Gourmet Gift Baskets The Perfect Gift

Even though Halloween is only two days away, it's not too early to think about holiday presents. One of the best one - even for Thanksgiving is a gift basket. There 's always a treat for everyone, from candy loving kids to cheese loving grandparents.A basket full of goodies is the perfect family gift.

What's the best place to go? Hands down, its's Gourmet Gift Baskets. This Exeter, New Hampshire family owned company has been shipping all sorts of sweets and savories for the last ten years. The company covers all events from the joy of a new baby to losing a loved one. There are even towers of food to celebrate newly wed couples and new neighbors.Another plus about Gourmet Gift Baskets is that you can even order flowers for Valentine's Day. along with several other occasions. The Thanksgiving  gifts are perfect, especially if you can't attend a family gathering. There are even apple and pumpkin pies which will be appreciated on a busy holiday cooking day. For a really lux gift send a bottle of Veuve Cliquot to a tired , over worked home chef. Even more impressive are their holiday towers. A perfect gift for any foodie is the $200 mega basket of every snack imaginable.There's chocolates, pretzels and even trail mix. This will last well into January .Another impressive present is the cookie basket. It has every sweet bite from chocolate chunk brownies to whoopie pies. Gourmet Gifts also sells healthy baskets too , full of low calories treats like wheat crackers and popcorn.


 I recently received their Halloween Witch's Baked Goods. Below is their chocolate chunk brownie

peanut butter and chocolate chip. The cookies were tasty and I liked the variety. The chocolate chip were buttery with a homemade taste as were the oatmeal raisin, that didn't have that many raisins. One of the best were the sweet, buttery butterscotch blondies were were a lovely blend of sweet and creamy. The peanut butter ones were also tasty - surprising for me  because I'm not overly fond of them. The cookies arrived , individually wrapped in cellophane so each bite was fresh. I also liked the box which will be used for either Halloween decorations or my embroidery and sewing gear.

What to get the food lovers and oenophiles in your life? Anything from Gourmet Gift Baskets. They have a wide variety of treats and drinks that can suit any taste. Put them high on your list when holiday shopping.

A Royal Breakfast

Tomorrow most of us Yanks will wake at the crack of dawn to watch one of our own marry into the British Royal family.How do we celebrate? By having a Brit breakfast - or at least one influenced by the United Kingdom

A British fry up breakfast is a great but heavy way to greet the day. It is an eye opener that does require mostly frying.It starts with meat. Most English like breakfast sausages, one made of pork called a banger. The best we have here is the Jimmy Dean sausages and for vegetarians - Morning Star Farms. Some like bacon - our bacon called streaky Irish with it. The bacon provides the perfect fat for frying up the other components.Every breakfast plate usually has one or two eggs, always cooked sunnyside up.This way the eater can dip either bread or a sausage into the yolk.About the bread. it cannot be toasted. It has to be fried, in the bacon drippings, or if that's all used up, butter.Iit shouldn't be too soggy with oil, A minute or two in the pan should do it.it wouldn't be a fry up without that Brit staple - beans. Heinz is the popular brand. Tomatoes give it some bite and also are a perfect foil for the meat and eggs. Usually the beefsteak kind are used but try the vine ripe for a sweeter , more vibrant flavor.Another must have is the vinegar laced HP sauce..It's kind of like a tart version of Worcester sauce  which can be used.If that's too intense at five in the morning, switch to ketchup.

Some Americans may feel that eating a huge meal that early may be too much. Try a Thomas' English muffin instead. These are based on the English , crumpet, a spongy kind of muffin brought to the US by Samuel Bath Thomas, from Plymouth in 1879. Slather clotted cream, another UK treat, on them, and then your favorite jam or marmalade. Clotted cream came from the Phoenicians who traded tin in Cornwall.It's cooked milk but has a wonderful buttery , nutty flavor. If not , try Kerry's Irish butter on a hot, toasty English muffin. Slather a rich , flavorful jam on top such as Aldi's Specialty Selected blackberry. You could celebrate the Scottish way with oatmeal.Don't go crazy with cooking the old fashioned rolled oats.. A packet of the instant will do.It may be too late to bake up a loaf of oatmeal bread but many stores do sell it. Toast up a few slices , slather on butter and that other English must have - marmalade. Tea is another must have. Coffee just won;t do.. One of the best is Typhoo tea which can be bought in the international section of some supermarkets like Stop& Shop.It's been around for over one hundred years and has a lovely , mellow flavor. If you can't find it, then go for Earl Grey or Lady Grey tea.

Celebrate an Anglo-American wedding with a Brit breakfast. Go wild with a full on fry up or nibble on an English muffin. Either way, it's a great way to enjoy Harry and Meghan's big day.

The Sweetness Of Sugarcrafting

Any serious cake decorator will tell you about sugarcrafting - the art of making sugar flowers, leaves and stems for cake decoration. It is one of the hardest cake arts to conquer, requiring a steady hand, delicate tools and determination. It also helps to have a comprehensive how to book on the ready. Luckily there is a brand new one , written by famed British cake decorator, Alan Dunn. This is the must have book in any baker's library.

Alan Dunn's Sugarcraft Flower Arranging (IMM Lifestyle Books 2018) is the definitive cake and flower arranging book for hardcore cake enthusiasts. Mr. Dunn has been creating amazing sprays of gum paste flowers and leaves for over twenty-five years. His website has several how tos along with merchandise to sell. Access to his tutorials is $12.45 a month, but it lets s home bakers view and study his tutorials (Mr. Dunn is like a UK version of Cake Boss' Buddy Valastro)on everything from shortbread cookies to icings. It can be a bit expensive to join which is why buying the book is a better choice. It  is divided in three sections : flowers, sprays and arrangements and cakes. Home bakers not only know about sugar fauna but also about h9ow to arrange them in realistic displays..Mr. Dunn gives the recipe for how to make the gum paste(he also gives the name of ready made gum paste sticks which makes decorating that much easier) along with pictures of all the tools needed - and there are many.)  What was needed however was a recipe for a cake - even a simple vanilla one. He does recommend using a fruit cake which is great for British tastes -not so much for the Americans,

The pictures and hows tos are stunning. Every known flower and leaf is in the book. Looking at them, you feel cheated by creating cakes with just rosebuds and buttercream leaves. The exotic Madagascar stephanotis is featured along with the South American Masdevallia orchid and the South African Brunia head seeds.There are the much wanted roses, always in demand. Mr. Dunn explains in in detail how to create them. For novices there is the dischidia,  a delicately leaved vine that doesn''t require the same amount of work as a bloom or the North American winterberry, a cousin of holly, that a round ball tinted deep red. I loved the flower arranging section. Mr. Dunn dosn't make it all about the cake. \The sprays and arrangements would look lovely on a table or even a coffee table. These are the sugar flowers and leaves but thanks to his masterful hand , they even make the real deals pale in comparison. The book is a godsend for those freelance bakers who include wedding cakes in their repertoire. There are beautiful sugar bouquets in many lovely color combinations. cascading down cakes .Any couple would love a three tiered masterpiece  topped with silvered roses or deep violet anemones.

Alan Dunn's Sugarcraft Flower Arranging is the perfect book for the hardcore cake decorator.It shows how simple sugarpaste can be turned into magnificent buds and blooms. Home bakers must have this book in their library and try their hand at coping Mr. Dunn's masterpieces.

Fall Celebrations

Autumn is a wonderful time for all sorts of celebration and feasting. It's one of the most beautiful times to get married or engaged. Parties can have an elegant yet rustic menu, featuring the best of the season.. The foods can be farm fresh  taken from local providers to be  spun into a delicious feast.

Even if you're planning on a fall wedding for next year, take into consideration the harvest the season can bring. Many caterers are following the farm to table movement so their choices for you will have interesting dishes. Instead of the usual catered fare like lasagna or chicken with rice it will be  butternut squash soup, Savoy cabbage wraps and possibly a venison or pheasant main dish.A wedding cake may be a take on an apple one, redolent with cinnamon instead of the much used chocolate or vanilla.There could even be mini pear tartlets too, featuring another fruit of the season.As for toasting, think an apple wine - and yes it is a real drink. Celebrants could go for apple champagne, however it has to be made at home using the right fermenting ingredients. A somewhat safer choice is the French hard cider which has a champagne like sparkle and bubble. Make sure there is the non alcoholic kind for teetotalers and kids.Have pear and apple cocktails and mocktails too.

A celebration can also be done at home. Plan accordingly to suit the number of guests. Turkey or ham is a good choice for a big at home gathering. A German style roast pork is another excellent idea.If it's a smaller get together think possibly game fowl such as quail or pheasant.Sides for both types of parties could feature wild rice stuffed squash or a wild rice casserole. Cabbage season is getting into gear and it can be turned into a variety of different dishes from hors d'oeuvres to hot salads. Try it as pes coi, the Piedmontese polenta stuffed rolls or simply shredded and sautéed in butter. If opting for the pork roast , try an apple onion saute to accompany it.This can be made in large quantities for a crowd and can be made in a crockpot . Dessert can be as simple as apple and pear galettes or rustic apple pies. Want something a bit more elegant? Apple cake with cream cheese icing, topped with a spun sugar dome or crown. This can also translate into cupcakes too.

A fall wedding or engagement is a magical affair. Create wonderful dishes featuring the harvests of the season for it. They'll make celebrating either one even better.

Wacky Wedding Venues

Yesterday I witnessed a whole wedding ceremony while having a dog at one of my favorite hot dog stands at the Jersey Shore. Steps away there was a beautiful, warm and windswept beach, perfect for tying the knot. Yet happy couple wanted their nuptials at The Windmill, better known for their truly delicious burgers and hot dogs than wedding cake and rice. The happy couple wasn't alone in wanting a different kind of reception. What's trending now are truly unique weddings.

It first started with the wedding cake. Gone were the traditional tiers of white frosting and the couple on top. In their place were now cakes made in the shape of sandcastles and hot rods. Then menus changed to involve sliders and cotton candy instead of the usually sit down dinner with cocktail hour . Then the entire venue changed from sedate but overly elaborate wedding palace to  a couple's favorite beach or the pizzeria of their first date.Nowthe prospective bride and groom can have their weddings anywhere, from a Stewarts drive thru to their local doughnut shop. Strange , yes but also romantic and kind of cool.

If you are thinking about having your wedding in an unusual place , start planning. Most restaurants, even pizzerias and Chinese ones do have enough space for both the ceremony and reception. The problem is you may not be able to invite all that you wanted to ask. At most  many eateries can seat sixty. The wedding I witnessed had probably twenty people. If that's'' the case, then look for a larger place or have an open housefor the ones left out later on.Also remember guests won't be getting traditional food.Let them know that they'll be feasting on fun foods like hot dogs or pizza .It'll be a mix of formal ceremony with informal eating. Another issue will be drinking. Most smaller restaurants don't have liquor licenses. You'll have to bring  your own  and preferably just one kind like champagne for toasting.

There's nothing wrong with having a wedding at a hot dog joint or pizzeria. It's wacky , true,but it celebrates two hearts coming together. In the end,that's all that matters

Summer Weddings

There's nothing like summer weddings. They can be as informal as you like, not only celebrating love but the season in a cozy setting Unlike a Spring , Fall and Winter wedding anything is possible. As with love just follow your heart as to what you want to do.

For some this may be their second or even third (or possibly even fourth) big day. Instead of going all out for a formal affair in an overdone wedding palace, think about a cozy gathering with your favorite foods and people.There's nothing like a down home barbecue, full of ribs and steaks. Kids could have their share of hot dogs and burgers. If you're having a backyard reception, then have family members whip up cherished recipes like a grandmother's cobbler or uncle's potato salad. Preparing your own food also cuts down on expenses. Money that would have gone to a caterer can now go to a more luxurious honeymoon or mortgage payment. Also the meal is made more special and endearing knowing that beloved friends and family contributed to your wedding feast.

If you go with a caterer, stick with someone you know. A lot of small restaurants do catering on the side. They can easily set up a menu with your favorite dishes for a negotiated price. Trays and steam tables will be set up in your back yard or hall for a lot less. Since it is summer the fare will be lighter. Think about seafood such as shrimp and lobster or even grilled or roasted chicken. Make sure that your caterer has plenty of vegetable dishes which digest easier during the hot weather. Avoid pastas and any dish prepared with heavy sauces or gravies.No one wants to get overloaded on a hot ninety degree day.

As far as dessert, of course your cake will be the center of attention. A simple tiered cake with a cascade of real flowers is always a good idea. You can have them match the bridal bouquet. Since a lot of warm weather weddings are beach affairs many couples go for ocean themed cakes. I've recently seen one that was designed like a sandcastle with a starfish bride and groom. The couples names were written in tho sand like icing. If that doesn't float your boat then think about - a boat! A lot of bakeries can do clever motor boats or sloop designs for your cake. Another neat idea is have candy coral and shells instead of flowers decorating the tiers. As far as cake flavors stick with something plain such as vanilla or chocolate. (or embrace the Southern tradition of having a vanilla or lemon bride's cake along with a spice or chocolate groom's cake). For extras think about ice as opposed to ice cream. This is lighter and will also cleanse the palate. Rita's Ice, that great American ice chain has party buckets that you can fill with a variety of flavors. If it's a backyard affair then serve Popsicles to the kids. They'll like them better than the cake anyway. Small dishes filled with cookies on each table is a lovely idea. You can have a tray of cookies next to bowls of fresh fruit. Remember to serve strawberries, and melon for guests who don't want something too sweet or too heavy on a summer's night.

A summer wedding should be light and fun. night. Have your wedding feast reflect this whether you have a good old fashioned down home barbecue or a small catered do in your local hall.