Andi, your kitty is very sweet! Oh yeah, your swap box is pretty sweet too! Enjoy.

Marci, Good job! But you always do a good job ;-)

I think that's a daylily I see in that gorgeous bowl..

What a well thought of gift package.

Another interesting swap box! I just love seeing what our swappers chose to send.

Well done, Marcia! Enjoy your gifts, Andi - and don't forget to post any recipes you try over in Discussions.

Teresa

Boy, that cookbook would get used a lot here. I love to bake. I keep reading all about these fig jams...figs are my favorite fruit & I can't get them here.

Love that bowl, the colors are spectacular...but, I think it looks like a mum and not a daylily? Maybe, I need glasses?? In any event, the colors are a winner, for sure!

Enjoy the goodies (especially that fig jam), Andi.

Nice going Marcia!

Tricia

Enjoy your gifts, the pottery is so lovely. Love your sweet kitty...

What a beautiful package you put together Marcia. I just love that bowl. That cookbook would be put to good use here too. I still have no idea what figs taste like but the marmalade sounds wonderful.

Enjoy your package Andi and let us know what you're baking.

Tracey

Andi, sweet, sweet kitty! Great gifts too. I would really like the baking book too.
Marcia, Excellent choices! Pretty wrapping too.

Jayne

AW! The kitty got a gift too! Hey that bowl is beautiful!
Great job Marcia! Andi, gimme that bowl!!! hahahaha!!

Great gifts! Beautiful bowl. I love the cookbook! Fantastic, Marcia! Enjoy, Andi!

More FIGS! I told you, this is the swap fruit!

I love that bowl. I love all the bowls, LOL. I'll take the cat, too.

Neat package and packaging!

YAY! So happy it got there, Andi!

The spice grinder was a tough decision because there were several things from that company I wanted to get. Like lavender lemonade. Have you ever HAD lavender lemonade? It's delicious! But here's the description of the spices:

5280 Grind
The 5280 Grind is a blend of whole spices in a clear acrylic grinder. The flavor is dynamic...a little citrusy, peppery and spicy all mixed together. You will use it everywhere you use pepper today! Especially good ground over olive oil for use as a dipping oil for your favorite bread or to use as a marinade for meat, chicken or fish. A beautiful blend of Four Peppercorns, Coriander, Rosemary, Onion, Mustard Seed, Fennel, Orange & Lemon Peel, Tarragon, Garlic, Chili Peppers and Sesame Seeds.

It's a little bit sweet and a little bit spicy (and oh so delicious!). So have fun with that.

The fig marmalade is one of my favorites. Once you have it on salmon, you'll know what I mean. If you put it on after you broil/bake/grill it and then stick it under the broiler for a minute, it kind of crystalizes a bit and YUM! I like to just put it on crackers, too. But you never know if someone else will like figs or not. People who haven't tried them think they won't like them. What's up with that? I think they're very misunderstood.

I tried to keep a Fall-ish theme and to stick to just three gifts although I failed with the latter. I also tried to come up with things that are unique and wanted to combine the sweet/savory idea. I hope you had fun with your very first swap and that you go on to enjoy many more!

Marcia

That bowl is gorgeous!! I think it went to the wrong house. I am also drooling at the idea of both those food items. That salmon sounds amazing!! What a great swap package!!

-Robin

At the risk of sounding repetitive...that is a gorgeous bowl, absolutely gorgeous. I have to go back and reread the post I got stuck on the bowl! LOL

A great package, Marcia (even if you cheated a little). Enjoy your bounty, andi.

Marcia - that's a beautiful package - from the wrapping, to the bowl - and the kitty's gift (you cheat, you). I love the food items. I would not have thought to put marmalade on salmon, but it sounds great. I love fruits with my meats (like duck a l'orange, or with cassis, etc.), so why not try that on salmon. Good idea.

Andi, enjoy your package. Let us know what you bake.

Lynn.

Fabulous bowl - so mesmerizing. And that marmalade sounds very unique and tasty - special package you put together Marcia!

Of course all the goodies are wonderful, but they're so pretty too. I wish I could stop looking at that cake on the cover ;) Can't wait to see your creations Andi!

Wonderful job Marcia. Love the wrapping job too.

Ooh these pictures are a delightful. I'm sure just as much as the items are!

I keep going back to the picture of the cat seemingly drooling over the bird nest... is there catnip in it? What a great photo!

I love that bowl, its size and colours inside. And although I don't do much baking, that book is right up my alley. The spice grinder looks totally useful too, looks like it would do a small amount of spice or a larger quantity. Nice goodies Andi, hope you enjoy!

Beautiful wrapping and selection of swap items Marcia!

Catherine

Another bunch of unique items-- bowl is very pretty -- I bet you'll get a lot of yummy treats out of that cookbook Andi -- & oh but that marmalade sounds delicious -- good choices Marcia .

Oh my, oh my! That is a truly super parcel of treats. How exciting for you to receive these lovely items. I'm anxious to see some of the recipes from that book. Sounds sinful!

Forgot to mention the wrapping...Marcia you did a fabulous job on the presentaion.

What a thoughtful swap, especially for the cat! My, as the holidays arrive, I want to see some recipes from that book. Adele

Marcia what a beautiful bowl! And I love the photo of your cat with the nest, too Andi.

I'll have to admit to swooning at the first sight of the cover of that book, though! Andi, you'll have to pick a new favorite to share over on the Discussions side. Looks like lots of yummy possiblities are inside those covers!

The wrapping is spectacular! What a beautiful package. I just love bowls and that is another beauty. I can't get over the bird's nest and egg - is it nip or something?

I love your cat, Andi! Exquisite selections, Marcia.

Okay, now I have to scrap everything I bought and start over. Sheesh. Who can possibly match this?? I love every item. I HAVE to have a piece of the cake on the cover of the cookbook. I love the bowl, too. Very nice.

Pam

Oh Andi, what wonderful gifts. That bowl is so pretty. And that cookbook gets great reviews on eGullet. In fact there is a whole thread devoted to it. I can't get over the cat's gift either. Too cute.

Ann

Fab package, and, I LOVE THAT BOWL! Excellent choices, and yippee for Andi (and kitty) for being the lucky recipients.

oooh sounds like a great cookbook!

That bowl is just beautiful, Marcia. You did a wonderful job choosing things for Andi - yup, good job - I bet you got her hooked on swapping!

Stacy

I'm in total agreement about that bowl, it's just beautiful. The kitty is pretty cute too...

I'm sure the fig marmalade is delicious, I finished off the jar that Jessica sent me already!

Annie

Yup, I agree, that bowl is gorgeous!! The marmalade sounds yummy! Great gifts Marcia!!

What a beautiful bowl, and wonderful selections, my mouth is watering at the marmalade and that baking book! And your wrapping is lovely--i'm wrapping-impaired, so i especially admire the preparation you did! Great package!

Marcia, Marcia, Marcia... The bowl is just dreamy. I saw that Dorie Greenspan book when I was picking up my cookbook selection and was tempted (though I am a lousy baker). The marmalade sounds awesome. Let us know how it is, Andi.

What a great package -- that bowl is especially fantastic. Figs really are the thing here lately, aren't they? I'd love to hear more from the cookbook.

Wow, what a great package! Is the bowl pottery or glass? Either way it is stunning! Now go bake up a batch of goodies from that book!

Linda

Linda,
The bowl is pottery but the glaze is really shiny. I have to confess that it's handmade by someone in New England, not Colorado. (But I did other things for the regional gift, so...)

Here's a closer view:
{{gwi:1465991}}

And of the marmalade: {{gwi:1465992}}

I just ordered two jars of the Loredana marmalade. I thought the bowl was glass, thanks for the close-up and explanation.

Love the kittie!

Here is a link that might be useful: Fig Marmalade

Absolutely GORGEOUS! I love pottery, and that bowl is a treasure. The cookbook looks great, too. I want a piece of that cake, too...is any left? Fig marmelade sounds interesting. How nice for you to remember the kitty. I think the cat wants a bite of that egg! Good job, Marcia, and lucky you, Andi!

Sally

Add me to the list who love and want that bowl. Very cool! I can't wait for a recipe out of that book, you know I love to bake. Great package Marica! I know Andi will enjoy it all.

David

Wow! Great package and that bowl is to die for!

Enjoy!

Beautiful all the way. Wonderful choices. But you did cheat! Of course some of us have been known to bend rules before. Welcome to swapping, you did good.

Andi that's a great swap! Marcia you did a great job, was the nest made out of catnip? Kitty looks worn out and hypnotized, lol.

Beautiful bowl - I love glass! And handmade does not have to be local - that's a different category.

I'm looking forward to recipes from the book, and maybe more info about the fig marmalade. Let us know how you use it!

Great package!

Lars

awesome swap! and, as others have said, the bowl is beautiful. what a great package!!

I'd like to have some salmon with fig marmalade right about now. The bowl is drop-dead gorgeous. I love baking books, too. Great selections,Marcia. Have fun with it, Andi!

The homemade marmalade is a terrific gift! I love the homemade jams/jellies/preserves/marmalades. The cookbook sounds like one I'd really enjoy. I'll have to check it out. The spice blend sounds great, too. I can's see the pix in the OP, but I see the bowl downthread. It's beautiful. Sure would like to see the kitty toy!! Enjoy your treats!

Great job Marcia!

Andi, if you can't use that bowl, just send it to me, LOL. It is gorgeous!

Marcia, what a nice package. The marmalade looks yummy!

I LOVE that bowl -- it is beautiful! Very nice package - enjoy!