linenandlavender.blogspot.com: mail-order gourmet food

–a $100 gift card–

to shop in

by linen & lavender

What do you think you might select?

Maybe a Beta-Plus book with hundreds

of ideas for creating your dream kitchen?

Compendium: KITCHENS

You could get that hefty book and still have enough left to get these charming glass jars. I was wishing for more of these the other day to store my freshly-made pesto.

Italian Recycled Glass Jars

Hmm. Or you could get several CD's with that amount

—or download one hundred of your favorite songs!

Comme Si De Rien N'Etait

-or-

There's a panini press by All-Clad I've admired.

All-Clad Panini Pan with Press

Or, -it's a little off the beaten path-

but I've even included a few gourmet food items in the emporium.

Oh, I know! Here's a treat you can splurge on...Hazelnut Graham Crackers (organic. –no less.)

Organic Hazelnut Graham Crackers

I've tried them with a lemon dessert cheese...H e a v e n l y!

A sparkling wine and you're all set for a summer evening with friends.

White Stilton with Lemon Peel

Of course, books are always a treat as far as I'm concerned. There's a bevy of home and garden books in the emporium, but also a few books of poetry, philosophy, fiction...or how about a beautiful cookbook like this one?...

Country Cooking of France

-or-

You'd even have enough for a 1 year subscription

to the French edition of ELLE Decoration:

Elle Decoration - French Edition

Or you know what?...

How about a book that will help you plan

your next trip to Europe...

Maybe a trip to the Amalfi Coast this year?

Great Escapes Italy

And if you are like me and would only want to be seen on Italy's shores looking toned and swimsuit-ready, you might want to throw in something like this...

Flow Yoga by Shiva Rea

Hmm. So many things. It's hard for me to choose. I certainly wish the $100 gift card recipient the best of luck in making their selection(s). It's not going to be easy!

Oh, you know what?

I just remembered.

I haven't even notified the winner yet!

I guess I'll do that now.

(Drum roll please)

C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S

goes to

Marsha of Splenderosa!

. . . . . . . . . . .

My thanks to Marsha and to each and every one of you who entered. It was great fun receiving all your lovely comments and emails, –including some wonderful recipes I can't wait to try and share here on l&l.

Hugs!

visit our new site:

www.linenlavenderlife.com

The Maitake is known as the Dancing Mushroom, the Hen of the Woods, and also by its scientific name: Grifola Fondosa, (“The Half Lion”) In the wild, it can grow to over 50 pounds. Because of its size, it is also referred to as the “King of Mushrooms.”

For 4000 years man has believed that the magical Maitake has special qualities that aid in digestion, and spark the immune system. All this is great to know, but for us it is the taste that makes this mushroom great.

It feels soft and delicate to the touch. Easy to pull apart, and then place on top of a pizza or sauté in a pan with butter and garlic. The act of pulling the Maitake apart is both easy, and really makes you feel connected to the food. –excerpts from ChefShop

One easy way to enjoy these delicious and healthy funghi (recipe also courtesy of ChefShop):

Maitake Mushroom Pizza

"This recipe was first made for us by Brandon of Delancey Restaurant in Seattle. Brandon, of course, makes his own wonderful pizza dough. But, this recipe assumes you have purchased a pre-baked pizza shell."–ChefShop

Ingredients:

1. Prebaked Pizza Crust

1 Maitake Mushroom - 3/4 to 1 pound

3 Tablespoons Olive Oil

1/4 to 1/2 pound Mozarella Cheese

Sea salt

Directions:

1. Place pizza stone in oven and heat to 425-degrees.

2. Brush pizza shell with olive oil. If making thick-crust pizza, bake shell for 5-7 minutes or until the oil bubbles. If making thin-crust pizza, no need to pre-bake shell.

3. Gently pull apart the Miatake Mushroom and spread "leaves" evenly around the pizza crust. Maitaki mushrooms have a wonderful, mild but distict mushroom flavor. So, no need to hold back.

4. Place slices of mozzarella about the pizza. Sprinkle shell with sea salt.

5. Bake 12-15 minutes, or until the cheese is lightly browned and bubbly.

6. Cool, cut, and serve.

In Asia, the Maitake is considered to have medicinal value. It is supposed to be good for the spleen and digestive system. It is also used for calming nerves and soothing the mind - and who could not use some of that these days? It is said to suppress tumor growth by activating the immune system.

Other claims include helping the cardiovascular system, lowering high blood pressure, regulating cholesterol, managing blood sugar levels, helping us age more slowly, and there are even claims of improving weight control by boosting metabolism – just by adding Maitake to your diet!

Alla vostra salute!

WHERE TO FIND MAITAKE MUSHROOMS

LocalHarvest (a directory of farmer's markets)

the emporium: gourmet, grocery (organic, dried)

FungusAmongUs (organic farm, on-line store)

Hanging lights custom fabricated from cider jugs for Brandon and Molly's Seattle restaurant: Delancey.

Restaurant design and light fabrication: tbD

It might also interest you to know that Molly is a longtime blogger (since way back in 2004!) If you are a foodie, you are probably already in-the-know, but here's the link so the rest of us can catch up: Orangette

Molly's Book:

A Homemade Life:
Stories and Recipes from My Kitchen Table
by Molly Wizenberg