I’m sharing this idea because it’s what I love most about blogging! It’s the community of people that has kept me inspired and motivated to keep going. Recently I had Brooke of Nesting with Grace and Kris of Driven by Decor over for lunch. I made them little salt and herb mixture and put it in a cute jar for them to take home. Brooke is so sweet that she has mentioned it in her instagram stories….several times! One of her readers and followers sent me a DM asking if I sold the salt…hmmm…no, but here’s how I put it together. It’s really more of a combination than a recipe and I must give the credit to another wonderful friend for the idea. Mary Ann of Classic Casual Home made them for her guests during the holidays.When I have friends over for book group, a meetup with a few bloggers or a lunch or dinner party…I like to have a little something for my friends to take with them at the end. For this simple lunch I set the table using my Magic Linen tablecloth and napkins and our everyday Apilco dishes. Pretty simple, but a mini Weck jar with a mixture of French sea salt to take home with them makes it just a little extra special. I got this idea from my friend, Mary Ann. At the holidays she had a dinner party and gave each person a little jar of Scillian Sea Salt. She says it’s best if you use the salt in at least one of the dishes you are serving.
I used Mary Ann’s combination of salt, herbs de Provence and red pepper flakes and am calling it French Sea Salt. I served a rustic ratatouille on country bread with a sprinkle of the salt.
PrintFrench Sea Salt
A combination of salt, crushed red pepper and herbs makes a wonderful gourmet party favor or use the salt in bread, vegetables, meat dishes…just about anything you season with salt.
- Prep Time: 5
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 6-8 small jars 1x
Ingredients
- 1 cup light grey sea salt
- 2 cups kosher salt
- 1 1/4 cups herbs de Provence
- 1/8 cup crushed red pepper
Instructions
- mix everything in a bowl and spoon into jars.
- They make a nice gourmet party favor and so easy to make.
Notes
Mary Ann of Classic Casual Home made gourmet party favors for her guests after a trip to an herb farm in Sicily. I thought why not make the same thing for my French themed casual lunch? I used the same combination and am calling it French Sea Salt.
It’s easy to make and you may have everything on hand. I had to buy the Celtic Grey Sea Salt, but had the Kosher salt, herbes de Provence and red pepper flakes in my spice cabinet.
2.5 oz. Weck Jars
Gourmet Party Favors
Old bottles from French Cafés and flea markets with candles
Staying with my casual French theme, I used bottles brought back from Paris cafés and flea markets over the years. I snipped a few hellebores from a plant I had bought at Trader Joe’s earlier in the week and added candles…even in the daytime when it’s cold outside, I light several candles for that warm cozy, hygge feel. I served a simple green salad and ratatouille on toasted bread.
PrintRatatouille
This simple combination of vegetables and olive oil makes for a simple meal that’s wonderful served warm or at room temperature. I make it all year long, but in warm weather months, it’s perfect for a casual dinner outdoors.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 4-6 servings 1x
Ingredients
- about 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 2 plum tomatoes, diced or a handful of grape tomatoes cut in half or quartered
- 1 yellow, red or orange bell pepper, seeded and cut into medium dice
- 2 garlic cloves, peeled and minced
- salt
- one eggplant, peeled and cut into 1/2” dice.
- 1 zucchini or yellow squash, cut into 1/2” dice
- 2 teaspoons salt mixture
- 2 teaspoons sherry vinegar
Instructions
- Add olive oil to a heavy pan like a Le Creuset Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the onion, tomatoes, bell pepper, garlic and a pinch of salt. Cook fo about 10 minutes until vegetables begin to soften. You want to sweat the vegetables, not brown them.
- Add the eggplant and a more olive oil if it’s a little dry.
- Cook for another 10 minutes.
- Add the zucchini or yellow squash and the salt and herb mixture.
- Add a little more olive oil and continue to stir and cook for an additional 15 minutes.
- Once all the vegetables are soft, stir in the vinegar and a little more salt as needed.
Notes
I make a double batch because it’s even better the next day!
Brooke Christen says
Ahhhhh yay!! Those jars are so cute you put them in.
Love very single thing you touch. Gold.
When can back??
annie diamond says
Brooke! You are truly the best! Thank you! xx
Lynne says
Hi Annie!
Thank you for seasoning my day! I am going to make some little jars to thank the amazing folks who are caring for my Mom in memory care. ( Truly unsung heroes in our world. ) ♥️
annie diamond says
Lynne-That would be such a sweet gesture! Hope you have a lovely weekend dear friend!
xo
Mary Ann says
I wish I could be at this party!!! And it’s really more French with the herbs de Provence (Howard thought so too). He thought I needed to add oregano for it to be Sicilian. But I was going for ease. And not too many ingredients. I am definitely going to make your ratatouille. And put it on the most amazing bread from Tartine Manufactory. You need to visit. 😘
annie diamond says
Tartine Manufactory sounds heavenly…we must go!
Debbie says
What a great idea, I can’t wait to put these together, love the cute little jars too! So creative!