There's a bright ORANGE box in my driveway!

16 years ago

I came home today to a bright ORANGE box in my driveway.

I thought it was from my Mom with her annual Halloween box. But no, it's from Canada. Hmmmmm.....I did not order anything from Canada or did I? With the hectic pace of the house construction, I can never remember just what I ordered or where most of the time.

Well....come to find out the bright orange box is from Catherine (Ziporion) and it's my Swap Gift Box! OH my....I was very surprised and did not expect my swap box so soon!

I opened up the box to see several shapes wrapped in brightly colored tissue paper. And of course Marcus the Cat was right there nosing around.

I opened the cute card first and read Catherine's beautifully written note which explained her love of tea, her hardworking garlic press and the Italian Cookbook by her favorite author.

Ahhhhhh finally, a good Italian Cookbook and I don't have one! I am thrilled and have already scanned through it and read some recipes. The book is "Marcella's Italian Kitchen" by Marcella Hazan. And it received excellent reviews by the NY Times, Gourmet Magazine and Washington Post. I am so happy to finally have a good Italian Cookbook! I have to repeat I am so happy! I make pasta at least once a week so this cookbook fills a huge void in my library!

Next is a Zyliss garlic press which could not be more timely as ours is missing and I don't know where it is. We packed up everything to store in our barn during the construction and some things just are no where to be found, among them our Garlic Press. Catherine states she's had her Zyliss for over 20 years and it's still going strong.

The 3rd item is my favorite and I just love it! It's a lidded bone china tea cup with a tea strainer and a package of Ceylon Flowery Pekoe Tea! Catherine said Granjan sent her a lidded tea cup in the last swap and she uses hers daily. I love this and have wanted a lidded tea cup forever! And the tea strainer fits into my large togo cup perfectly so I can now brew tea togo too!

I love everything Catherine and every single thing will used and enjoyed. In fact I brewed a cup to tea upon opening the box and am sipping it as I type!

Thank you ever so much for everything...even the bright orange box will be reused next Halloween!

Michelle

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Comments (25)

kathleen_li
16 years ago
That's a great box, Michelle. I am glad you are using one of the gifts so quickly. I hope you enjoy all of it.
Catherine, great job putting together the box , lovely gifts.
Now if only your chicken would come Michelle!
earthlydelights
16 years ago
michelle, what a great box of goodies. i remember reading, just a few posts ago when you mentioned that you didn't have and needed a good italian cookbook. and what an excellent book you received. so far each of her recipes that i've tried have been most excellent.

excellent garlic press. i like their "toys". and being a tea lover, what can i say?

great box you sent catherine. enjoy it all michelle.

maryanne
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lackboys3
16 years ago
Michelle, it looks like Catherine had you nailed "to a tea":-)

I have one Marcella Hazan cookbook and I do enjoy her style of writing. Her recipes are pretty foolproof and I have no doubt you will enjoy using this cookbook. That's a nice looking garlic press, very sturdy too. Pretty, delicate tea cup with a lid, it will make you feel special every time you take a sip. What a nice box you put together Catherine! Michelle, enjoy it all and have fun cooking Italian! Handsome cat too:-)
DONNA
msafirstein
Original Author
16 years ago
Now if only your chicken would come Michelle!

Chicken came today along with another box, so 3 boxes in total and all for me! I posted on the Discussion Side check the "Motherload" thread.

few posts ago when you mentioned that you didn't have and needed a good italian cookbook.

I know I said that but who knew that an Italian Cookbook was on it's way!

I am thrilled with each and every item!

Donna, Marcus is very bad but so good looking that he gets away with almost everything. Sound familiar?

Michelle
Terri_PacNW
16 years ago
Cool Orange box!..even cooler insides! Nice to see an AnnT card spreading the love too...
artsyshell
16 years ago
Wonderful swap gifts. Love the lidded teacup and strainer. The tea sounds wonderful too. I have heard great things about Marcella Hazan. You will have to let us know how her recipes are. A good garlic press is always "a good thing"! Mine never seem to last longer than a month. I will have to try that particul kind. Enjoy your bounty!

Shelley
arabellamiller
16 years ago
Having been the recipient of a Catherine box in the past, I know how lucky you are! That's a wonderful assortment of favorite things.

Enjoy!

AM (another one who loves her lidded tea cup)
homesforsale
16 years ago
Great box! Marcella!!:) You will have fun w/ everything..
BeverlyAL
16 years ago
Ohhhhh I like what's in your box. Didn't you get lucky! Great job Catherine.

Beverly
ziporion
16 years ago
Hi Michelle,
So glad it got there in one piece, and I'm thrilled you like your goodies.

Catherine
granjan
16 years ago
Marcella is my favorite Italian author as well. The simple things she does make the dish SO good. And my Zyliss garlic press actually broke after 30 years! I almost replaced it the other day but I really do use my rasp grater most of the time now. So glad to hear Catherine that you are using your tea cup, and like it enough to send one on. A package of favorites I COULD have sent. (But mine still isn't in the mail yet. Soon.)
brenda55
16 years ago
How clever and pretty is the covered tea cup! Good job, Catherine. Will look forward to some recipes from your new cookbook, too.
chancesmom
16 years ago
I am another one who love me some Marcella! In fact I sent that book on another swap, to Maggie, I think. (Bought one for me too!)

Sounds like Ann matched you two to a TEA!!!

Great job, Catherine.
diana55
16 years ago
I love the garlic press. Please let us know how well it works. Good Job Catherine. I feel like I need a cup of tea too. Diana55
doucanoe
16 years ago
Oh, that teacup is so cute! Makes me want to take up drinking tea! LOL

The cookbook looks interesting and although my garlic press is a different brand, I use it very often! You'll love it, Michelle!

Great box, Catherine!

Linda
Carol Schmertzler Siegel
16 years ago
Great going, Catherine! That is a great cookbook! Love Marcella, her roasted Lemon Chicken is so good! Michelle, I hope you'll be sharing some great Marcella recipes with us soon! and I love the garlic press. Pretty tea cup! Enjoy your gifts, Michelle!
ann_t
16 years ago
Great swap box. Marcella is a favourite of mine too. You will put that garlic press to good use cooking Italian. And the tea cup is very pretty.

Well done Catherine.

Ann
sigh
16 years ago
Oh what a nice grouping! A garlic press that...lasts? I've never heard of such a thing. I'll have to track that down. And the covered tea mug is just beautiful. Marcella's books are outstanding, too.

Plus I just love the orange box. Wonderful stuff!

Nina
BeverlyAL
16 years ago
What a wonderful box Catherine! I don't have any Italian cookbooks either, so I'm sure you will treasure Marcella Hazan's. Michelle, if you ever want to swap anything with me I'll also be glad to take Marcus the Cat.

Beverly
Bizzo
16 years ago
Great box, Catherine! Michelle, you recieved some great stuff!! I love the lidded, self-straining cup! and the cookbook... oooohhhh! And what timing on the garlic press, eh?
msafirstein
Original Author
16 years ago
if you ever want to swap anything with me I'll also be glad to take Marcus the Cat.

MY CAT!!!!!! NOooooooooooooooooo, not my kitties. I have 3 at this point.

We border the county forest preserve and about 5 yrs ago someone dumped Marcus. Sadly, this is an all too frequent occurrence around here with cats, kittens, dogs and even litters of puppies. But we were lucky and after setting the live trap and watching it for 2 weeks, Marcus finally tripped it and he's been with us ever since.

Michelle
jessyf
16 years ago
A Marcella Hazan cookbook! Great taste. I got mine from my MIL (RIP, she died in 2000). She didn't know what she was giving up!

yeah I'll take the cat too. Next swap - PETS!!!!

(don't ask about my rat. really.)
diana55
16 years ago
I Love your Cat!!!!! Love your package!!!! Diana55
annie1992
16 years ago
LOL, Diana, I really like THAT cat. (grin) My own Dead Cat From H*ll could pull that off, I think. I think Marcus could pass for the good angel and my cat could be the dark devil cat, LOL.

What a great swap box, I have one of those tea strainers and I just love it, it fits perfectly into my mugs, I'm sure you're going to love yours, along with the pretty lidded tea cup.

Cookbooks are always good too, it seems to be another perfect swap!

Annie
riverrat1
16 years ago
I missed the bright orange box!

This is a really nice package! Marcella's book...ahhh, I love that book! Enjoy!

There's a bright ORANGE box in my driveway!

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