wanted: omg!! lars is the best!!!!

15 years ago

A box arrived on my porch today and I am giddy with excitement to share with all of you what Lars sent me!

Because of Lars, I now have what I need to delve into the world of Moroccan cooking! He sent me a really lovely cookbook titled "Cooking at the Kasbah. I have only paged through it so far, but there is a lot of good information about Morocco and some very scrumptious sounding recipes!

Item number two is a huge jar of Lars' own Zhatar spice blend. I have been curious about Zhatar since I sent some to my Lebanese-born future son-in-law last Christmas. Now I will get a chance to try it! It smells heavenly!

I saved the best for last. Lars found the most gorgeous serving bowl that was made in Tunisia! Words cannot describe how beautiful this bowl is. And he included a matching serving spoon to go with it. I love this so much, I am tempted to just set it on my table as a centerpiece! LOL

Here is a photo of all three of my swap items, and the lovely letter that Lars sent along which includes his Algerian Chicken Recipe which I am going to try this week!

Lars, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Your selections are perfect and I will think of you every time I use them!

Linda

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (25)

ann_t
15 years ago
Linda, I can see why you are excited. What a great swap box. Lars you did good. I love the bowl with the matching spoon. Great colours.

Ann
Bizzo
15 years ago
Oh!! I love Morrocan food, and have always wanted to try my hand at it. What a gret package, Lars! The bowl is really beautiful, I can smell the spice, and the book looks like a gret read!
Related Discussions
WANTED: Thank you Lars........again!!
Q
Comments (18)
Update: The Shaker Lemon Pie was to die for! I took it to a church potluck on Sunday and thought some of those "good-Christians" were going to battle for the last piece. It's VERY easy. Slice 2 lemons very, very thinly (I kind of let them get too soft and the mandoline didn't like that...grin). Add 2 cups of sugar and macerate overnight in the fridge. The next day, add 4 beaten eggs and mix well. Pour into pie crust, top with second crust and bake at 350 degrees for ~45 minutes or until knife comes out clean. Delicious. I made lemon curd from 2 more lemons. Served with angel food and fresh strawberries. No pics……..we gobbled it up! Maybe this weekend I’ll try a recipe from the cookbook. Of course I'll be taking party pictures, Annie..... Whether or not I post them is a whole 'nother question. :) Deanna
...See More
OMG, I Have The Best News to Share
Q
Comments (15)
Congratulations!! It's so wonderful to be admired by your family and friends to be invited and accepted by your crafting peers is an awesome feeling!! I'll be looking for you!! I belong to an invitation only group on eBay and it is a fabulous place for inspiration, getting geniune feedback from others in your shoes or have been doing it longer!! Your gonna love it!! Congratulations!! ginger
...See More
OMG, help! Friend wants partnership in business...
Q
Comments (13)
Thank y'all. I'm pretty sure I know what I'm going to say now. Two things really - one, that since I haven't even yet started I don't even know if there is a enough business to occupy two people. Two, that I value our friendship too much to taint it with a business deal. She is an incredibly nice person, would go to the end of the world for you if you asked, but very dependent on those around her. And because I have strategically distanced myself as I mentioned, she's not needy towards ME... She reserves that for people who tolerate her more than I do. Her ex-husband couldn't tolerate it though, which is one of the reasons why they are no longer married. To paint you a picture, her son is in preschool full-time yet she still employs a full-time nanny. While he is at school the nanny takes care of mom. Medical care? No... errands, cleaning, cooking, organizing, while she is out getting massages and her nails done and hair done and shopping and dr. appointments. My dh said that her happiness is not my responsibility and he's right and so are all of you. She is going to eventually have to earn an income (or remarry another rich guy) eventually. Alimony is only for four years. Anyway, I saw her Hummer down the street this morning at the our mutual friend's home that is her real estate agent (she's in escrow on both the place she sold and the place she bought). She knew I was home; my car was out front. She didn't stop by...I think she knew from my panicked reaction yesterday that the answer will be no. Probably mad at me. Oh well...it'll pass.
...See More
OMG! OMG! I have a teeny, tiny bloom!!!
Q
Comments (25)
A citrus world tour would be fun! I've seen photos of hundreds of different lemons they grow in Italy. And Australia has some cool looking citrus as well, not just finger limes. To be able to taste and see the worlds ways of culture would be wonderful. Laura, I know what you mean to be slimming down. Mine are so large it is getting hard to move them in and out of the greenhouse. So I am looking at replacing some of my larger ones with smaller plants. Basically starting over. I have a Clementine that will probably not be replaced, as I haven't gotten fruit on it for the last three years. Probably due to having to cut it back to put it in the greenhouse! But the fruit weren't that great to begin with, I wound up juicing all the fruit. I am sticking to lemons and limes, mostly. I've tried oranges in the past and they just didn't taste that good to me. Could have been the cultivar, but they tasted watery and bland. I have Ponderosa, Meyer, Variegated Eureka, and Lemonade Lemons, Key, Red, Finger, Kaffir, and a Thornless Key Lime, along with Calamondin, Buddha's Hand, Clementine and a Seedling Minneola. And I'm in the process of rooting a cutting of Lisbon Lemon. Oh and a Meiwa Kumquat. And six of those are LARGE! The rest are relatively young, so not huge yet. Lol. Way too many for my small greenhouse!
...See More
Lars
15 years ago
I'm so glad the bowl arrived intact!! I double-boxed it but there was very little space between the two boxes, and I don't trust UPS that much. Anyway, I've very relieved now!

The package started with the bowl and matching spoon - at least that was the first item I chose for you, even though I had seen the book earlier at the same store, and it did catch my eye. When I got the bowl, I felt that it would just be appropriate to get the book to accompany it, and then I wanted to make some spice mix to make it easier to get into Moroccan cooking mode. There are a lot of recipes for Za'atar, and the one I used is basically from the African cookbook that Lee sent me as a present (surcie) some time ago. It is very common in Middle Eastern cooking, but it is also popular in North Africa. In Lebanon, they generally add cumin to it, which I omitted, because it is not African, but you can always add that when you want to make it more Lebanese.

Algeria is between Morocco and Tunisia (which is close to Sicily), which is why I included the Algerian recipe. I love North African food, and I would expect that Tunisian food is probably similar to Algerian or Moroccan, although Algerian is quite different from Moroccan.

I only thumbed through the cookbook, but it looked like it had some nice pictures. The bowl has a hanging device at the bottom, and so it might be meant to be decorative instead of practical, but I would probably just use it as a bowl. I'm very happy that you like it!

Lars
chancesmom
15 years ago
Wow, Linda, you can tell you are excited! Lars that is a very thoughtful swap box. The spice mix is such a nice personal touch.

Enjoy, Linda.
dedtired
15 years ago
Wow! Two boxes in one day and both sent by the guys. Lars, you are always so cretive in choosing swap items.

Gosh, when I see the boxes lars and David sent, I kind of wish I could get mine back and try again.

Linda, after the nice prezzies you sent to me in another swap, I'm glad you got a spectacular one, too.
bri29
15 years ago
That's a lovely swap gift! I'll be looking forward to seeing all the wonderful dishes you make from that cookbook. I've never tried making Moroccan food, but I would love to see what you make!

Lars, you did a wonderful job!

Dedtired- I'm kinda thinking the same thing, I want my box back so I can do better! :)

Bri
jimtex
15 years ago
Bri, I agree. My box has been made inconsequential by Lars and Davids packages. Linda those are some great things. I have no experience with North African food so please post the recipe when you get the chance. Very nice stuff Lars. I'm off to google Za'atar.
wizardnm
15 years ago
Linda, let me know what and when, I'll be there to check it all out! Very nice and I really like the colors in the bowl.

WTG Lars, Linda will have fun.

Nancy
lackboys3
15 years ago
Oh Linda, you are are going to find excuses to use that lovely bowl for everything, savory and sweet. Homemade zatar - that's a real find. We buy Zatar at a Middle Eastern market and use it on pita bread that's been brushed with olive oil, then toasted in the oven. It's heady stuff and you'll find yourself wanting to sprinkle it on everything. Lars, no doubt your homemade version is better than anything store bought. Love the bright blue spoon and the cookbook too! Have fun trying those recipes and post some, please?
DONNA
mustangs81
15 years ago
How awesome! Linda is going to venture into new territories with Lars as your Moroccan Mentor.
riverrat1
15 years ago
As Jessica would say "THUD"!

Linda, I know you will enjoy this package for a long time. The book looks interesting. I enjoy Moroccan and North African food very much and to have your own specially prepared spice by our Lars is so very special.

Lars, You did a great job on this package.
jessyf
15 years ago
I hate it when the bar is set high at the beginning of the swaps (grin!)

Beautiful bowl, Lars! Have fun, Linda!
artsyshell
15 years ago
Lars, you did a fantastic job on your swap package! That bowl is wonderful. I love zhatar, and have just recently started dabbling in making Moroccan cooking. Linda your going to love it! Enjoy.

Shelley
chase_gw
15 years ago
Lars that is a great package and it's clear Linda loves it!! What a beautiful bowl, Linda I'd be tempted to use is a decorative piece on the table too. Too pretty not to have out all the time.
lakeguy35
15 years ago
Lars that is a great theme and that bowl is amazing!! Linda, looks like you will exploring some tasty cooking in the furture. I love the homemade spice splend too. I received some of Mique's seceret blends a few years back.

Enjoy it all!!

David
arabellamiller
15 years ago
GORGEOUS bowl. Really special.

Enjoy!

AM
sheshebop
15 years ago
It is a truly gorgeous bowl. I love the entire swap. Good job Lars. Enjoy, Linda.
Sherry
stacy3
15 years ago
omg - I'm having swap envy...that is a gorgeous package - what a great theme, Lars.
Terri_PacNW
15 years ago
Linda, when you are not using that bowl to serve..I think it would make a wonderful "centerpiece" full of fruit and nuts for the table, coffeetable or counter..It is simply stunning!
mer4205
15 years ago
Linda - you are a lucky woman! Lars - wow great theme. The handpainted design is beautiful! Wow! maria
KatieC
15 years ago
What a nice package. Lars, the bowl is gorgeous and I'll bet your Zhatar is wonderful. Enjoy, Linda!
sally2_gw
15 years ago
That looks like a fun package - what a neat theme! Linda, I bet you'll get lots of enjoyment from exploring the cookbook and using the spice blend and platter. It's beautiful. Way to go, Lars!

Sally
annie1992
15 years ago
Wow, that IS one great swap box, that bowl is just beautiful.

The cookbook looks very interesting and I'm looking forward to hearing which recipes you like. I love Lars' Algerian chicken recipe, we had it during the Michigan Run and now I need to make it again.

Great swap gifts, Lars. Lucky you, Linda.

Annie
Gina_W
15 years ago
Lars rocks the Kasbah! Yes, we have multiple firsts going on already - a guy-to-guy swap, 2 guys' packages are received first, a Tunisian item - definitely a first!

Swaps are so cool.
craftyrn
15 years ago
What a beautiful bowl ! And you'll love Lars' Zhatar-- received some in a prior swap & it's great stuff-- we love it as a rub for grilled chicken & ribs-- yummy !

Looks like a fun cookbook to explore--

wanted: omg!! lars is the best!!!!

Comments (25)

ann_t

Bizzo

Related Discussions

Lars

chancesmom

dedtired

bri29

jimtex

wizardnm

lackboys3

mustangs81

riverrat1

jessyf

artsyshell

chase_gw

lakeguy35

arabellamiller

sheshebop

stacy3

Terri_PacNW

mer4205

KatieC

sally2_gw

annie1992

Gina_W

craftyrn

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US