Style Tip – Bring Beauty to Everyday Tasks

I try to encourage people to use the beautiful things they buy. Don't let them gather dust, stored away for special occasions. Use them today. Right now. Because your every day is a special day. I incorporate my love of tinned copper into my mundane, every day routines: doing dishes, washing my hands, cooking and corralling odds and ends.

A Taste of….Pul Biber

During my trip to Turkey in February, I tried quite a bit of pul biber, a smoky, crushed red pepper similar to red pepper flakes you find here in the states but it's slightly damp with a subtle fruit flavor. Pul biber is made from the aleppo pepper and is regularly seen on tables at Turkish restaurants, either in a shaker or a small tin bowl. As with most things, you'll have to taste the various kinds to see which one you like best. In the U.S., pul biber can be found at your local Mediterranean market. I brought some home and have been adding it to just about everything. The flavors instantly transport me to Turkey.

I also brought back these wonderful tinned copper condiment dishes. They are perfect for holding spices, dips or sauces. The crescent moon on the lid is functional, but I think it adds another element of beauty to the design. You can find them here. 

Bedouin Sugar Pots

Bedouin Sugar Pot pictured here with Turkish Tinned Copper Tea Pots and other Loaded Trunk finds.

 Each time I travel to a new country, there seems to be one item that calls to me. In Turkey, it was the tinned copper; in Vietnam, it was the tribal art; in India, it was the kantha blanket; now, in Morocco, it is the Bedouin sugar pot.

Sugar Pots in Marrakesh

I first spotted them in Fes, but hesitated to buy them. Once I left Fes, I knew I'd made a mistake. I scoured the markets of Marrakesh until I found as many as I could carry. I love the beauty in which these are crafted for such an everyday item: a sugar bowl. These little pots make a great addition to any breakfast table, and even carry over into dinner parties, to be filled with nuts or olives.

Sugar pots come in varying sizes and at first I wondered why. They couldn't all possibly hold sugar, could they? After a visit to the museum, I saw that the larger pots held tea and fresh mint, while the smaller ones contained sugar. As the photo above shows, the sugar pots are part of the tea service ritual. Isn't this such a nicer way to present and enjoy your tea when you have guests?