I am always carrying around at least two Moleskine journals—they’re classy, and I love the bright red. Now I will be adding a third book to my bundle, as they have just come out with a Moleskine recipe journal. (Thanks to Brooklyn Kitchen for the early notice!) The journal pages are organized into recipe format, and organized by course. It also includes a seasonal ingredients calendar and a nutritional content guide. And that wonderful little rubber band that keeps the whole thing tidy (and holds a pen nicely).

The recipe journal is part of Moleskine’s “Passions” series that also includes a wine journal, which I should also probably get since I’m always forgetting the names of wines that I like. Clearly, I’m going to need to start carrying a backpack again.

Now through August 20th, my friends at Unison are offering their fabulous table linens, aprons, pot holders & cocktail napkins at 20% off. Stock up while the prices are August hot!

Just use the promo code Table20.

Some of my favorites: The “Juniper” apron (seen here).  “Static” potholders in magenta. “Porter” table runner in moss. And anything made out of “Lush Turquoise“!

If you felt as inspired and tantalized by the National Agricultural Library’s “Beans are Bullets” war-era posters exhibit as I did, you may have also come to the same greedy conclusion: I want one. Well, lucky us. Because while we are at war, we are anything but materially deprived, the miracle of the Internet has delivered a wealth of WPA poster reproductions for our enjoyment and purchase. These magnificent displays of graphic design will make you feel heroic for planting a row of lettuce, not to mention canning a jar of tomatoes (Si Se Puede!), or baking a pan of cornbread (you GO!). Nothing brings out the patriot in me like good design and the pioneer spirit.

I can imagine few things more mouth-watering than a table full of Heath pottery. Except perhaps a table full of food that is placed inside Heath pottery. Or dinner at Chez Panisse, served in Heath pottery. I took this photo at their spectacular showroom in Los Angeles (there are also stores in Sausalito, where the dishes are made, and in San Francisco’s Ferry Market building); alongside the brilliantly colored and earth-toned stoneware pieces, there is a bounty of flatware, linens (made out of actual linen!), cookbooks, and glassware. It’s a food-lover’s paradise–in fact, celebrity chef Jeremy Fox (the very recently departed chef of Napa’s Ubuntu and Food&Wine’s “Best New Chef” of 2008) was loading up a cart of Heath wares while I was there. (He was needing to impress someone, that’s for sure…Perhaps investors for a new L.A. venture? Hmm?) He added a pile of Heath’s artful tiles to the plates and bowls–he apparently uses them to serve tiny amuses bouche. Clearly, Heath makes everything taste better.

It may sound like nothing much, but smoked black pepper is the best thing since sliced bread. Actually, it’s better than sliced bread. It imparts a hint of campfires, summer barbecues, and bacon to anything you are cooking…hard to imagine a more tantalizing effect. I’m late to the smoked black pepper party (Regina Schrambling discovered it for herself in 2004), but I’ve started religiously adding it to roasted vegetables (especially sweet potato fries), pan-seared steaks, black beans, and all manner of soups. A dash of this stuff and you won’t miss the ham hocks, or the charcoal grill…