Polish Baking

"I'm too young to be the collection of dishes! Yes, those famous last words came out of my mouth, shortly after moving to Germany. I saw things everywhere - that adorn the walls in the house of a friend, plenty to eat at a potluck meeting, to be sold by a booth outside the store position. And remember every bazaar - the table surrounded by a frenzy of ladies was sure to have a well-stocked selection from Poland or Italy.

I resisted its attractive for the first two years and believe it or not, my husband has failed first. I was deep in a pile of wooden boxes carved my husband explored the table pottery nearby. Then he uttered these nine little words he has probably looked back since, "What do you buy Polish Pottery?" It was over. We went home with five different pieces this afternoon, but it was only the beginning - any number of models, all colors imaginable, and many shapes and sizes - it turned out that not only I was not too young, I needed that.

I took my first commercial voyage Polish Pottery few months later with the USO - you know, the one that you spend 30 hours in a mad state of pottery-induced, it does not matter-how-well- I pass the euphoria. Each of the loads on a large tourist bus at 9 pm on Friday evening at about 4:30 am, the shopping madness begins. Shop owners know when the buses arrive and start out of bed early for the extra money. Each store is a race - not only cons of new friends on your bus, but against this upcoming tour bus you must stay ahead. Plates, dessert plates, coffee cups and saucers, platters, bakeware, tea, salt and pepper shakers - everything you need for the kitchen or dining room. Recently, I saw the pottery you can use outside the kitchen such as wall hangings, planters, and some coarse I will not ... Some people have their unique model beloved while others, like me, mix and match for an eclectic look (they are also easier to replace if, heaven forbid, something breaks). Only stopping for a lunch of goulash short to keep your energy level and continue.

The journey is a learning experience, not only a chance of losing control. When you look at the pottery, try to buy only "category 1" items. The category indicates the level of defects so that the more the better. Category 1 pottery is oven safe to 425 degrees F and dishwasher safe (although I'm not sure ... I do not even trust my husband to wash your hand if you ... seen my collection of crystal glasses, you understand). Category 2 is in the oven to 325 degrees F and "probably" in the dishwasher. Category 3 and higher should be used for the service. Also, if you find Unikat label "on the merits, the model is original in the store you bought it. The golden rule of the Polish Pottery Shopping in Poland is: if you find a song / pattern you like, buy it! You probably will not be able to find the part exactly the same everywhere if you can bear the thought of potential loss of a few dollars compared to get this special piece, do it!

At about 5 pm, it is time to go. The bus is packed, the luggage space under the bus as they can be full, and every bump in the road you hit a product concern "hiccups" in the Shoppers exhausted. The USO Stuttgart automatically gives both headquarters and by this time you say a silent prayer for Perk ingenious. You are returned to office in the wee hours of 3 pm and scarcely able to raise this little white lie to your spouse that you * actually spent. Your body is crying out with a mixture of exhaustion and cramps from the bus but it was worth it! Especially when you go back to the states - watch QVC and you'll see what I mean. The other day, those stupid, smiling ladies were selling a dessert plate.