost, please have the courtesy to link back to MouseAndFork.com. Thanks!

Since July is National Ice Cream Month—and we here at Mouse & Fork love The Frozen Ambrosia in all of its diversity—we’ll be posting a few articles about artisan ice cream, ice cream makers, books and recipes, and even ways to have ice cream delivered right to your door!

A Scoop of History, Nuts on the Side

 In 1984, President Ronald Reagan designated July as National Ice Cream Month, and the third Sunday of the month (July 15, 2012) as National Ice Cream Day.  What does this mean for you?  You can have ice cream every day this month and twice on July 15th. So many flavors to try, and so little time to eat them all. It’s our patriotic duty to celebrate this holiday, so let’s get moving! Here are a few products you’ll love — simply “roll over” the image with your cursor for more information and a link to Amazon.com*.

 Here are some quirky facts about ice cream, courtesy of the International Ice Cream Association.

• Each American consumes a yearly average of 23.2 quarts of ice cream, ice milk, sherbet, ices and other commercially produced frozen dairy products.

• More ice cream is sold on Sunday than any other day of the week.

• Children ages two through 12, and adults age 45 plus, eat the most ice cream per person.

• The average number of licks to polish off a single scoop ice cream cone is approximately 50.

• The most popular flavor of ice cream in the United States is vanilla (27.8%), followed by chocolate (14.3%), strawberry (3.3%), chocolate chip (3.3%) and butter pecan (2.8%).

Some thoughts: I challenge the assertion that vanilla is the most popular flavor – people may buy more of it because it partners well with other desserts, but seriously. Vanilla? Is this your favorite flavor? If so, I must say I’m very disappointed.

 I also doubt that it takes 50 licks to eat an ice cream cone. I’ve never lasted more than, oh, eight or nine and then it just plain disappears altogether. One time, all I got was one good lick and then the hot asphalt devoured the rest. That was a sad day. Share your ice cream stories and together, we can recuperate from our mutual Ice Cream Traumas.

All content is created solely for the “Mouse & Fork Tales” blog. If you find something on this blog that you’d like to repost, please have the courtesy to link back to Mouse & Fork. Thanks!

*Yes, it’s true: Lacking a giant pile o’cash, I’m an Amazon affiliate. I link to fabulous products and make a “referral fee” if you buy that item via the direct link. There’s no markup in the price you pay — but your good karma grows exponentially.

Here is my peach pie recipe since y’all asked so nicely.

First, git you a big bag of peaches. Store-bought are OK but stolen peaches taste better. Trust me. They don’t all have to be ripe but they should all smell good. Put the peaches into yer pie plate to see how many you need. Add three more. Take peaches out of pie plate.

Ask Mrs. Pillsbury nice-like to make you a refrigerated piecrust. Unroll the bottom crust and place in pie plate, and put plate back in refrigerator. If it warn’t for Mrs. Pillsbury, there would be NO pie in my house! You want to make yer own damn crust? Knock yerself out. 

Heat your oven to about 400 degrees.

Peel and chop yer peaches. You’ll cuss less if you use freestone fruit. Stir in ¼ cup of cornstarch, a pinch of salt, a teaspoon each of powdered ginger and cinnamon, and a ½ teaspoon of nutmeg. Thereabouts. Add about a half-cup of brown sugar, more if the fruit isn’t ripe. I add some white sugar too, usually a quarter-cup. A squeeze of lemon is never a bad idea. Stir all this up until you don’t see no more cornstarch. The fruit should be looking all soupy now. Don’t panic.

Put soupy fruit into cold crust. Push about a dozen blackberries, depending, into the peaches. Fling you some butter in pieces around the top. Cover with your top crust and pinch the sides. Make sure you cut vents in the top or you will be sorry. Do yer fancy Martha-decoration-thing on top if it makes you feel important. Brush with “snot” (milk and egg white, beaten together) and sprinkle with fat sugars. Use you some foil to cover the outside edges of the pie. Don’t argue with me, just do it.

Put in oven on a rack over another rack with a cookie sheet, or you will set off the smoke alarm. Trust me. Lower your temperature to about 375 degrees. Bake 30 minutes, then rotate pie 180 degrees on the rack so the other side cooks right. Bake another 20 minutes and check yer pie. Remove foil and see if it’s bubbling like lava yet. Bake another 10 minutes and see if it’s thick lava or still spaghetti-water bubbles. Keep cooking until you get lava or the smoke alarm goes off, whichever comes first. Don’t act all surprised if it takes an hour or a little more.

Cool pie for at least an hour or you WILL burn the bejeezus outta yer mouth. Trust me. Better to cool it for a few hours and let it set up. Get you some high-quality vanilla ice cream and cut yourself a big piece of pie, because there won’t be seconds!  

 Add your comments below! Use nice language or you WILL be smacked off this site.

Feel free to share this recipe – just be sure to link back to MouseAndFork.com as your “thank you.”

Tisa Watts © MouseAndFork.com 2012

SQUEAK Into Summer Savings at Mouse & Fork! Big changes are coming to Mouse & Fork this summer, and we’re celebrating with a SALE! We’ve dropped prices on many of your favorite items including gift sets, table runners, aprons, and a wide variety of gourmet cooking accessories. Stock up on housewarming and hostess gifts for the summer party season!

Dijon Apron and Pot Mitt Set $24

 Cheese Board Gift Set $49

Red Berry Table Runner $28

Instant Oven Thermometer for Meat/Poultry $11

Cake Decorating Set $39

We’ve also adopted low, flat-rate shipping to simplify ordering your merchandise. For orders up to $100.00, shipping is only $5. For orders between $100.01 – 150.00, shipping is $10. If you spend more than $150.01, shipping is FREE!  (And as always, we can hold your order for FREE pickup if you stop by our Oakland location.)

IN OTHER NEWS, we’re adding new vendors to the Mouse & Fork family to bring you more awesome gift choices! Chefs Catalog, Gifts With Humanity, Calendars.com, Hayneedle, Organic Bouquet, and Jewelry.com are just a few of our new partners. Stay tuned!

April $25 Gift Certificate winner is Marcie G. of Emeryville, CA. Congratulations – now your $25 will buy even more!

Join our newsletter and be the first to hear about our sales, updates, and events.

In today’s Pastry Forum, we tackle the culinary conundrum of…

Baking Powder vs. Baking Soda: What’s the Difference, and Why Should I Care If I Destroy The Planet Earth?

For those of us who want a “basic” understanding of baking soda and baking powder (the science geeks are now tittering at my pH pun), both ingredients have an alkaline component. Mix an alkaline substance with an acidic one and you get gas bubbles; how these bubbles interact and travel through batters and doughs causes them to “rise” or inflate.

[For the impatient, science-minded among you: NaHCO₃ + H⁺ → Na⁺ + CO₂ + H₂O.  I imagine my chemistry teacher, Dr. Shanoski, weeping with joy that I retained anything whatsoever from her class.]

Plain alkaline sodium bicarbonate is plain baking soda. Add a dry-chemical acidifying agent to it and Viola! Now you have baking powder in a can. Both baking soda and baking powder work through an alkaline-acid reaction, but here are some fundamental differences bakers actually care about:

Baking soda works immediately when you add it to a wet mixture containing an acidic ingredient such as cocoa, vinegar, citrus juice, yogurt, or honey. It’s fast acting and you should be, too. Work quickly to get your batter over/under/onto cooking heat before the reaction exhausts itself. Typical uses: pancakes, quick breads, and neutralizing acidic tummy-aches.

Baking powder is usually sold as “double-acting” which means it has both slow- and fast-acting acids already incorporated in the powder. The fast-acting acid works at room temperature, and the slow-acting one works at oven temperature. This is especially useful for the absent-minded bakers among us who go outside to yell at the dog to stop barking and then start pulling weeds, temporarily forgetting about the half-finished Cornmeal Strawberry Cake on the kitchen counter.

All is not lost if I can get that cake into the oven in a reasonable amount of time. Which brings us to Global Warming. Remember those gas bubbles created by the alkaline-acid reaction? That’s CARBON DIOXIDE, one of the primary greenhouse gases! Plus you heat the oven to 350 fossil-fueled degrees. This is my evil conspiracy to destroy the planet one tiny, delicious molecular interaction at a time.

Ozone-Destroying Cornmeal Strawberry Cake
An exothermic tribute to Dr. Shanoski. Recipe adapted from allrecipes.com

[Note: I hate cooked strawberries, and yet this is the most fabulous cornmeal cake I’ve ever had. Also note the presence of both baking powder AND yogurt, suggesting the heavy cake batter requires an extra acid boost to rise.]

Preheat oven to 350 earth-scorching degrees. Grease and flour a 9” round cake pan.

Sift together and set aside:
1-1/3 c. plain cornmeal
2/3 c. all-purpose flour
1/2 t. salt
1 t. baking powder

In a large bowl, cream together until light:
3/4 c. unsalted butter
1-1/4 c. sugar (all or mostly white)

 Add to sugar mixture one at a time:
4 eggs

 Then add:
1 t. vanilla extract

 Add and alternate the dry ingredients with:
1/2 c. plain yogurt

You're gonna need it

 Don’t over-mix. Fold in:
1 c. sliced or chopped fresh strawberries

 Bake for 45-50 minutes in your climate-hating oven, until an inserted knife or toothpick emerges clean. Cool cake for 30 minutes before inverting onto a serving plate. Serve with whipped cream, ice cream, or just a dusting of powdered sugar.

What are YOUR thoughts on global warming, thermonuclear cornmeal cake, ozone-huggers, and/or NaHCO₃?

Tisa Watts is co-owner of Mouse and Fork, a website that offers premium gift sets for home and garden. To join her mailing list, click here. If you find something inspiring on this blog that you’d like to repost, please link back to Mouse & Fork. Thanks!

This past weekend, an acquaintance asked me why I started my e-commerce gift company, Mouse & Fork – what was my passion for my products, my compelling reason for embarking on such a huge venture? I answered by referring her to the recent issue of Better Homes & Gardens, which ran a before-and-after article on (among other things) a sunroom makeover.

2011 Backyard Harvest

First off, I should tell you I love home- and DIY-focused magazines: This Old House, Family Handyman, House Beautiful, Sunset, Dwell, Architectural Digest, and of course, BH&G. I’m not picky; I find something interesting in every one of them. I even remember reading my mom’s Good Housekeeping when I was a kid of nine or ten. Why? Because I love the calm, organized rooms and design principles demonstrated through photo stories; basic repairs clearly illustrated; and the family-friendly recipes. Most of all I love the absence of clutter and stacks of books, newspapers, and magazines that dot every room in my house. Perhaps calm, organized people don’t read as much as we do.

Spend quality time with friends and family!

In the March 2012 issue of BH&G, I found myself deeply engaged in examining the designer’s carpet and side table choices, seeing how the paint color complemented the fabrics, feeling the contrast of textures between the rattan couch and the metal lamps… I love the art of making “home.” Not just the physical entity of home, but “home” the concept: your safe place, where you are just you. Comfortable, relaxed, warm, a place to share time with family and friends, and a place to be alone. Maybe you have kids or hobbies, or like to cook, play with pets, watch TV, or even read a book or two.

Now surround yourself with beautiful, well-designed objects that give you pleasure to see and use on a daily basis. This is my passion and my compelling reason to sell home décor and gift sets: I want others to share that feeling of “home” when they receive their gourmet cheese board or BBQ gift set from Mouse & Fork. I love searching for and offering those items I think best serve their purpose, and will be around for years to come. Beauty, durability, usefulness—these are the qualities my products must have before they appear on the mouseandfork.com website!

How do you define “home”? Is there a particular object in your home that you cherish for its beauty and usefulness?

Tisa Watts is co-owner of Mouse and Fork, a website that offers premium gift sets for home, office, and garden. To join her mailing list, click here. If you find something inspiring on this blog that you’d like to repost, please link back to Mouse & Fork. Thanks!