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Holiday Gift Guide

Holiday Gift Guide
Christmas is a time of wonder and delight, a time of magic, a time of giving, and a season of creating memories with friends and family! A time for shopping, decorating, baking, and all things festive! We’ve been busy in our studio this year designing and handcrafting beautiful majolica pottery gifts for all of those special people on your Nice List!

 

Everything Merry, Everything Bright!

Let the festivities begin!!! Packer Creek Pottery has the perfect gifts for the hostess, as well as items for all of your holiday party entertaining! 

    • Beautiful table top and bar accessories like pottery wine chillers, champagne buckets and wine bottle stoppers.
    • Elegant serving platters for your culinary creations and festive hors d’oeuvres.
    • Whimsical tableware and accessories that will be sure to bring cheer to all of your guests!
    Everything Merry, Everything Bright!

    (Top Row): Cocktails for Santa Tray with Handles. (Bottom Row): Striped Stocking Hat Snowman; Wine Chiller Trio in Winter Holly, Red & White Dot, Snowy Trees;  Winter Holly Bread Tray with Snowman.


    Baby It's Cold Outside!Keep those on your gift list warm and cozy with one of our colorful and cheerful handcrafted mugs! Our mugs are available in three sizes and come in many whimsical designs—they are sure to delight! 

    • Coffee or cocoa anyone? Add a gourmet coffee or hot cocoa to one of our unique mugs for the perfect gift pairing!!
    • Sure to become their favorite morning mug—your lucky gift recipient will think of you every day! Packer Creek Pottery mugs make the perfect gift for friends, family, and co-workers alike.

    Baby it's Cold Outside

    (Top Row): Ralphie; Mr. & Mrs.; Elves. (Bottom Row): Feathered Friends; Snowy Trees;
    Quite Contrary; Polar Bear.
     
    Made with Love

    Packer Creek Pottery baking dishes are not only a beautiful gift to give baking enthusiasts, but they are a breeze to clean up and oven safe up to 375 degrees! Some of the items a baker might enjoy would be our pie bakers, casserole and loaf pans, batter and mixing bowlstrivets, spoon rests and cookie jars.  Treat the one who always brings the treats!

    Made with Love

    (Top Row): Poppy Square Baker & Batter Bowl, Red and Black Pasta Bowls.
    (Bottom Row): Snowy Trees Pie Baker; Candy Medium Bowl, Sweet Tart Popcorn Bowl.

     

    Table Top BlissTraditions, recipes, family, and a beautiful table all make for the perfect backdrop for lasting holiday memories!

    • Set your table in style! Our beautiful holiday platters and bowls are available in versatile sizes and festive new designs.
    • Consultations are available for custom dinnerware orders.
    • Tailor your table top by layering, mixing, and matching patterns.
    • From traditional, to contemporary, to whimsical--we have beautiful designs for every taste and style!
      Table Top Bliss

    (Top Row): Julie Stripe; 2017 Limited Edition Pattern; Pine Cone Holly Berry.
    (Middle Row): Joy; Katie Daisy; Polar Bear. (Bottom Row): Winter Holly; Candy; Kaye’s Birds.

     

    Teachers GiftsShow your child's favorite teacher some love with a piece they will treasure forever.

    • Perfect gifts for teachers!
    • Stop by our Perrysburg gallery for spirited mascot themed ornaments and pottery!

    Teacher's Gifts

    (Left to Right): Apple Plate, Apples, Ornaments; Bee Mug, Bee Ornaments.

     

    Trimming the TreeOh Christmas Tree! Oh Christmas Tree! How lovely are thy branches. Adorn your tree with our whimsical ornaments and pottery tree toppers.

    Trimming the Tree

    (Left to Right): Snowman Ornaments; Angel & Nativity Ornaments; Santa Ornaments; Cocktail Ornaments.

     

    O-H-I-OOhio residents will love our Buckeye pattern and if you are a fan of that state up north, we have patterns that will please enthusiasts of both states. If your household has members from both sides of the line, we have a house divided plate that is sure to please!

    O-H-I-O

    (Left to Right): Buckeye Pattern

     

    I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas!Our adorable snow people are sure to delight! They are the perfect gift for friends, family, and co-workers alike. But be careful, their gregarious little grins are sure to charm and it’s hard to buy just one. The perfect item for selfing and elfing! Our customers love to collect them year after year!

    White Christmas

    (Top Row): Snowmen Collection. (Bottom Row): Snowman & Polar Bear Mug; Feathered Friends Cake Stand & Snowman; Hot Cocoa Mugs & Snowmen.

     

    Holiday SeasideYou don't need a White Christmas to decorate your table with our colorful fish platters and other seaside patterns. These make a great gift all year long and look great when mixed in with our festive holiday patterns.

    Holiday Seaside

    (Left to Right): Small Fish Plate in Black Plaid, Black Swirl & Orange Stripe; Sea Shells Dinnerware; Multi Color Striped Dishy Fish Plates  & Small Fish Plate in Black Plaid.

     

    Do You Believe?Oh the wonderment and pure delight that it is to be a small child on Christmas Eve!!!  To gaze in excitement out of the window in search for the red light in the sky that you are sure is Rudolph’s nose! Packer Creek Pottery has some fantastic accessories that will help to create that holiday magic on Christmas Eve. These treasures are sure to become family traditions year after year. Be sure to pick up your Cookies for Santa plate for the special little people in your life…and don’t forget Rudolph as his nose guide’s the way!

    Do you Believe?

    (Left to Right): Cookies for Santa Plate and Snack Set; Reindeer Treats Plate, 3D Tree & Sour Apple Bread Tray.

     

    Oh What Fun!We can't wait to see you!  Stop by one, or BOTH, of our galleries and it will be our pleasure to assist you with your holiday gift giving. Take advantage of our complimentary gift wrap.

    103 E. 8th Street, Genoa, Ohio 43430

    322 Louisiana Ave., Perrysburg, Ohio 43551

    Can't make it into our shops? Not to worry, we are glad to assist you with purchases over the phone, online, and we will package and ship your pottery to you!

    Apple Crisp – Baked and Served in Pottery Pie Baker

    By Angela, Studio Assistant at Packer Creek Pottery

    Who doesn’t love Apple Crisp? It is the quintessential fall and winter dessert.

    Pine Tree Pottery Pie Baker

    Every October, a small Ohio town located a few short miles from the Packer Creek Pottery gallery in Genoa, has their much anticipated Apple Festival. It’s during that time that my family and friends flock to my house for my home-baked apple crisp made with fresh, local apples.

    What started out as just a small family gathering, has slowly spread to include friends and lately, even friends of friends and their families. Before I knew it, I had a living room full of people watching football and anxiously awaiting for that oven door to open.

    Apple Crisp in Pottery Pie Bakers

    This year I decided to “up my game” and instead of baking in my shallow aluminum pie pans, I upgraded to pottery pie bakers from Packer Creek Pottery. Everyone loved the new and improved deep dish apple crisp. Now, if only I could upgrade my hand peeler to one of those spinning, automatic things…

    The pottery pie baker makes for a beautiful presentation and comes in a wide variety of styles, but the best part is that it practically just rinses clean—making clean up a snap.

    So, if you’d like to attract a house full of people via apple crisp aroma, then give this recipe a try in one of the Packer Creek Pottery Pie Bakers—don’t say I didn’t warn you!

     

    Apple Crisp Recipe

    Apple Crisp Topping:
    • ½ cup flour
    • ½ cup oats
    • ½ cup brown sugar
    • ½ tsp baking powder
    • ¼ tsp cinnamon
    • 1/3 cup unsalted butter, diced into small chunks

    In medium bowl, combine crumb topping ingredients with a fork until it resembles small crumbs. Refrigerate while preparing filling.

    Apple Crisp Filling:

    • 6-8 large Granny Smith or Jonagold apples (peeled, cored, and sliced)
    • 3 tbsp melted butter
    • 2 tbsp flour
    • 3 tbsp milk
    • ½ tsp vanilla extract
    • ¼ cup brown sugar
    • ½ tsp cinnamon

    Combine melted butter and flour until well blended. Then add milk and vanilla, stir well.

    Stir in brown sugar and cinnamon.

    Pour over apples and gently toss to coat.

    Evenly spoon apples into baking dish and thickly sprinkle on crumb topping.

    Bake at 375 degrees for 30-35 minutes, until topping is golden brown and set.

    Serve with vanilla ice cream.

    Scarecrow Fall Pottery Pie Baker

    Baked Chicken Wings with Mild Buffalo Sauce

    Let me start this blog by saying "I love my job!" Not only do I get to photograph wonderfully creative hand-crafted pottery, but I also get to experiment with ways to use our Majolica Pottery and that often includes making some really great food. This pottery photo shoot was a family favorite and I had a few teenage boys working as photo assistants and food testers.

    Pottery Platters and Football Food

    Having a party for the "big game" in Ohio and Michigan is a tradition for many and Packer Creek Pottery can help you throw one in style. Our versatile and colorful platters are big enough to hold wings for a crowd. And any dip looks great in a Buckeye bowl or maybe a Go Blue bowl—you choose. If you can’t decide which suits your home best, then you might need our house divided plate.

    Keep in mind that our Buckeye and Go Blue patterns are hard to keep on the shelves, so come in early to browse our selection or place your order at least four weeks before the "big game."

    Now for the football party food... The one thing I don't like about normal Buffalo wings is that they are often fried, so I experimented with different baked recipes that are healthier and super flavorful without being too spicy. Enjoy!
     
    Baked Chicken Wings with Mild Buffalo Sauce
    2 lb. party chicken wings (we used a fresh package of drums and a package of wings)
    4 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil (divided)
    2 Tbsp. Italian seasoning (divided)
    Kosher salt
    Fresh ground pepper
     
    Preheat oven to 425 degrees and place a wire rack on a large baking sheet (put aluminum foil on bottom for easy clean up). Coat wings in two batches in a large bowl with 2 Tbps. Olive oil and 1 Tbsp. Italian seasoning. Repeat with second batch. Place chicken on wire rack and sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste.
     
    Bake in the oven for 1 hour and until golden brown. These wings are great with no sauce, but we like them with some mild Buffalo Wing sauce.
     
    Buffalo Wing Sauce (mild)
    1⁄3 cup butter
    1⁄4 cup Frank's hot sauce
    1⁄4 cup tomato sauce
    1⁄2 teaspoon garlic powder
    1⁄2 teaspoon cider vinegar
    1⁄4 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
    1⁄2 teaspoon smoky paprika
    1 teaspoon honey
     
    In a pan over low heat, melt the butter. Be careful not to burn or brown butter too much. Add the remaining ingredients and whisk together well. If you want wings hotter you can add more Frank’s hot sauce and for milder wing sauce you would add more butter.
     
    Simmer for no more than 5 minutes, whisking occasionally. Pour sauce into a large bowl. Place baked wings into the bowl and toss to coat with sauce. Return the wings to the wire rack and broil for 3-5 minutes on medium, watch closely so they do not burn. Remove wings from oven and drizzle any remaining sauce over the wings.
     
    Blue Cheese Ranch Dip
    1 (16-oz.) container sour cream
    1 (1-oz.) package Ranch dip mix
    1 (4-oz.) package blue cheese crumbles
    2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives (we used green onions and it was great too)
     
    Stir together sour cream, Ranch dip mix, blue cheese crumbles, and chopped fresh chives. Serve with carrot and celery sticks, pretzels and hot wings.

    Pumpkin Chocolate Chip & Walnut Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting

    Nothing reminds me of fall more than the taste of pumpkin. When the weather starts to turn colder and the leaves start to change colors that is when I spend a little extra time in the kitchen baking.

    It took me several attempts to make the perfect pumpkin cookie and my boys are tough critics. The addition of chocolate chips, walnuts and homemade cream cheese frosting makes these dense little cookies the perfect treat. I also like that these don't require a lot of fancy decorating and the recipe makes enough for a crowd. These babies have been to a few Boy Scout banquets and potlucks to be sure.

    I couldn't resist serving this year's first batch of pumpkin cookies on one of the lovely fall patterns we have here at Packer Creek Pottery. My biggest dilemma was which one to choose. In the end, I couldn't resist the whimsical pumpkins on the Trina's Pumpkins pattern paired with the black and white polka dot platter.

    Pumpkin Chocolate Chip & Walnut Cookies  Pumpkin Cookies on Trina's Pumpkin Packer Creek Pottery

    Pumpkin Chocolate Chip & Walnut Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting

    Cookie Ingredients:

    • 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
    • 1 teaspoon baking powder
    • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
    • 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
    • 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
    • 1/2 teaspoon salt
    • 1 cup butter (2 sticks) butter
    • 1 cup granulated sugar
    • 1 can (15oz.) Libby's 100% Pure Pumpkin
    • 2 Large Eggs
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 2 cups (12-oz. pkg.) Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels
    • 1 cup chopped walnuts

    Cream Cheese Frosting Ingredients:

    • 1 (3oz. pkg.) cream cheese, softened
    • 1/4 cup butter, softened
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 2 cups confectioner's sugar

    Directions:

    Preheat oven to 375° F. Grease baking sheets.

    Combine flour, spices, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a medium size bowl. Beat butter and sugar in a large mixer bowl until creamy. Beat in pumpkin, eggs and vanilla extract. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in chocolate chips and walnuts. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto prepared baking sheets.

    Bake for 15 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Cool on baking sheets for two minutes then remove to wire racks to cool completely. When cookies are cool spread with cream cheese frosting.

    Frosting Directions:

    Beat cream cheese, 1/4 cup butter, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract in a bowl until soft and creamy. Then beat in confectioner's sugar a 1/2 cup at a time, until frosting is smooth and spreadable.

    Grandma Ruth’s Famous Apple Pie

    Apple-Pie-Recipe

    As far back as I can remember, there was always a fresh baked pie at every family gathering compliments of Grandma Ruth. Just as iconic as the classic American apple pie, perfect in its simplicity of flavor pairings, was the braided wicker basket my grandmother happily carried to every event and cookout. You always knew you were in for a treat when you saw Grandma Ruth with that basket!

    Some of my fondest memories were spent with my grandmother, learning her secrets of baking—which I now realize were a labor of love creating the background for lasting memories and traditions to be shared with family and friends.

    Today, I am nostalgic and delighted to carry on the tradition of my grandmother’s famous apple pie, which I always proudly present in one of my colorful pottery bakers. I hope you will enjoy this recipe, and that you create treasured memories with your friends and family as well!

    Crust:

    3 cups flour

    1 ¼ cup shortening

    ½ teaspoon baking powder

    1 teaspoon salt

    1 egg

    5 tablespoons water

    1 tablespoon vinegar

    Apple Filling:

    6-7 large granny smith apples

    ¾ cup sugar

    ¼ cup flour

    ½ teaspoon nutmeg

    ½ teaspoon cinnamon

    Crumb Topping:

    1 cup flour

    1 cup butter

    ½ cup packed brown sugar

    Directions:

    In a large mixing bowl (I like to use our “batter” sized bowl, as it is the perfect size for mixing ingredients for most baking recipes), combine all ingredients until thoroughly mixed. Knead dough into ball. Sprinkle rolling pin and flat surface with flour to prevent sticking. Roll out pie crust and place into your favorite pie baker, pressing into shape. Use the extra dough to add to the sides, pinching around the perimeter of your crust to create higher sides to hold in all the apple-y goodness that is about to happen! (I LOVE my pie baker in the colorful Julie Stripe pattern with a fluted edge—the colorful pattern on the outside is beautiful for the initial presentation, and as the pie is served it reveals a fanciful pattern detail on the inside!)

    Julie Stripe Pie Baker - Buy Now

    Next peel, core, and slice your green apples—I like to slice apples into medium sized apple chunks, as thicker  apple slices will add a little crispness into each bite. Any tart apples will work—I prefer Granny Smith. Combine apple slices with sugar, flour, and spices and mix until ingredients are evenly dispersed. Place apple mixture into pie crust.

    Now for the magic…otherwise known as crumb topping! Mix flour and brown sugar. Section chilled butter into cubes and cut into dry mixture until mixture is crumbly. I like to use a potato masher, or a large fork, for cutting in the butter. Evenly sprinkle crumb topping over apple filling. Bake 40-50 minutes at 425 degrees. Enjoy!

    Recipe credit: Ruth Marie Clark

    Welcome to the Packer Creek Pottery Blog

    Packer Creek Pottery Welcome Blog

    We are so excited to be launching our blog! The staff at Packer Creek Pottery is creative by nature, so we all have lots of great ideas to share. Our blog will feature many topics that are aimed at decorating, gift-giving, entertaining and even food. It is our hope that you will get to know us through our blog and will feel comfortable enough to share your creative ideas with us in the comments section. We just love hearing about all the interesting ways our pottery is being used.
     
    It has been a big year here at Packer Creek Pottery with the opening of our new gallery in Perrysburg, Ohio. Our artists have been busy creating new pottery designs and customer favorites to keep the shelves in both locations stocked with whimsical Majolica pottery. If you are not able to visit one of our northwest Ohio galleries, feel free to browse and purchase from our online store. If you see something in the blog or on one of our social media sites that you like, please feel free to call or email us. We can ship anywhere!
     
    A few rules and our promise to you.
    We hope you join us in our conversation by using the comments section in the blogs. Your thoughts, comments, suggestions and questions are welcome. We only ask that they be of general interest to most readers and in keeping with the essence of our blog articles. Also, please be kind and use good manners—profanity and bad behavior won’t be tolerated and will be removed.
     
    We promise to keep posts interesting, diverse and fun. Our staff bloggers are busy making pottery, assisting customers and running a business—so it may take a few days to respond to questions posted in the blog comments. If you have a timely question you will get a quicker response by calling our Genoa gallery at 419-855-3858.
     
    Thank you for reading, visiting, and commenting. We are excited to have you here with us and we hope you enjoy our content.