The Holiday Table Gift Guide

Cooking.com provided me with a 45 piece set service for 8 of Bellasera Flatware by Zwilling J.A. Henckels for review. I don’t know how it is at your house, but at mine, forks and spoons just seem to wander away, and get lost. Once they are lost, they never find their way back home again. It has been years since I had a full set of flatware, and just recently, Fabgrandpa and I had a family of four as guests for dinner, and we did not have enough forks to go around. I know there is no guarantee that all the pieces of this set will be in the flatware drawer a year from now, but I can tell you that I am very happy with this complete new set.

Aside from this flatware being shiny and new, and a complete set, I like the way it feels in my hands. It has a good, hefty weight to it, and is strong enough that the spoons and fork prongs won’t bend. It seemed like every piece of flatware I had before now was bent in some way just by using it everyday. I like that Bellasera is a simple, plain pattern that will complement any dinnerware pattern I choose to use it with. And, I love the uniqueness of the knives. They are made so that the blade stands upright on the table. I have never seen that in any other flatware pattern before.

Check out these features of Bellasera Flatware:

• Set includes 45 matching flatware pieces
• Eight place settings
• Serving pieces included
• Stainless steel construction
• Unique standing knife design
• Well-balanced pieces

Up until now, I have shared products that would help you prepare for a holiday meal, from start to finish.  But what do you need to serve that meal? Well, Dinnerware of course! The Rustic Leaves pattern from Pfaltzgraff is one of the prettiest dinnerware patterns I have seen in a long time. The fall colored leaves are perfect for Thanksgiving, or for year round every day dinnerware. I love the serving pieces that can be purchased separately, too, like this leaf shaped bowl. It is available in brown or green, and match the dinnerware colors perfectly:

Pfalttzgraff has been in business for more than 200 years, so you know that their products are the best you can buy. They have a long-standing tradition of excellence in craftsmanship, quality and service.  This commitment to being responsive to its customers, and to adapting its products and policies to their ever-changing needs, has enabled Pfaltzgraff to prosper for almost two centuries.

The Rustic Leaves pattern comes in several set sizes, and includes several different serving pieces that match it. There is a set to fit just about any size family from a 16 piece service for 4 to a set big enough for 16 place settings.

BUY IT: You can purchase Pfaltzgraff Rustic Leaves at Belk.comThe 16 piece service for 4 is on sale now at Belk.com for $69.99

WIN IT: One reader will win a 16 piece service for 4 valued at $69.99! This giveaway is open to residents of the USA and Canada. Use the Giveaway Tools form to enter:

The Recipe Reader from Key Ingredient is an invention whose time has come! Just like I can not imagine not having a microwave oven in my kitchen, I know I will be wondering how I ever cooked without this tablet made for the kitchen counter.

There have been plenty of times in the last year or so since I got my iPad that I have thought about taking it in the kitchen and leaving it on the counter while I follow a recipe I found online, but decided against it because I did not want to ruin my tablet. The Recipe Reader, though is designed to be tough and waterproof, so that spills from cooking, or being dropped on the floor, can not destroy it.

The Recipe Reader works in sync with the Key Ingredient website. You can create your free account, and start collecting recipes, following your friends and favorite cooks, and adding in your own recipes. You can scan your recipes, take snapshot of them, or type them in, and have all your favorite recipes from all of your pieces of paper and cookbooks all in one place. This thing is soooo handy for a cook!

Another great feature of this recipe system, is that it will help you create a grocery shopping list, and then you can take the list with you on the app for your smartphone! You’ll always have all the ingredients you need to make a recipe because you have the handy reminder right in your phone while you are shopping.

I love my recipe reader, and I am sure you will love it too! You can find out about everything the Recipe Reader and the Key Ingredient Website can do for you to make your life easier here. You can get a head start on using a Recipe Reader by creating your account at Key Ingredient now, and use it on your computer. When you do get your Recipe Reader, all you have to do is turn it on, and all your collected recipes will be right there.

BUY IT:  You can purchase the Key Ingredient Recipe Reader at Amazon.com, or at the Key Ingredient Store

WIN IT: One lucky reader of Fabgrandma will win one! The Key Ingredient Recipe Reader comes with everything you need to get started all in one box. Use the Giveaway Tools entry form to enter.

World Vision is a a Christian relief and development organization dedicated to helping children, families, and communities worldwide reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice.We help transform the lives of the world’s poorest children and families in nearly 100 countries, including the United States, through interventions such as nutrition and safe drinking water programs, poverty relief and community development programs, disaster assistance, and more. Our non-profit work extends assistance to all people, regardless of their religious beliefs, gender, race, or ethnic background

There are many ways to help through World Vision. You can send a gift through the gift catalog, such as the Fair Trade Coffee Set that includes whole bean coffee from Ethiopia, Sumatra, and Costa Rica blended by OneCup.org. It is delivered in a bag hand-sewn by local women with a hand-carved olivewood scoop. A gift of Fair Trade Coffee costs the giver $65, but the amount spent helps where it is needed most, and you or the gift recipient receives the delicious 12 oz. whole bean coffee set.  The actual value of the coffee is $12, which leaves a tax deductible gift of $53 to World Vision. There are many other gifts available in the gift catalog.

Other ways to help are by fundraising, volunteering, sponsoring a child, and making a donation.

I support World Vision because while they help children and families world wide, they also sponsor and give aid to families in the United States, right here in our own country. While there is abundant need all over the planet, I feel that starting at home just makes sense. Please keep World Vision in mind when giving charitable gifts this holiday season, to help put food on the table for children around the world.

Find World Vision on Facebook and on Twitter @WorldVisionNews or @WorldVisionUSA

Product was provided for free however the review is my honest opinion and includes affiliate links.

The California Wine Club is like “one friend recommending a great bottle of wine to another friend”. What you get when you join California Wine Club is a selection of wines every month that have been “recommended” by your friends who are the proprietors of the business. Bruce and Pam Boring have been selecting the wines and selling them through their wine club for more than 23 years. They travel California’s wine country, visiting the wineries, meeting the families and tasting the wines that never make it to local stores or wine shops. 

This is why it was so easy to guarantee that our wine of the month club members and gift recipients will never receive any bulk, closeout or private label wines…ever. Each and every wine we select comes from a real working winery and is backed by our 100% guarantee.

What if I don’t like the wine?

Although wine tastes vary from person to person, our wines are guaranteed. If you get a bad bottle, we will immediately reship a replacement or refund your money.

There are many ways to enjoy a membership with California Wine Club. With five different levels of membership, gift memberships, and wine reorders available, you will be able to find something to suit your tastes as well as your pocketbook.

Whether you choose the Premiere Club, the most popular of all the clubs,

or the Aged Cabernet Wine Club Series for the ultimate reward in vitaculture.

or any of the levels in between, you can be assured of getting the best wines every month, with the ability to reorder the ones you love best at up to 50% off!

Which wine club level would you buy?

Product was provided for free however the review is my honest opinion and includes affiliate links.

Green Monday HOLIDAY APRON SALE: Save 50% and get FREE shipping on 2 Awesome Christmas Aprons,code HOLIDAY50, valid til Wednesday

What seems like a zillion years ago, I worked at the corporate headquarters of a large corporation. I got dressed up every day to go to work.  As soon as I got home from work every day, I started preparing dinner. And you would not believe how many expensive blouses and dresses I ruined because I did not own an apron. You’d think I would have learned something after the first time, but that is another story.

When I finally did decide to buy an apron, the only ones I could find looked like the ones Aunt Bea would wear. They were not very attractive, but they were functional, and I used them until they raveled at the seams. So, you can imagine my delight when I found Flirty Aprons! These aprons are cute! Sassy! Very appealing. Just look:

You can also find aprons for men at Flirty Aprons. The chef’s style aprons come in black or red, and have sayings such as Kiss The Cook and BBQ King on them. If you have a guy who likes to cook or grill out, this is the place to get him covered up!

In addition to women’s and men’s aprons, Flirty Aprons also carries kids aprons, bibbs, oven mitts, and gloves. They’re all attractive, reasonably priced, and will save your clothing from being ruined.

BUY IT: Buy your favorite styles of aprons on the website, Flirty Aprons. Right now thru November 30,  There’s a Thanksgiving Sale, and you can save 20% off your entire purchase with code TURKEY20!

WIN IT: One reader will win one apron of their choice from Flirty Aprons. Use the Giveaway Tools entry form to enter:

If you are contemplating donating to a charitable organization this holiday season, one I proudly support and stand behind is The Wounded Warrior Project. For ten years they have been on a mission to raise awareness and enlist the public’s aid for the needs of injured service members. They work to help injured service members aid and assist each other. And they strive to provide unique, direct programs and services to meet the needs of injured service members.

They do so much to help military men and women who have been wounded in battle to not only mend their bodies, but to also help them transition back into civilian life.  They help with coping skills to overcome combat stress; provide family support; offer a peer mentor program to help warrior’s with adjustment and to move forward with their lives. This is just a small part of what they do, and they need your donations to help do it.

The Wounded Warrior Project uses 81.6 percent of total expenditures to provide services and programs for Wounded Warriors and their families. That is a very good use of funds for a charity.  You can donate online, or mail a donation to them at Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, Kansas 66675. You can even make a donation in honor or memory of an individual.

Product was provided for free however the review is my honest opinion and includes affiliate links.

Santa Claus Christmas Store has so many cute and useful Christmas items from which to choose, it was really hard for me to decide what to get. I finally chose this adorable Sweet Santa Teapot:

Let Santa brew your tea, or hold hot water for instant hot chocolate. He’ll be there waiting for you when you come in out of the cold.

I also like the Winter Greetings Hurricane Candle. It makes a very pretty table centerpiece, but would also come in handy if the power goes out. Just light the candle.

If you want to start a tradition of Elf on the Shelf with your kids, you will find a great selection of elves at The Santa Claus Christmas Store. I love the Peppermint Elf Doll with Heart:

Isn’t that just adorable? You can find decorations, dishes, candles, door mats, and more at The Santa Claus Christmas Store. Oh! You can get Free Shipping on all Orders Over $40