Yes, all salt is sea salt, but table salt is generally produced from brine pumped from wells or the ocean, not the mined version (halite). Table salt is also "chemically cleaned" and contains a small amount of various chemicals used to keep the salt from absorbing water and caking. These chemicals include magnesium carbonate, calcium silicate, calcium phosphate, magnesium silicate, and calcium carbonate. A small amount of potassium iodide is added for the iodized version (something I never purchase is iodized salt or table salt). Sodium chloride (salt) is the principal extinguishing agent in fire extinguishers. You learn these little tidbits of information when you tour the Salt Museum in Hutchinson, KS. Speaking of which, we have salt mines here in Kansas having once been the ocean bottom (see: Carey Salt Mine, Hutchinson, KS, or Independent Salt Company, Kanapolis, KS), but instead of being made into table salt, much of the mined salt is used as an additive to animal and poultry feed, for processing raw hides into leather goods, industrial water treatment, and as an aid in drilling oil and gas wells. The largest use of mined salt is as a de-icing agent. I purchase Celtic Sea Salt from the Grain & Salt Society because of the high-mineral content - and have for over 30-years - leaving table salt and other highly refined salts in the store. The "bio-available high moisture content [of Celtic Sea Salt] naturally lowers the amount of Sodium Chloride" which I understand is a good thing. Celtic Sea Salt is hand-harvested, not mined, and unprocessed, and provides over 80 minerals without any other chemicals being added. When you add these high-mineral sea salts to yeast breads, according to Shirley Corriher in "CookWise", the additional minerals can be helpful in gluten development and the minerals also feed the yeast. Corriher gives a lot of salt information on page 19 of her book. You will also find different salts from different parts of the world taste differently. -Grainlady

Linda, it's being marketed to foodies as a finishing salt (although people who have a lot of access to it cook with it, too). Knowing your love of china and fine things, I'm betting you have some pretty salt cellars that would show off the salt and your collection. A lot of people use clear grinders to show it off, but I've found most don't grind finely enough or are made of plastic and look odd on a formal table. I wouldn't pass it as a block only because it could create a situation where someone feel uncomfortable trying to figure out how to handle it...or not handle it. :) (besides, all those hands touching it...ewww...even if you do know and love them! LOL!) Store away from moisture, naturally, but I'm sure you already figured that out. :) I'm not sure what the humidty is like were you are. If I were in KY, a baggy would be death due to condensation. Here, it's so dry that I'd go with a paper bag or baggy. Oh, an as for what to use it on? I forgot to mention that it's pretty on just a simple salad of mixed greens with some pommegranate seeds. I've got some Hawaiian pink and some black salt (now that is odd looking stuff!), but I hear the Himalayan flavor really puts the Hawaiian to shame. Enjoy!

Mtn, that recipe is a buttery sugar cookie and it always gets compliments. I discovered it when I somehow volunteered to make cookies for a school function where they needed something like 12 dozen sugar cookies in cut out in the traditional gingerbread shape to be decorated by kindergarteners. Without that recipe, I might have had to move. It really saved me. And whetehr you try the recipe or not, the rolling the dough first and then chilling is so much easier. I can't believe we used to chill the bowl and then try to rough out the cold, stiff dough. No wonder they were a once a year ordeal for us. Funky, your dog treats are what I envisions when I tried some for my dogs. The dough turned out to be so stiff that I just pressed it out and cut it into squares. I was disappointed, but the dogs still loved them. And it is easier now that I continue to make them (my lab is addicted -- to the point we call them "puppy crack"). Kuddos to you for sticking with it though.

My daughter loves candles, and I thought the soft light might look nice for her apartment, which is otherwise all cool or cold colors. They are supposed to have some kind of health benefit, but most such claims make me roll my eyes....so I wanted to see if anyone has felt they were actually useful. She has a cat, and is allergic. She has had shots, but they only work up to a point. (Me too, so I can attest). When it gets really bad, she uses a nasal rinse. If they really help with allergies, it could be worth a try. Though we'd have to keep it from her brother, who is a doctor: he'd laugh his head off.