1. Enchanted Buck measuring cups $48 | 2. Marble Salt and Pepper cellars with brass spoons $108 {white salt cellar not shown} | 3. Castle Key Bottle Opener $12 | 4. Jme Mulled Wine Syrup $15 | 5. Kiss under the Mistletoe Apron $32 | 6.  Dean & Deluca Spice Rack $95 sml $165 lg | 7. Cuddle with Cider Sachets $7 | 8.Turquoise Tunisian Tagine {non-cookable} $49 | 9. Raw crystal bottle stoppers $55 | 10. Acorn salt and pepper shakers $58 | 11.  Maggie’s Harvest $125 | 12. Recipes from an Italian Summer $26.37

1. Hot chocolate by Jacques Torres $18 | 2. Penguin Maple Syrup $22 | 3. 12 bottle wine rack in Ebony $61.99 | 4. Nudo Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil $16.99 {For the ultimate splurge: Adopt an Olive tree at Nudo’s grove in Italy. You receive olive oil straight from your tree. For more info click here} | 5. Plyboo US States cutting boards $40 {Update Dec 13: Plyboo is all sold out already for the holidays, so sorry} | 6. Macarons from Bisous Ciao {for Macarons that ship domestically click here and here} | 7. Laguiole cheese knife set $32 | 8. Writable Artisan Cheese Markers $21 | 9. Set of 4 Honey gift set $49 | 10. Morris Kitchen Ginger Syrup $13 {once you try this, you’ll be hooked} | 11. Cast iron apple pot $120 | 12. Hands down, the best Peppermint Bark $26.50 | 13. Heart measuring spoons $44 | 14. Pipette Olive Oil & Vinegar serving set $89.99 {includes tray, not shown}

Wishing you and your family a very Happy Thanksgiving!  xo, Luster

{Above images:} Martha Stewart Living, Williams-Sonoma catalog

Late August is the time of year my husband’s family and I eagerly anticipate all year. This is when the Cameron garden in Guilford, CT,  headed up by the one and only Scott Cameron, is in full swing and all the tomatoes are picked, canned, and in baskets on their way home with us. This summer yielded an abundance of beautiful tomatoes that we just received in the last 2 weeks and have been using them every day in our meals. We usually start with a tomato sandwich on toasted Italian bread with fresh basil and mozzarella, homemade pesto and a dash of balsamic vinegar. Then, I start getting ambitious making my grandmother’s tomato sauce, or trying new recipes.

Last week my sister-in-law Laura visited us in Brooklyn, and we cooked up something we’ve been talking about trying for awhile: Stuffed Tomatoes. They turned out amazing, and it was a surprisingly easy meal to prepare! See the recipe card below:

photo by Laura

For the full recipe click here {Letterpress Recipe Card from Terrain} and for more recipe ideas, check out these books. Clockwise Left to Right: Cooking from the Farmer’s Market, Canning, Earth to Table, The Herbal Kitchen

For your home and garden. Clockwise from Left to Right: Canning Recipe card, Recipe Box, Letterpress card from Yee Haw, Heirloom seed collection

Living in Williamsburg can be like a love/hate relationship. On the love side, we have a fantastic selection of small cafes and gourmet take out places that really define the neighborhood. My latest pit stop is Radish, a take-out gourmet food shop. Carrying foods from local sources as well as upstate farms, they have the perfect combination of rustic interior with delicious fresh dishes made daily. How can you resist one of their homemade sodas with a striped straw? Perfect to pick up before heading to McCarren park for a picnic. I also love their design elements and details like the lovely vegetable wallpaper on the back wall, and the chalkboard seen above with hand drawn veggies displaying what is currently in season. Stop by and check them out at 158 Bedford Avenue (between 9th St and 8th St) in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. (718) 782-2744  www.radishnyc.com