Ideas & Recipes
Did you buy pottery and are wondering what you can make with it?
I bought a...
Using a Ceramic Teapot
Brewing Up
While your kettle is coming to a boil, swish your pot thoroughly with hot water and then pour it out. Black tea steeps best at a temperature near the boiling point, and a cold pot would quickly sap much of the heat from your water. Pre-warming the pot also limits the risk of it cracking from the boiling water. Once the pot is warmed and empty, add loose tea at 1 teaspoon of leaves per cup of tea, plus 1 more “for the pot.” Alternatively, use the equivalent quantity of standard 2-cup teabags. Pour freshly boiled water over the leaves, and steep for five minutes or until the tea reaches the strength you prefer.
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Care and Cleaning
Ceramic pots are usually glazed on the inside as well as the outside, and they can be hand-washed in soapy water. Rinse the pot thoroughly to remove any soap reside that might lend your tea an off-flavor. If the pot is too small for your hand, you may need to use a brush to clean the interior. A narrow bottle brush can be handy for removing stuck-on leaves from the spout. If your pot is unglazed on the inside, it’s intended to absorb the flavors of your tea. Never wash those pots with soap, because the soap flavor will become permanent. Instead, just rinse them with hot water.
Sweet Tea
Ingredients
1 pinch baking soda
2 cups boiling water
6 tea bags
3/4 cup white sugar
6 cups cool water
For 8 cup teapot or pitcher
Directions
Sprinkle a pinch of baking soda into your teapot. Pour in boiling water and add tea bags. Cover and allow to steep for 15 minutes.
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Remove tea bags and discard. Stir in sugar until dissolved. Pour in cool water then refrigerate until cold.
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*A pitcher can also be used in place of or in addition to the teapot. Just add cool water to pitcher and add steeped tea.
Using a Ceramic Pitcher
Using It
Our ceramic pitchers are made of strong stoneware. Use it as you would any glass pitcher. There are infinite possibilities for your pitcher: sun tea, sweet tea, lemonade, ice water. What about as an alternative to a vase? Our pitchers make great floral centerpieces!
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Care and Cleaning
Because of the shape of the pitcher, it is recommended that you hand wash with warm soapy water. The dishwasher is not recommended, but if you have a smaller pitcher size, such as a creamer, then that is dishwasher-safe. Be sure to rinse all the soap residue out prior to using so as to not alter the flavor of your beverage.
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Sweet Tea
Ingredients
1 pinch baking soda
2 cups boiling water
6 tea bags
3/4 cup white sugar
6 cups cool water
For 8 cup teapot or pitcher
Directions
Sprinkle a pinch of baking soda into your teapot. Pour in boiling water and add tea bags. Cover and allow to steep for 15 minutes.
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Remove tea bags and discard. Stir in sugar until dissolved. Pour in cool water then refrigerate until cold.
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*A pitcher can also be used in place of or in addition to the teapot. Just add cool water to pitcher and add steeped tea.
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*Recipe courtesy of allrecipes.com*
Blackberry Sun Tea
Ingredients
Black Tea (1 tsp. loose or 1 teabag per 6 oz. water)
1 lemon, sliced
1 cup blackberries (bonus if harvested from your yard!)
Water
Directions
Combine the tea, lemon, & blackberries in a glass container (or use one of our pitchers!).
Fill to the top with room temperature water.
Set in the sun for 2-4 hours, depending on how strong you like your tea.
When the tea is finished steeping, strain into another container to remove loose tea and fruit.
Refrigerate until ready to serve.
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*Photo & recipe courtesy of boulderteaco.com*
Using a Ceramic Baking Dish
Using It
In many ways, ceramic is like glass: it conducts heat very well, but can cause over-browning in sweet dishes. Best recipes for for ceramic pans: casseroles, cobblers, bread puddings, pies.
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Care and Cleaning
Our ceramic wares are made of stoneware, so they're pretty sturdy. You can choose to handwash, but these are completely dishwasher-safe. As with any dish, if there is anything stuck on, it's best to scrape off the excess food prior to placing in the dishwasher
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Roasted Chicken & Vegetables
PREP TIME: 15 MINS
COOK TIME: 1 HOUR 30 MINS
TOTAL TIME: 2 HOURS
Ingredients
1 to 2 pounds bone-in chicken pieces
1/2 small green bell pepper, seeds and ribs out, cut in rings
1/2 small red bell pepper, seeds and ribs out, cut in rings
1 medium onion, cut in 4 wedges
2 medium red or white potatoes, quartered
2 carrots, cut in 1-inch pieces, diagonally
1 large celery rib, cut in 1-inch pieces, diagonally
1/2 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes
salt and pepper
1 tablespoon butter, melted
paprika
Directions
Heat oven to 375 degrees F. Line ceramic dish with heavy duty foil.
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Arrange chicken pieces, bell pepper, onions, potatoes, carrots, and celery on the foil. Pour tomatoes over all and season with salt and pepper
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Cover the pan tightly with foil
Roast for 45 minutes or until vegetables are just tender
Lift foil and baste with juices. Brush the chicken and vegetables with the melted butter and sprinkle with paprika.
Continue roasting, uncovered, for 45 minutes longer or until chicken is tender and browned.
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*Photo and recipe courtesy of thespruce.com*
Mushroom & Sweet Onion Stuffed Brie
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1/2 medium sweet onion, sliced thinly
8 oz. white mushrooms, sliced thin, stems ok
1/4 cup sherry
salt & pepper to taste
1 wheel of brie (5 to 6-inches in diameter)
1 sheet puff pastry, thawed
baguette or crostini
Ingredients
Amanda's
Favorite
PREP TIME: 25 MINS
COOK TIME: 20 MINS
YIELD: 12 SERVINGS
Directions
Heat skillet to medium-low. Add butter, olive oil, garlic and onions. Saute until onions are softened. Add mushrooms and sherry. Season with salt and pepper. Cook until liquid is incorporated. Let cool. Spoon out any extra liquid (if there is any) and discard.
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Slice brie right down the middle (horizontally) to make 2 rounds. Spread mushroom mixture on one of the rounds. Place the other round on top of the mushrooms.
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Lightly roll out puff pastry. Place stuffed brie on the pastry. Fold pastry around brie and wrap around all sides. Turn the brie over so the smooth side is on top. Mark sides of wrapped brie with vertical fork lines. Place in a greased pie plate and bake in preheated 450 oven for 10 minutes. Turn down to 400, and continue to bake until golden brown. Watch closely... if overcooked, the brie will leak.
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Remove from oven and serve immediately. Serve with baguette slices
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*Photo & recipe courtesy of recipegirl.com*
Using a Ceramic Pie Plate
Using It
In many ways, ceramic is like glass: it conducts heat very well, but can cause over-browning in sweet dishes. Best recipes for for ceramic pans: casseroles, cobblers, bread puddings, pies.
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Care and Cleaning
Our ceramic wares are made of stoneware, so they're pretty sturdy. You can choose to handwash, but these are completely dishwasher-safe. As with any dish, if there is anything stuck on, it's best to scrape off the excess food prior to placing in the dishwasher
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Strawberry Rhubarb Pie
PREP TIME: 45 MINS
COOK TIME: 40 MINS
TOTAL TIME: 1 HOUR 30 MINS
YIELD: 12 SERVINGS
Amanda's
Favorite
Ingredients
1 cup white sugar
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 pound fresh (or frozen, thawed and drained) rhubarb, chopped to 1/4" thick
2 pints fresh strawberries
1 recipe for a 9 inch double crust pie (see below) OR 2 pre-made crusts from grocery store
1 tablespoons butter
1 egg yolk
2 tablespoons white sugar
Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.​
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In a large bowl, mix flour and sugar. Add strawberries and chopped rhubarb. Toss with sugar and flour and let stand for 30 minutes.
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Pour filling into pie crust. Dot top with butter, and cover with top crust.** Seal edges of top and bottom crust with water.
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Apply yolk to top of pie, using a pastry brush. Sprinkle with sugar. Cut small holes in top to let steam escape.
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Bake at 400 degrees F for 35 to 40 minutes, or until bubble and brown. Cool on rack.
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**TOP CRUST OPTION: Try a lattice crust! It's pretty and definitely has "wow factor."
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*Photo & recipe courtesy of allrecipes.com*
Basic Flaky Pie Crust
Ingredients
1 1/4 cups all -purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup shortening, chilled
3 tablespoons ice water
Directions
Whisk the flour and salt together in a medium size bowl. With a pastry blender, cut in the cold shortening until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Drizzle 2 to 3 tablespoons ice water over flour. Toss mixture with a fork to moisten, adding more water a few drops at a time until the dough comes together.
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Gently gather dough particles together into a ball. Wrap in plastic wrap, and chill for at least 30 minutes before rolling.
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Roll out dough, and put in a pie plate. Fill with desired filling and bake.
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*Recipe courtesy of allrecipes.com*
Using a Ceramic Casserole
Using It
In many ways, ceramic is like glass: it conducts heat very well, but can cause over-browning in sweet dishes. Best recipes for for ceramic pans: casseroles, cobblers, bread puddings, pies.
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Care and Cleaning
Our ceramic wares are made of stoneware, so they're pretty sturdy. You can choose to handwash, but these are completely dishwasher-safe. As with any dish, if there is anything stuck on, it's best to scrape off the excess food prior to placing in the dishwasher. Because there are nooks and crannies, hand-washing is recommended.
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No-Knead Dutch Oven Bread
PREP TIME: 8 HOURS 40 MINS
COOK TIME: 1 HOUR
TOTAL TIME: 9 HOURS 40 MINS
YIELDS: 1 LARGE ROUND LOAF
Ingredients
3 cups all -purpose flour
2 teaspoons sea salt
1 teaspoon active dry yeast
1 1/2 cups warm water (about 110 to 115 degrees F)
Directions
In a large bowl, whisk flour, salt and yeast until well mixed. Pour in warm water and use a wooden spoon to stir until a shaggy dough forms. The mixture will be wet and very sticky to the tough.
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Cover bowl tightly with plastic wrap and set aside in a warm place 8 to 18 hours until dough rises, bubbles and flattens on top.
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Heat oven to 450 degrees F. Once oven is preheated, place your casserole pan/Dutch Oven (with cover) in oven 30 minutes before baking.
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Punch down dough. Generously flour a sheet of parchment paper; transfer dough to parchment and, with floured hands, quickly shape into a ball. Place dough on parchment paper and sprinkly top lightly with flour. Top with a sheet of plastic wrap and let rest 30 minutes.
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Remove casserole/Dutch oven from oven (pan will be HOT so use potholders). Uncover dough and carefully transfer to casserole/Dutch oven, with or without parchment paper beneath (if bottom of Dutch oven is not coated with enamel, keep parchment paper beneath dough - our ceramic dishes are not enameled so this is a MUST). Cover casserole/Dutch oven and return to oven.
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Bake bread 45 minutes covered, then another 10 to 15 minutes uncovered until dough is baked through and golden brown on top. Cool slightly before slicing.
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*Photo and recipe courtesy of girlversusdough.com*
Using a Ceramic Garlic Dish
Using It
In our house we use a garlic dish a lot. All you need to do is use a fresh clove of garlic and rub it around the bottom of the dish, using the roughness of the dish to basically macerate the garlic. Then, add olive oil and a touch of salt and pepper, maybe even some italian herbs, and you're ready to enjoy with some fresh bread for dipping.
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Care and Cleaning
Our ceramic wares are made of stoneware, so they're pretty sturdy. You can choose to handwash, but these are completely dishwasher-safe. As with any dish, if there is anything stuck on, it's best to scrape off the excess food prior to placing in the dishwasher.