J's Hub - What the heck is it?
I recently ask a very simple question here on the Hub Pages in the hope of finding out the true use of a bowl of which I purchased one cold morning at a local flea market. When I saw the bowl on a table I asked the sellers - "What was the bowl used for?". However neither of the two men knew the correct answer to my question. One of the two men said, "Perhaps it's used for holding, and keeping onion rings separate from each other". However I truly doubt that was the case or the use for this bowl. The other man said I'll take a dollar bill for it. So I figured what the heck, and I bought it for a buck. I took it home to my wife with the hope of finally having it's purpose revealed once and for all, however she was as baffled as I was. I really thought she would know the answer since she is such a great cook, and watches all those cooking shows on television, but she was at total loss just as me. She also asked that her picture not be shown on this hub, and I"m honoring her request for my own protection. We have asked many people that we know, but so far no one has been able to tell us what this bowl's purpose is. So I decided to ask a question on the hub pages to my fellow hubbers, which has a link to it below. They came up with purposes for the bowl ranging from chilling foods, cake bowls, and dog bowls to meat holders, however no one was quite sure of it's purpose. There were some really good answers from some really smart people, however the true purpose of this bowl remains a mystery. So in another attempt to identify the purpose of this bowl I decided to write another hub to see if I can finally find out the answer to this mystery. After all this is as good of a topic as any for a hub. As far as the bowl itself goes, it's pictured here on this hub to help with identifying it's purpose. It's one solid ceramic piece, and there are no manufacturing markings on it to be found anywhere, which might help us figure this problem out. This isn't a riddle where I know the answer, so drbj let's see you do your magic on this hub. If anyone can help solve this unknown mystery, please let me know in the comment section below.
- What kind of a bowl is this?
Listing of the answers to the question: What kind of a bowl is this?
Have you ever seen anything like this before in your life?
My beautiful wife makes use of our newly named bowl
Comments
okay... so this question drove me crazy at 3am. I think what that is, is the bottom part of a tart warmer. so the bottom section of a spring-form pan would sit just inside of opening, supported by the posts. The green lines on the side act as a guide for cutting cakes. Warm water or ice can be added depending on if you were serving a warm tart or cheese cake, etc.
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Davenmidtown, I can tell that you have really put a lot of thought into this problem we are having at identifying a use for this bowl. However both my wife & myself tend to agree that the lines on the rim of the bowl are only a design, and that they don't have any other purpose.
What are the dimensions of the bowl?
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The dimensions are - 11 & 3/8" across from rim to rim. 2 & 1/4" deep. The rim is 1 & 1/4" wide. Also the four red post extend to the very top of the bowl and are even with the top of the rim.
it is possible that maybe someone had it made special...the closest thing i could find to resembling it was an apple baker. some had the deep almost spike and deep bowl while some were fairly shallow with small pegs...but none had more than one spike or peg. so i will keep searching tomorrow.
Hi, THS. You know I can't resist a challenge. tim above is correct. The ceramic item appears to be a pretty Apple Baker which can bake 4 apples at one time. It sells for $14 to $18 in the bakeware section of stores and is also available in cast iron at Williams Sonoma for about $20.
One cored apple is placed over each cone so the apple bakes evenly inside as well as out. Here is a luscious recipe:
4 large apples. ¼ cup brown sugar. 1 tsp. cinnamon. ½ tsp. grated nutmeg. ¼ cup pecans or walnuts. ¼ cup raisins. 1 tbsp. melted butter. ½ tsp. grated ginger. 2 tsp. fresh lemon juice. ¼ cup water.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Wash and core apples. Peel 1-inch ring of peel around top of apples and place on posts in the Apple Baker. Place 2 tbsp. water in the apple baker. Combine all ingredients and stuff apples letting mixture overflow sides of apple. Grate nutmeg over tops. Place apple baker on middle oven rack and bake for 40 minutes. Serve with vanilla ice cream. Yummmmm! Enjoy!
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tlmcgaa70, Actually a bowl to bake apples in seems to be the most logical purpose for this particular bowl so far. My wife really favors this idea, and she also has thrown out the idea that it may just be a gag gift, however that seems like a lot of trouble for a prank. As for it being hand made, a mold or a professional pottery maker would have most likely been involved, because this bowl & it's post are perfect in every manner. Usually a piece of pottery which is hand made often has the creators initials & a date carved into the bottom of it before it's cured. As far as any markings from a manufacturer, it's always possible that they wore off with use or never existed to begin with. However this bowl also is in perfect shape, and seems to be in like new condition & may have never been used for any cooking purposes yet.
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You are both correct tlmcgaa70 & drbj, and I would like to thank you both for solving this mystery. It is called a "4 apple porcelain large apple baker". After seeing your answers I went to google and typed in - "Photos of large apple bakers", and after scrolling down the "Images" section I found the picture of our bowl. I clicked on it's web site link, which took me to Ebay. However on Ebay that particular bowl was already sold out, which is not a problem because we already have one now. Well we all proved something here today. If you have something and you don't know what it is, just put a picture of it on a hub, and before you know it you'll have your answer. We all figured out what this was in less then 24 hours. We are going to try out that recipe drbj, and thank you both again.
I would have never guessed it was for apples! I thought it was some sort of modern art decoration thing. And actually, from the picture, I thought those were cut-up hot dogs in the bowl. :) Fun hub!
Wow, an apple baker. I would never have guessed.
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Lisa & LABrashear, I would have never guess either & that's the whole reason behind this hub, which turned out to be a hit. I also totally agree, that from the photograph it looks just like 4 hot dogs standing up, however they are actually 4 red porcelain post which are apart of the bowl itself.
wow, I have never seen that in my life. It's really interesting that it's an apple baker. Great hub
oh oh oh, a funny story that definitely had people questing...like that as it gives folks something else to do besides their bloody cell phones!!!!!!!!
I think it would be great for tacos...just saying:)
Also good for making Yorkshire pudding.
Haha . . . loved this story. I think it would be a great addition at a nail salon, soak your hands while exercising your fingers.
LOL!
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