Dress the Table with Whiteware All Year Long

Dress up your table with whiteware from HIC–Harold Import Company.

It doesn’t matter if it’s after Labor Day, white is still in fashion, especially on the table. White tableware a perfect complement to the table all year round. Whether it is a soufflé or pork tenderloin, our porcelain whiteware comes in a variety of shapes and sizes allowing you to prepare just about anything you would like. Go all white, or add some whiteware as an accent to your collection – it transitions beautifully from casual to formal settings, and is a durable choice throughout the year.

Our oven-to-table porcelain whiteware features a heavy glaze that is scratch resistant. The durability and versatility takes these items from the fridge or freezer to the microwave or conventional oven, without risking cracks.

HIC’s Souffle Ramekins are for baking and serving appetizers, casseroles, entrees, desserts and single-serving recipes – even serving condiments. Available in several sizes.

HIC’s Round Quiche Dish is for making quiche, appetizers, casseroles, entrees, desserts and other family favorite recipes. Specially designed for oven and broiler (to 500-degrees Fahrenheit), the beautifully fluted edges bake decorative quiche. This classic design is ideal for everyday use and entertaining. And, it’s dishwasher safe for easy cleanup.

HIC’s Lasagna Pan transitions beautifully from oven to table. This durable and versatile baking dish is perfect for lasagna, cakes, casseroles and quiche, roasting and serving veggies, and more. The generous depth supports layered recipes, and the easy-hold handles provide a comfortable grip and secure transfer in and out of the oven. 

This beautiful whiteware Kitchen Platter is the perfect choice for serving everything from breakfast croissants to veggies to desserts. Measuring 9.5 x 14”, the porcelain plate is durable for use through the years. 

Our classic French Onion Soup Crocks are specially designed for baking, broiling, serving and enjoying French onion soup and other favorites. The sturdy handle is designed for secure maneuvering in and out of the oven or broiler. Perfect for individual portions of chowder, chili, sew, mac and cheese, pot pie, pudding and more! The set includes 4 (14-ounce) soup crocks with matching lids.

Head on over to our website to view our expansive collection of whiteware.

Pizza Night: More Cheese Please!

Pizza night is a great way to connect with family and friends – a wonderful tradition that is made even better with homemade pizza. HIC–Harold Impost Company offers a wide selection of pizza prep and serve tools that are essential for making your pizza night memorable. This Friday is National Cheese Pizza Day, and while mozzarella may be the most popular cheese for topping pizza, followed by provolone, there are many options that can transform your next pizza night. 

Here are a few of our kitchen tools and gadgets that will help you make the most of your cheese pizza celebration. 

HIC’s Pizza Stone is for baking perfectly crisp pizza, flatbread, sourdough and scones, or reheating leftover pizza without soggy, doughy, or burnt spots.

  • Made from natural, food-safe ceramic stoneware
  • Heat resistant to 480-degrees Fahrenheit
  • Absorbs moisture to eliminate soggy crust
  • Distributes heat evenly for uniform browning
  • Contoured rack safely transports hot stone to serve pizza
  • Safe for gas, electric, convection, microwave oven, and on the grill

Fantes Uncle Tony’s Classic Pizza Cutter is the fastest and easiest way to cut pizza slices in seconds!

  • Made from Japanese stainless steel with a plastic handle
  • 3.75-inch blade
  • Works left- or right-handed
  • Larger wheel rolls easily to cut through pizza crusts of all thicknesses
  • Thumb rest allows for a secure grip and finger guard protects hands from cuts

Fantes Cousin Nico’s Suction-Base Cheese Grater is for grating cheeses, nuts, breadcrumbs and chocolates and shredding vegetables.

  • Suction base grips clean, smooth surfaces securely for effortless operation
  • Easy to use, simply insert food into the hopper and turn handle to grate or shred. Use the safety pusher to guide food through the grater
  • Includes Suction-Base Grater, 2 stainless steel drums (1 for finely grated, the other coarsely grated), and a safety pusher
  • Easy to clean with warm, soapy water

HIC’s Classic Box Kitchen Grater is ideal for grating, slicing and shredding cheeses, vegetables, nutmeg, onions, garlic, chocolate and more.

  • Made from stainless steel, the sharp cutting surfaces are for fine, medium and coarse grating
  • The 4-Sided grating surfaces features: straight cuts, 0.25-inch shredder holes, 0.13-inch shredder holes and a very fine grating surface for harder cheeses and nutmeg
  • Handle affords a firm grip for smooth functionality and provides stability
  • Measures 9.25-inches top to bottom and approximately 4.25-inches x 3.5-inches across

Protect against sharp and abrasive objects, such as cheese graters, with Cutlery Pro Mesh Cutting Glove, Medium.

  • Certified ASTM ANSI Level 5, the highest level of safety available
  • European LFGB food safe certified
  • Unbeatable cut resistance with a strength-to-weight ratio that is 15 times greater than steel
  • Made from high-performance 1000D polyethylene (HPPE) string at 10 gauge string knits
  • Blended with basalt fiber and spandex for ultimate protection, breathability, and dexterity
  • Elasticized wrists for comfortable fit
  • Fits most hand sizes
  • Hand wash and air dry

Pizza Night is a tradition that is made easier to enjoy with HIC–Harold Import Company. Head on over to our website for more great kitchen tools and gadgets and start making memories in the kitchen.

Oyster Love

For many, the allure of raw oysters is hard to beat. They’re briny, buttery, and sometimes sweet, with their taste varying according to the conditions of the water in which they live. With oyster season approaching, now is the time to stock up on all the great items from HIC that will make the most of oyster enjoyment, whether you’ll be preparing them roasted on the grill, broiled, served raw, or in a stew.

HIC Kitchen Oyster Plate (NT301) is the perfect plate for serving oysters raw, baked or broiled. HIC fine white porcelain performs beautifully in the oven, broiler, freezer and table. It is also dishwasher safe. The 9″ plate cradles 6 oysters in the half shell, and recessed center holds lemon or dip for enjoyment.

Maine Man Oyster Knife is for prying open and removing delicate meat from shells. Made from extra sturdy 2.0mm thick 18/8 stainless steel with ABS. The knife measures 7-inches long and features a pointed blade with tapered edge for added precision. The contoured grip provides leverage, even when hands are wet, and the safety guard protects hands. Dishwasher safe for easy cleanup.

HIC Oyster Forks are for serving and enjoying oysters, clams, mussels, and other seafood on the half-shell. Made in Japan from 18/8 stainless steel, the attractive 3 prong fork with wider splayed tips easily pick up oysters. Extra-wide left tine offers more leverage to separate oysters from their shell. Great for appetizers, finger foods, small bites and tapas, the forks work for =everyday meals and special occasions.

Head on over to the HIC website for more great seafood tools.

Preserve the Season’s Bounty with HIC

Summer is in full swing, and home gardens and markets are bursting with the bounty of seasonal fruits and vegetables. From tomatoes, beans and peas to peaches, cherries and beyond, it’s time to prepare for canning season so you can enjoy the fresh flavor of summer all year long. 

Check out some of our canning essentials so you can preserve them at the height of freshness with HIC, Harold Import Co.

Mrs. Anderson’s Deluxe Cherry Pitter quickly and easily removes pits without bruising or crushing cherries (and olives) for less waste and mess. The sturdy and durable pitter features an automatic feed tray for rapid and efficient removal of pits. A powerful suction base securely attaches to any smooth surface. Easy to use, simply fill automatic feed tray with cherries, and press plunger to extract pit. A bowl catches pitted cherries and the catch bin collects the pits. Perfect for canning, freezing, dehydrating, and baking.

HIC’s Home Canning Supplies Kit includes all the essentials for canning the flavors of the season. The set includes a Canning Funnel for transferring liquids and dry goods into dispensers and storage containers effortless with less mess. The Canning Jar Lifter holds canning jars securely for filling, lifting and transporting. A Canning Jar Wrench is for easily tightening lids, and the versatile Tongs aid when canning your tomatoes, salsa, pickles, peaches and more. The Magnetic Canning Lid Wand securely lifts and transports metal canning jar lids to keep hands safely away from heat.

HIC’s Magnetic Canning Lid Wand is for secure lifting and transporting of metal canning jar lids to keep hands safely away from heat. Made with a sturdy magnet and square plastic handle for secure grip and effortless control. Lifts all sizes of metal canning lids safely to cover small glass jars, jelly jars, standard-sized and larger mason jars.

HIC’s Canning Funnel makes transferring liquids and dry goods into dispensers and storage containers effortless with less mess. Made from 18/8 Stainless Steel, the funnel is lightweight and strong and will never rust. Wide opening for easier pouring with less mess.

HIC s Food Mill processes foods and removes seeds, skins and other fibrous bulk for smoother, creamier textures with an even consistency. Made from 18/8 stainless steel for durability, the funnel won’t rust or transfer flavors. To use, simply insert the disc, then place blanched food in the millbasket and turn the handle to force the food through the disc, directly into a bowl. Perfect for fresh pasta sauce, creamed soups, applesauce, mashed potatoes, fresh pea or parsnip puree, homemade baby food, and more.

Mrs. Anderson’s Apple Peeling Machine peels, cores and slices apples simultaneously in just seconds with an easy turn of the handle. Made from heavyweight aluminum with a powerful suction base, the enclosed C-clamp secures to porous surfaces. 

Visit www.HaroldImport.com for more kitchen tools and gadgets for canning the best of the season.

Summer Cocktails

“And so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees, just as things grow in fast movies, I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with summer.”

F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby

Summertime definitely brings new beginnings as we look forward to the warmth, the relaxation, and the time spent in the great outdoors with friends and family. 

When weather heats up, refreshing summer cocktails (and mocktails) are the perfect way to enjoy the season. Enjoy a bit of recipe inspiration for entertaining or to simply on a hot weekend afternoon in the backyard with your feet in the pool.

Disaronno Mule

  • 1-1/2 oz. Disaronno
  • ¾ oz fresh pressed lime juice
  • Ginger beer
  • Ginger & Lime slice

Pour Disaronno and Lime juice over ice in a mule cup and top with ginger beer. Garnish with freshly grated ginger and a lime slice

Pisco Punch

  • 2 oz. Pisco
  • 1 oz. pineapple cordial
  • 1 oz. lime juice
  • ½ oz. Lillet Rouge
  • Dash of aromatic bitters
  • Expressed orange peel for garnish

Pour liquid into a mixing glass, add ice, shake vigorously, finely strain into a cocktail goblet 

Recipe from Drinking in Devil’s Acre, by Duggan McDonnell

Blackberry and Cabernet Caipirinha

  • 6 lime slices
  • 2 orange slices
  • 3 blackberries
  • 2 oz. cachaça
  • 1 oz. California Cabernet
  • 1 oz. cocktail syrup

Muddle the produce in a mixing glass, then pour in the liquid, add ice, and shake vigorously. Pour into a large glass and stir.

Recipe from Drinking in Devil’s Acre, by Duggan McDonnell

Mix, Stir and Drink It Up with HIC

With HIC’s barware, preparing and enjoying summer cocktails (or mocktails) is simple, stylish, and refreshing. Here are a few classic cocktail accessories for your summertime enjoyment.

HIC’s Hammered Cocktail Mug is the perfect container for enjoying a classic Moscow Mule, Mint Julep, Dark and Stormy, or Cuba Libre. Made from copper-plated 18/8 stainless steel, the 16-ounce mug features a hammered surface with a contrasting handle with thumb rest for secure grip.

HIC Stainless Steel Muddler is designed to mash and crush fruits, spices and herbs to infuse your favorite beverages and cocktails. The rounded handle allows for a comfortable grip, and the textured end easily extrudes juice and essential oils from fruits and herbs. Made of FDA-approved stainless steel and polypropylene. Dishwasher safe for easy clean-up.

The World’s Greatest 4-in-1 Bar Tool is THE multi-functional tool you need for preparing your favorite beverages. Crafted from Japanese stainless steel with BPA-free plastic, the bar tool is a bottle opener, fruit and vegetable peeler, potato eye remover and channel knife for decorative garnishes. 

HIC Cocktail Mixing Spoon is just the spoon you need for reaching into bottom of taller glasses and pitchers. The twisted design in the handle also assists in building layered drinks. Perfect for sweetening iced tea or blending in infusions of muddles fruits, spices and herbs, elevating party drinks and cocktails to new heights.

Visit HaroldImport.com for more great ideas on summer entertaining.

Enjoying the Best of Berry Season

Berry season is peaking and there are so many ways to enjoy these nutritious and delicious fruits. Transform the naturally sweet and healthy berries into delicious snacks, desserts and even dinners, with HIC. Here are a few tools to make the most of berries this season.

HIC’s Collapsible Silicone Colander  has a 1.5-quart capacity and is ideal for draining, rinsing and washing produce. The footed base allows it to sit securely in the sink while rinsing.  The collapsible design makes for easy, space-saving storage.

HIC Kitchen’s Berry Fresh Produce Box is ideal for washing, draining, and storing berries to stay fresh longer in the fridge. It is available in two sizes, 1 liter in red, and half pint in blue. The boxes feature a perforated lid and vented box bottom, which drains washed produce and circulates fresh air. The textured insert elevates produce above liquids for longer freshness

Quickly and easily cut uniform slices of fruits using The World’s Greatest Handy Dandy Slicer.  The spring-loaded action allows for easy, repetitive slicing, and can be used for a variety of soft foods, including veggies and hard-boiled eggs.

HIC’s Strawberry Slicer is a cute and compact tool used to quickly cut uniform slices that look and taste great. Made with stainless steel and ABS plastic.

Mrs. Anderson’s Easy-As-Pie Pie Plate is a beautiful ceramic pie plate with wide, scalloped rim for secure handling in and out of the oven. The scratch-free glaze is durable and resists staining, odors and cracking, and the pie plate is sized perfectly to work with Mrs. Anderson’s 10-inch Pie Crust Shield.

For more great products to store, prepare and serve the bounty of the season, visit wwwHaroldImport.com.

June 15th is National Lobster Day: Get Cracking with HIC

There’s nothing like the summer and lobster combination, especially in New England!

Whether it’s grilled lobster, lobster pasta, lobster rolls, or a delicious salad, tie on a bib and get cracking with HIC. We’ve a collection of the tools you need to properly enjoy lobster on National Lobster Day, June 15th, and throughout this summer. Here are a few essentials to get you through the season.

Please Pass the Butter!

The Maine Man Butter Warmer is perfect for dipping your lobster. Made of ceramic, the durable warmer is an essential for anyone who loves lobster!

Get Every Bit of Meat

Maine Man Seafood Shears are a great tool to access the meat in the tail as well as to extract the meat from the knuckle or legs. 

Easily reach every bit of meat with the Seafood Picks (#71000). The rounded scoop separates the meat from the shell, and the prongs easily remove it. Then, once it’s out, use for dipping the fresh cooked meat in butter.

Lobster Cracker

With its sawtooth edge, the Lobster Cracker (#71006) easily cracks open seafood shells of various sizes. The spring-action hinge makes for quick cracking, and the silicone soft-touch grip is slip free. 

From the Pot

Tongs are a helpful tool to help remove lobster from the pot. To do so, carefully clasp the lobster at the center of the body and lift out of pot. Hold over the pot to drain excess water. Use a kitchen towel, and using other hand, place under the lobster’s body and transport.

Our Cutlery Pro Tongs, 16”, feature a silicone handle for securely gripping, lifting, turning, and draining cooking liquids from foods. Made from stainless steel, the tong’s scalloped grips ensures safe transfer.

Stay Clean

Maine Man Seafood’s Lobster Bibs keep clothes clean while eating messy foods like lobster.

Check out our Maine Man Seafood essentials for enjoying all kinds of seafood this summer from lobster to crab and beyond.

HaroldImport.com

Kids in the Kitchen

Kids and the kitchen go hand in hand. Not only does it create interest in food and cooking, but it cultivates a habit that will last a lifetime. The benefits of bringing your children into the kitchen are far reaching, including boosting their confidence and self-esteem, improving their comprehension and reading skills, all the while building math skills. AND, you also get to spend quality time together!

See all that Mrs. Anderson’s Baking has to offer, and starting cultivating that habit with your children.

The Mrs. Anderson’s Kids Baking Set (22048) includes all the perfectly sized essentials needed for budding chefs to bake at home. The 14-piece set is made from high-quality professional materials, including LFGB and FDA-approved silicone, BPA-free polypropylene, and stainless steel. This colorful set includes rolling pin, 6 muffin cups, fluted pan, 2 spatulas, 3 cookie cutters and a stainless steel mini whisk. All tools are dishwasher safe.

Mrs. Anderson’s Baking Animal Cookie Cutter Set (93273) features four animals, a bear, unicorn, dinosaur, and llama, for a fun new twist on traditional animal cookie shapes. The spring-action handle easily embosses the design onto the dough then releases the cutouts.

For a traditional animal cracker/cookie, try the Mrs. Anderson’s Baking Animal Cracker Cookie Set (#93249). Enjoy making giraffes, lions, zebras and elephants with your little one, for a fun trip to the zoo. The set of four cutters comes packaged with a shortbread recipe.

You may have seen the recent social media post from Chrissy Teigen, as her son enjoys making cookies with this set. She is heard saying ” Honestly, this is one of the coolest cookie cutter sets I’ve ever seen.”

Bite-sized brownies are easily baked in the Mrs. Anderson’s Baking Brownie Pan (43877). The European-grade silicone is strong, flexible and durable, maintaining its original shape and nonstick qualities through more uses. Use it to make 24 bite-sized brownies, cupcakes, gelatins, candies and more. Safe for use in the freezer, microwave and oven (to 500 degrees Fahrenheit). Dishwasher safe for easy cleanup.

When you introduce your children to the kitchen, you’ll quickly build their interest in food and cooking. Spend time together in the kitchen with Mrs. Anderson’s Baking. 

Visit HIC, Harold Import Co. for more inspiration.

The Perfect Burger with HIC

The official start of grilling season is upon us. To ensure you are ready to prepare one of the top grilling favorites, the burger, HIC, Harold Import Co. has just the right tools.

Break out the grills and learn how best to prepare your patties, and your fries, for a perfect meal.

Here are a few tips for great tasting burgers.

  • You want your burgers juicy, so don’t go too lean. Choose your standard ground beef with 20% fat.
  • Add flavorings – onions, garlic, herbs and spices, but hold off on the salt at this point, as it will draw out the moisture.
  • Bind it together with an egg and some breadcrumbs.
  • Shape it using the HIC Burger Press.
  • Chill the burgers for an hour or more. This will help them keep their shape when cooking.
  • Plop them on the grill, and cook to your desired doneness. You can sprinkle them with salt while cooking – and, don’t forget to add cheese!

Check out these essential tools to create a

delicious burger feast with HIC. 

Our quarter pound burger press helps you quickly form burger patties that are uniform in thickness so they cook evenly throughout, AND they’re perfectly sized for your buns. So versatile, the HIC Burger Press can be used for any type of patties – beef, turkey, chicken, sausage or veggie. They are also great to use when preparing quinoa cakes and even individual hash browns!

For the perfect French fries, the HIC French Fry Potato Cutter cuts uniformly sized pieces so they cook evenly.  The cutter is designed to give you the ability to make thick cut or shoestring fried potatoes (or julienned veggies).

Round out your barbecue with delicious corn on the cob. HIC’s Corn Dishes are perfect for serving buttery sweet corn on the cob. The deeply curved shape cradles the cob, keeping them from rolling away, while containing butter. Perfect for effortless indoor and outdoor entertaining.

For more grilling inspiration this barbecue season, visit HIC, Harold Import Co.

Celebrating Cinco de Mayo with HIC

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Cinco de May is a day celebrated mainly in the Puebla State of Mexico, where it commemorates the day the Mexican army defeated France at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. While it may be considered a minor holiday in Mexico, here in the U.S., Cinco de Mayo is more about celebrating Mexican heritage and culture. And one of the many ways to do that is through food and drink.

This Cinco de Mayo, make a feast to remember with all the right essential tools from HIC.

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Tacos are very versatile – from store-bought crispy corn taco shells to flour and corn tortillas. For the truly adventurist, there are those who make their tortillas at home! HIC’s Tortilla Press is a great way to make homemade tortillas into consistent thickness. The heavyweight aluminum press has a sturdy handle for easily creating tortillas for tacos and wraps.

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To create, simply line the press with plastic wrap, add the dough and flatten slightly with your hands. Close the press and apply pressure with the handle to flatten the dough into griddle-ready 6” rounds.

 

 


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One of those favorite tools you thought you’d never need (until you try it), is the Taco Shovel. It is designed to make cooking, scooping, and transporting taco fixings to fill shells faster than using a spoon – and, with less mess. The contoured shovel, which is made from FDA-approved silicone, has ample scooping surface to easily pick up and deliver your fixings exactly where they’re needed. Heat safe to 500 degrees Fahrenheit.

 

 


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The taco salad may have originated in Texas in the 1960s, but it’s Tex-Mex flavors make it a wonderful option for Cinco de Mayo. You can bring this restaurant favorite to your home with the HIC Tortilla Bowl Maker.

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The professional-quality carbon steel pan comes with a nonstick-coating that aids in removal of tortilla once baked. Fill with a delicious taco salad fixings, with chili, party dips, salsa, or an enchilada casserole.

 

 


 

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Easily fill crispy taco shells for a crowd with the HIC Taco Rack, Six Shooter Chef Series. Designed for warming, baking, grilling, filling and serving hard shells up to 7”. Made from 18/8 stainless steel, the rack is safe for use on direct heat. Fill the rack with empty shells, bake 5-7 minutes, then fill shells with meat, cheese, and return to oven until the cheese is melted.

Get the party started with HIC! Visit www.haroldimport.com for more great ideas and essential cooking tools needed to keep you cooking!

A Clean Kitchen with HIC

As we make our way through January, our resolutions help us make a fresh new start to the year. If you’re looking to change up your routine in the kitchen – preparing new recipes, updating your gadget collection, or pledging to keep your kitchen cleaner, HIC, Harold Import Co. has just what you need.

When it comes to a clean kitchen, just a few minutes a day will help ensure the task isn’t overwhelming. From countertops and cutting boards, to coffee makers and the garbage disposal, HIC offers a range of kitchen-cleaning tools that will make your daily clean go more smoothly and ensure your kitchen is ready for the next round of meal prep.

Cleans Produce and Pans

HIC’s Natural Bristle Vegetable and Dish Brush is the choice for scrubbing fresh produce, dishes, pots and pans, and more. Made from natural Tampico bristles with a wooden handle, the scrubber is tough on dirt yet gentle on delicate surfaces. The deep bristles remove stuck on food and grime, and the brush is even safe for nonstick cookware. Measures 2.5” X 2.5”.

Clean Your Disposer

No one will deny that there are a lot of stinky things in the kitchen, and that’s why Plink Garbage Disposer Cleaner and Deodorizer is a kitchen essential. Just one little Plink helps clean the disposer, remove buildup, unclog and deodorize without any phosphates, bleach, or scrubbing. Proudly made in America, the non-toxic, biodegradable Plink Garbage Disposer Cleaner breaks up fat and food particles to unclog disposals and freshen the entire kitchen in 15 seconds without any scrubbing. Plink is safe for plumbing and septic, and is available in a variety of fresh scents including lemon and orange.

Spotless Surfaces

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beyond Gourmet’s Nature-Fresh Cleaning Cloths are specifically designed to clean any surface and remain 99.9% germ free. Each cloth replaces more than 40 rolls of paper towels, reducing waste. Their natural, bacterial-fighting qualities prevent the cloths from turning sour or holding onto odors. Each cloth measures 9.5 X 11”.

Clean surfaces without scratching using the Skoy Scrub. This reusable and long-lasting scrubber can be used on a variety of surfaces, from pots and pans to countertops and the sink. Top-rack dishwasher safe for easy cleaning, the scrub measures 5 X 6” and comes in assorted colors.

 

 

To view all the cleaning items HIC offers, click here.

Tuesday’s Tool: The Tortilla Press

 

43172 press

Cinco de Mayo is almost here! It’s time to start planning a delicious Mexican-inspired meal that will impress your family and friends.

HIC’s Tortilla Press is specially designed for creating 6.25-inch homemade tortillas and other artisan flat breads of the perfect thickness every time.  Made from heavyweight aluminum for durability, the sturdy handle provides for effortless leverage when making     tortillas.

If you’ve never made your own tortillas, you don’t know how easy it is to do. (Five simple steps!)

  1. Prepare your dough recipe or use ready-made dough.
  2. For best results, line both sides of the press with plastic wrap, wax paper, or parchment paper to prevent dough from sticking to the press.
  3. Roll a small amount of dough into a ball and place it in the center of the press. Flatten the dough slightly by hand then close the press.
  4. Fold the handle over the press and apply a firm pressure to create griddle-ready rounds.
  5. Gently remove the plastic wrap from the flattened dough and cook according to recipe.

The press is handy for making a variety of flatbreads, including Caribbean roti, focaccia, moo shoo pancakes, mini pie or tart shells, and more.

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You can purchase the HIC Tortilla Press here.

Stainless Steel Straws

straws

Here in the U.S. it is estimated that we use nearly 500 million plastic strays each day. That is enough plastic straws to wrap around the earth almost 9 times every year!

Plastic straws and stirrers are listed as one of the top 10 marine plastic debris, contaminating our water and our marine life as well as so much more as it is carried up the food chain.

Change the tide of pollution and look for ways to cut back on plastic pollution this Earth Day. Using stainless steel reusable straws are one of the many ways you can make an impact.

HIC’s 18/8 Stainless Steel Drinking Straws add a splash of style to everyday beverages, smoothies, shakes, party drinks and cocktails. More economical and environmentally friendly than using traditional disposable straws, these straws are ideal for use at home or on the go.

They have a polished finish for a great look and are angled to make drinking from them easier. The reusable straws won’t rust, corrode, break, stain, absorb or transfer food flavors or odors.

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The set includes four 18/8 stainless steel straws and a nylon-bristle cleaning brush, perfectly sized to fit inside the straws.

Wash in warm, soapy water and scrub the interior with the cleaning brush, then rinse well. They are also dishwasher safe.

You can purchase them here.

Make a Style Statement with HIC’s Copper Barware

copper

Add the subtle and warm glow of copper to the bar with HIC’s eye-catching collection of bar tools. In line with bar and kitchen décor trends, the copper bar tools are the perfect choice for every home bar enthusiast as well as the professional.

Following contemporary style trends, copper elevates our barware collection with style and taste. With the HIC Copper Barware, you’ll enjoy the benefits of copper, which is known to enhance the drinking experience. The copper-plated 18/8 stainless steel barware insulates the beverage to maintain drink temperature.

From Margaritas to Moscow Mules, the HIC Copper Barware is poised to add a creative style to a perfectly prepared drink.

collection

The complete collection includes a Copper Cocktail Shaker, Double Jigger, Hip Flask, and on-trend hammered copper Moscow Mule Drinking Mug. For more information, visit HIC, Harold Import Co.
 

Tuesday’s Tool: The World’s Greatest Dual-Action Potato Masher and Ricer

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Rich, creamy and smooth!

Thanksgiving is almost here, and that means mashed potatoes are on the menu. The World’s Greatest Dual-Action Potato Masher and Ricer from HIC, Harold Import Co. is specially designed with a spring-loaded action to mash and rice potatoes ensuring lumps are eliminated in a single action! More efficient than using a typical masher with open-wire design, the Dual-Action Potato Masher and Ricer breaks food down with the wires and extrudes it through the holes in the built-in ricer disc to eliminate lumps for a smoother, creamier texture.

MasherInUseA versatile addition to your holiday cooking tools collection, the Potato Masher Ricer is great for mashing softer cooked foods, like potatoes, yams, pumpkin, squash, rutabagas, turnips, parsnips, carrots, apples, bananas, and more.

Made from 18/8 stainless steel, The World’s Greatest Dual-Action Potato Masher Ricer is sturdy, durable, and will never rust or transfer flavors or odors between uses.

Easy to use and clean. Rinse immediately before starches harden. Dishwasher safe for a thorough cleaning.

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Homemade Halloween with HIC

 

From homemade Caramel Apples to candy corn, the Halloween season is the perfect time for making delicious treats for family and friends. That’s why the Mrs. Anderson’s Baking U.S. Half Size Baking Mat is an essential tool for all your sweet-treat making.

Made from FDA-approved silicone and natural glass fibers, the mat is naturally non stick for quick release of foods and easy cleanup. When used for baking, the mat offers even heat transfer and requires no greasing or added oils. Durable and reusable for thousands of uses, the mat measures 11.625″x 16.5-” and fits standard 13 x 18″ baking sheets.

 

Caramel Apples

The caramel apple is believed to be ‘invented’ in the 1950s, and the treat became an instant hit  for Halloween. Some of you may even remember receiving a caramel apple while trick-or-treating!

These days, you may not run across a house offering up caramel apples on Halloween, but it is still one of the most popular fall treats to make — and eat!

  • 15 to 20 large Granny Smith apples
  • Assorted chopped candies or nuts, for coating
  • 1 (1-pound) box dark brown sugar
  • 2 sticks unsalted butter
  • 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
  • 2/3 cup dark corn syrup
  • 1/3 cup maple syrup
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon molasses
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

Skewer the stem-end of the apples with popsicle sticks. Line 2 large rimmed baking sheets with wax paper. Place desired coatings in large shallow bowls.

In a heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine the sugar, butter, milk, corn syrup, maple syrup, vanilla, molasses and salt. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Boil until it registers 236 degrees F on a candy thermometer, about 10 minutes. Immediately pour the caramel into a heatproof bowl; let cool to 200 degrees F.

Dip the apples in the desired coatings. Transfer to the prepared baking sheets to set and let cool completely.

Source: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/caramel-apples-1961196

 

Homemade Candy Corn

Even if you’re not a big candy corn fan, this one is definitely a keeper. Unlike store-bought candy corn, this leaves no strange, waxy aftertaste. Yes, it’s sugary, but you’re only eating it during Halloween season . . .  unless you change the colors and create red, white and green candy corn for Christmas!

  • 4-1/2 ounces powdered sugar, approximately 1-1/4 cups
  • 1/2-ounce nonfat dry milk, approximately 6 1/2 teaspoons
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 3-1/2 ounces granulated sugar, approximately 1/2 cup
  • 3-3/4 ounces light corn syrup, approximately 1/3 cup
  • 2-1/2 tablespoons water
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 to 3 drops yellow and orange gel paste food coloring

Combine the powdered sugar, dry milk and salt in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse 4 to 5 times until the mixture is smooth and well combined. Set aside.

Combine the sugar, corn syrup and water in a 2-quart pot. Put over medium heat, cover and cook for 4 minutes. Add the butter, clip on a candy thermometer, and bring the mixture to 230 degrees F, about 1 to 2 minutes. When the sugar syrup reaches 230 degrees F, take the pot off the heat and remove the thermometer. Add the vanilla and the dry mixture, stirring continuously with a silicone spatula until well combined. Pour onto a half sheet pan lined with a silicone baking mat. Cool until the mixture is cool enough to handle, about 10 to 15 minutes.

Divide the dough into 3 equal pieces. Add 2 drops of yellow food coloring to 1 piece and knead the dough until the color is consistent throughout. Add 2 drops of orange to the second piece, and knead until the color is consistent throughout. Leave the third piece white. Roll each piece of dough into a strand, about 18-inches long. Cut each strand in half.

The nonstick baking mat is perfect for making sticky Halloween candy

Roll 1 of the white pieces into a strand that is about 1/2-inch thick and about 22-inches long. Repeat with a yellow piece and orange piece. Lay the strands side by side and press them together using your fingers. Cut the strand into 4-inch pieces. Lay the strands, 1 at a time, onto the silicone mat and press into a wedge shape, like a triangle. Use a wire butter slicer to cut the candies into pieces. If you don’t have a wire butter slicer, use a knife, metal bench scraper or pizza cutter to slice the dough into small pieces. Repeat the procedure with remaining dough. Lay the finished pieces on a piece of parchment or waxed paper to dry for 1 hour. Store in an airtight container with parchment paper between each layer.

 

Coeur à La Crème: Getting to the Heart of Things this Valentine’s Day

Simple to make, and delightful to eat, the Coeur à la Crème is a classic French dessert made with a few simple ingredients and topped with fresh fruit, making it a great way to celebrate Valentine’s Day – or any day – with a loved one.

The French call it coeur à la crème (or heart of cream). It is a rich and creamy dessert that is believed to get its start in the French countryside way back in the Middle Ages. Most likely born out of efficiency, and the desire to use all ingredients on hand, the dairymaids discovered that when the whey drained from the milk during traditional cheesemaking, the remaining curds could be mixed with leftover cream to create a delightfully light and fresh cheese that was made even more tasty when topped with the sweetness of the fresh fruits of the season.

The dessert is relatively inexpensive to make, featuring only a few ingredients, and just a bit of preparation time.   Using only cottage cheese, cream cheese, and heavy cream, which are then mixed and placed in a mold lined with cheesecloth so it can drain, the creamy treat is ready to eat in a few hours — although some Coeur à la Crème makers like to prepare this two days ahead of time to allow for the proper draining, and melding of the flavors of the dairy used.

Essential to the process is the draining of the liquids from the cheeses. The dairymaids of old used a strainer or colander to do the trick, but today, it is traditional to prepare it in a heart-shaped Coeur à la Crème mold. Made of porcelain and perforated at the bottom to allow the ‘whey’ to drain, and the curds to remain, the Coeur à la Crème mold is lined with cheesecloth or kitchen paper, and set above a pan or bowl in the refrigerator for a few hours, before it is ready to enjoy.

Molds vary in sizes, but the individual 4” (15 oz.) molds are a great way to serve up a romantic treat for two on Valentine’s Day, or even for individual servings at a dinner party.

This fresh cheese creation is delightful when created in the classic heart-shaped mold, and served as a complement to afternoon tea, alongside a cup of coffee for dessert, or a glass of wine for a romantic, and creamy, way to top off a Valentine’s Day meal with your loved one.

Quick and easy to create, here is an old-fashioned Coeur à la Crème recipe that will delight anyone this Valentine’s Day.

Old-Fashioned Coeur à la Crème

  • 1, 8 oz. container of whipped cream cheese
  • 1, 8 oz. container of cottage cheese, farmer cheese, or ricotta
  • 1 cup of heavy cream
  • 1 container of fresh berries, washed
  • or, 1 package of frozen berries, thawed.

1. Blend the cream cheese with cottage cheese, and slowly add the heavy cream. This can be done by hand or in a food processor.

2. Line the Coeur à la Crème mold with cheesecloth or kitchen paper and pour in the blended cheese.

3. Place the mold over a bowl (to catch the draining whey), the slip it into the refrigerator, and chill for at least four hours.

4. Once firm and draining is complete, unmold the cheese by carefully turning it top-side-down on the serving platter.

When ready to eat, it is traditionally served with fresh berries or jam, but can also be topped with a chocolate sauce. Or, you can sweeten things up a bit by mixing a bit of sugar, vanilla and a fruit liqueur to create a fruit sauce that will accompany fresh berries. If desired, the Coeur a la Crème can even be served as an appetizer, and topped with savory seasonings or herbs.

However you serve it, the Coeur à la Crème is a perfect treat for Valentine’s Day, yet can be enjoyed all year round.

To learn more about HIC, Harold Import Co/’s Coeur à la Crème, available in an individual 4″ (15 oz.) size, or 7.25″ (24. oz) size, visit here.

To purchase, visit here.

 

Tuesday’s Tool: TWG Dual-Action Potato Masher

masherinuse

A perfect tool for holiday meal prep, TWG, The World’s Greatest Dual-Action Masher from HIC, Harold Import Co., quickly breaks apart and mashes any soft, juicy or cooked produce without the use of electricity. Specially designed with a spring- loaded action, the serrated-toothed blades easily break open skins, while the wires and pierced plate mashes the inside pulp. From berries to squash, this versatile kitchen tool is an essential addition for cooking and canning. It is also great for processing cooked chicken livers for liver pate or hard-boiled eggs for egg salad or deviled eggs.

twgmasherMade of 18/8 stainless steel, the tool is more efficient than open-wire mashers – and will never rust.

Don’t let the holidays slip by, get your TWG, The World’s Greatest Dual-Action Potato Masher here.