WANTED: Katie, I'm (nearly) speechless!

17 years ago

And not just because I've been talking since yesterday morning!

What a lovely, generous package! And what a nice representation of the Inland Northwst! (I love regional packages.)

Election Day got in the way of picking up my package from Katie. (And absentee ballots, and provisional ballots, and siputed results....) But I finally picked it up and got to open it this evening. As you see, a lovely array of autumnal colored packages, plus travel prochures for Northern Idaho/Southern British Columbus and "The Selkirk Loop". (which look absolutely beautiful, by the way.)

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Katie managed to work local and handmade into all the categories, starting with the cookbook: collected from a bunch of cookbooks, some going back to the 40's, and sold by her local Friends of the Libary.

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Just leafing thru there are some really intriguing recipes here; onion shortcake, psychedelic salad, Papa (Hemmingway's) favorite trout -- and spud candy! (Last school year my 10-year-old niece had to prepare and deliver a report on Idaho. Natural showman that she is, she ordered a big box of commercially prepared spud candy -- and passed it out at the end of the report. Now we can make our own!)

Also local and home-made -- and awesome! -- are the preserves.

{{gwi:1467507}}

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Comments (30)

alison
Original Author
17 years ago
(oops! Don't know why this split. Katie says the autumn conserve (a very Thanksgivingish-looking chutney) is new to her, but the plums in the Asian plum sauce come from a neighbors trees, and she picks the huckleberries for the preserves on her own property. The pepper jelly looks very tempting -- do you have a recipe for that jalapeno cheesecake, Katie?

And the finally piece (finally? 3 categories suddenly seems so big!) is a neat triangular plate from just north of the border. Decorated with meadows, mountains and wild flowers -- who could ask for anything more? How about the fact that it's decorated front and back?
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It's really, really lovely, Katie, and I can see why you like the artist so much. I'm tempted to keep it on the dresser in the bedroom, where I can see it first thing in the morning.

What a great swap package! Thank you so much, Katie; it's like a breath of fresh air from the north! I know I'll enjoy the recipes and the plate for a long time -- and I'll enjoy the heck out of the homemade goodies while they last!

(Just had to leave the rest of you with this picture. It's the wrapping paper Katie used on the cookbook. I'm thinking of using it in an art piece. Something like "spuds in motion".....)
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teresa_nc7
17 years ago
Another terrific swap package! What wonderful sounding preserves, sauce, jelly and conserve! Love the plate and I know I would love that cookbook.

Well done, Katie!
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momto4kids
17 years ago
Wow! An Idaho cookbook! I wonder what's in the psychedelic salad?! I really love that plate! Neat shape and lovely colors. The homemade goodies sound delicious! I'd love to try that Asian plum sauce! Enjoy!

Great job Katie!
riverrat1
17 years ago
Katie! Terrific Job on this swap package!

alison, You are on lucky girl to get some of Katies canning goodies. At Canny Camp, Katie brought dried huckleberries so we could all try them. I can now say I officially like huckleberries. Enjoy you lovely package from Katie.
Terri_PacNW
17 years ago
Funny that Potato paper..

That plate is amazing.
The cookbook, what a treasure of recipes, and 4 wonderful home can jars..

neato stuff from sure!
weed30 St. Louis
17 years ago
Onion Shortcake?! I think you need to post the recipe - sounds really good! Love the plate and the wrapping paper is too perfect :)

Idaho....who knew?
blueiris24
17 years ago
I love the recipe titles in that book - can't wait to hear what you decide to try. That plate is very cheery, and I thought those were real potatoes! Fun package, Katie. Enjoy Alison!
KatieC
17 years ago
Ohgood, nothing was broken. I always worry.

I'm glad you like the plate, Alison. Hope you enjoy the homemades...I had a hard time deciding. And the paper came from a little podunk hardware store. I love finding weird things in strange places, hehe.
olyharris
17 years ago
Don't get me started on homemade goodies - they'd be gone already if they were at my house. They all sound yummy!

Very pretty plate! Enjoy Alison!

Oly
wizardnm
17 years ago
Spud paper....lol....how very Idaho....I love it.

Katie you did great. I'm sure Allison will enjoy for a long time. The plate is really neat!

Nancy
compumom
17 years ago
How lucky to get a package of goodies from our own Master Canner. I'll bet they're all delicious and you can make more delights from the cookbook too!
chancesmom
17 years ago
That loks like a very personal swap! Share with us some of the more unique recipes from that book; spud candy????

That plate looks really pretty, bet the colours are even more vibrant than in the pictures.

Great selections Katie
sally2_gw
17 years ago
What a neat and fun package. I'm sure the preserves are wonderful. The cookbook looks like a riot, and definately has some interesting sounding recipes, and that plate is just gorgeous! You're so lucky, Alison. Good job, Katie!

Sally
sheshebop
17 years ago
Everything that Katie makes is wonderful! Great package! I would kill for those plates! (Well, not really kill, just maybe maim)
Lars
17 years ago
I've never had huckleberries - what do they taste like? How nice to get four jars or preserves!! The plate is very unique also - I seldom find triangular plates, but I especially like them. The wrapping paper is a nice touch also - it looks so real. I would never have guessed that there was an Idaho cookbook - sounds very unique also!

Lars
Gina_W
17 years ago
I love the unique plate, and those preserves sound so yummy. The wrapping paper is too cute!
doucanoe
17 years ago
Wow, Katie's own preserves! Love the plate, it is just fabulous! Some of those recipes do, indeed sound intriguing! Spud paper! LOL

Linda
Bizzo
17 years ago
Wow! What creative wrapping paper! How perfect for a CF Swap from Idaho!!! I love the plates!! I could find lots of uses for them in my kitchen LOL.

what a GREAT combination of gifts! You are a lucky duck, Alison :)
lori316
17 years ago
Oh, two of my former swap buddies paired together, both sweethearts, so I know how lucky you both are.

LOL The wrapping paper is too funny!

What a cool plate. And some of those recipes sound very interesting - psychedelic salad, eh?

What an honor to get some of Katie's canned goodies. Enjoy, Alison!
maggie2094
17 years ago
What a perfect regional package. Lucky you, Alison to sample all those preserves Katie made. What a treat. I can't wait to see what you make from that cookbook - very cool.

I am interested in finding out more about The Selkirk Loop. I have to look that up.
granjan
17 years ago
What a great collection of preserves. Lucky girl. The rest is pretty neat as well.
traceys
17 years ago
Wonderful box Katie!

Alison, You are so lucky to receive Katies plum sauce. I remember it well. Those plates are just beautiful. Enjoy your gifts.

Tracey
User
17 years ago
Great choices Katie! I love that dish, very interesting that it is painted on both sides.

Psychedelic salad, must be 60's recipe made with mushrooms! The cookbook sounds very interesting, I just love those types of cookbooks.

Enjoy!
lakeguy35
17 years ago
Alison, great selection you have there. I know the jams and sauces will be great coming from Katie. That plate is very unique and I'm sure there are some good recipes in the cookbook for you to try and share with us. Great package Katie!

David
dlundin
17 years ago
Great booty, Alison. Katie packed a super box for you. Love the plate but would kill for the jams. Very nicely done, Katie!
shaun
17 years ago
Another wonderful swap package! You ladies really know how to do it right!
annie1992
17 years ago
Alison, I make Katie's plum sauce every year now, Ashley loves it to dip chicken nuggets in and nothing else will do. I predict you're gonna love it.

The onion shortcake sounds really interesting and I don't even WANT to know what's in psychedelic salad. (grin) The plate is cool, though, maybe you could put your psychedelic salad on it!

Annie
andi_2006
17 years ago
Katie, the homemade category is over the top - YUMMM! Lucky you!! The plate is so unique and the cookbook is sure to contain many delicious recipes amongst the pages. Enjoy, Alison!
triciae
17 years ago
Man, I'm drooling over your Asian Plum Sauce! The others look good too but that plum has my mouth watering.

The cookbook's going to be fun. Please post the recipe for the spud candy...

I really like the triangular, hand-painted plate. We've seen a wonderful sampling of great crafts in this swap. It's been my fav category.

Enjoy, Alison and Great Job, Katie!

Tricia
trixietx
17 years ago
I love the plate, it is just beautiful.

Alison, that is a really good cookbook and Katie's Huckleberry preserves and Plum Sauce are so good. I have been making the plum sauce since receiving a jar from Katie in a previous swap. I just wish I could get huckleberries to make preserves with.

Katie packs a good box!

WANTED: Katie, I'm (nearly) speechless!

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alison
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WANTED: Katie, I'm (nearly) speechless!

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alisonOriginal Author

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alison
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