Harbor Island Creations Cooking & Finishing Salts Holiday Gift Ideas
Harbor Island Creations, located in Quincy, makes small batch, handcrafted blends of cooking and finishing salts, all with a kosher salt base. Both the garlic and citrus are sourced as locally as possible and each clove and fruit is hand peeled or zested as part of the small batch process.
What makes these salts so awesome is that they take the guess work out of seasoning for the average home cook. With any of my three signature flavors you don’t have to worry about what else to add, the depth of flavor they bring elevates even the most basic dishes.
Check the South Shore Boston Holiday Gift Guide
Heritage Salt is a treasured family recipe that we have been making for generations, one that I learned from my grandmother over twenty years ago. With a heavy garlic base it is fantastic on literally everything, however its flavor excels on steak and hamburgers. Use with a little olive oil for roasting or grilling veggies, add to scrambled eggs for breakfast or toss into warm popcorn with a little parmesan cheese. I am always thrilled to hear how much people love it and how quickly they integrate it into their everyday cooking routines.
Chili-Lime started out as a rim for margaritas but I quickly found that it was also great to cook with. Made with both organic crushed red pepper and smoked paprika. Enjoy this mildly spicy salt on grilled seafood, meats, and veggies or add it to any of your favorite Mexican dishes. I personally love this one on roasted sweet potatoes and also in my chicken salad, you get both a little heat and bite from the lime zest.
Lemon Rosemary is exceptionally fragrant and made with organic whole rosemary. Customers love pairing this salt with roasted chicken, roasted potatoes tossed with olive oil or on fish such as salmon. It can also be used to flavor olive oil for dipping, added when making hummus, sprinkled on top of freshly baked focaccia bread or over shortbread cookies just out of the oven.
These salts are all so versatile that they can be used to make a compound butter, used in marinades, salad dressings or as a rub on various meats and seafood. Toss with oil to toast croutons and roast nuts or simply sprinkle over a finished soup or salad to add just that little bit of extra flavor boost. Once you start you won’t know how you ever cooked without them!
A trio of my salts make a unique and personal gift for any occasion. With the holiday season fast approaching they would be great as an office/family grab, stocking stuffer or hostess gift. Also don’t forget your service professionals who appreciate that extra thank you; teachers, bus drivers, salon technicians, mail carriers and coaches.