Last Minute Foodie Gifts

Christmas is literally right around the corner if you haven;t picked up anything for your favorite foodie, now is the time. The problem is what to get. Do you panic like crazy and pick up the first thing you see? Or debate and deliberate until someone takes it off the shelf before you? The best bet is to calm down. Foodies like everything about food. There's a wide array of stuff you can give.

The first thing you need to do is write a list. Write down if she or he is into creating dishes or more into eating. if it;s creating you can even visit your local supermarket for last minute gift ideas Think about a bask filled with sea salt, peppercorns and favorite spices. Those are always fun. Another idea is cookie cutters, and decorations along with an icer. for the bakers in your life. Gadgets are always of great use. Any Target or K-Mart has a big selection. Every cook needs new whisk and spatulas along with fun things likes decorative timers and cheese graters. Another lovely gift are place mats, napkins and napkin rings. These are perfect for the foodie couple in their first place. Fancy tablecloths also are appreciated too.

For the foodie who likes to eat. you can either create a memorable food basket or give a gift certificate to a favorite restaurant. baskets are fun to make up. You can have a theme, like international teas or coffees or their favorite flavors, like chocolate or caramel. You can even have a soup basket full of dried soup mixes or a pizza lover's basket full of the ingredients to make a pie. Luckily there are also restaurant gift certificates that cater to every taste. Even the smaller , family owned ones offer ones so you can buy from both chain and privately owned for a fun dining experience.

Don't fret if you haven;t bought your favorite foodie her or his gift yet. You still have plenty of choices yet. There are still so many gift ideas to choose from. Have fun !

Holiday Roasts

With Christmas a week away and New Year's a mere two weeks its time to start thinking of what you;re going to be cooking. Moat of you have visited your butchers or your grocery;'s meat counter. Some of you are still in a quandary over what to serve. The best bet is the traditional roast. Here's the question. Roasted what?

Most people usually go for ham or turkey. If you're of German descent the first is always the preferred choice. Ham is relatively easy to bake or roast.It usually just takes an hour and can be glazed with a number of coverings. Pineapple juice and ginger ale are the most popular simply because they break down the pork enzymes, rendering the meat almost butter soft. Turkey again is a great choice because you can feed a large number of people with it it;s also more kid friendly too. Besides there's nothing like leftover turkey too the next day,.

For other ideas think about a whole roast pork or even London broil. Loin of pork can be intimidating to cook at first because of the size. However it;s really no different than any other roast. it takes about two hours to cook. and it's a dry roast. Unlike other roasts you can have fun flavoring it. Try a marinade in either lemon juice or vinegar to break down the enzyme s to make it tender. You can also use a flavorful rub for added taste. London broil is another good holiday choice. It does have to be marinaded for about four hours. You can use garlic, soy or even balsamic vinegar for flavor and then cook for half an hour. London broil is great for smaller dinner parties and just family gatherings.

A holiday roast is always special .You can have tradition with ham or turkey or something new with pork roast or London broil Whatever you choose will be perfect for your Christmas or New Year's table.

Eat Your Carats!

Today is the third installment of our holiday luxuries.. Ever want to eat pure gold? Or even silver ? You can . Ask any baker or candy maker about gold or silver leaf or dust and they'll nod knowingly. Nibbling on 24 carat anything is as decadent as you can get.

Gold leaf and dust have been around since the Italian and French Renaissance. Whole dishes were enveloped in them, much to the delight and probable surprise of the court. Risotto was encased in gold as were fruits of Elizabethan England. Unlike other metals, gold is relatively safe to eat and there are no side effects. Nowadays any form of the metal is used primarily in baking,. You can buy gold leaf which are sheets that can be applied to gold dust which looks like metallic salt. There are even shakers for easier sprinkling. Most prices range between $27 to a whopping 95 dollars depending on the weight and quantity. There are some great websites out there that offera variety of different gold.

To a lesser extent silver leaf is also popular.r As with gold you can create fancy desserts and cakes with it. Silver dragee balls have been popular with home and commercial bakers for decades. Many Italian pastry shops will make special occasion cookies using silver dragees . They're also used to top wedding cakes as well. Unfortunately not every US state allows them. California has banned the glittery decorations since 2006.

There;s nothing as decadent as eating a pastry laced with gold or silver. It's the ultimate holiday experience. Try eating these precious metals just for the sheer luxury of it.

Branding Brooklyn

Brooklyn is more than just a borough of Manhattan these days. It;s a brand that is practically slapped on anything that comes out of New York's most famous borough. There are pickles. There are chocolates. There are all sorts of good stuff being made from local artisans and being sold in the local shops there and across the East River in fancy Manhattan.


This was explored in yesterday's New York Times Dining section with an article by Steven Stern. It seems food companies large and small want items with any kind of connection to the latest, coolest inspot.There are many artisanal industries starting there and smaller , privately owned brands always generate a buzz. It's no wonder that these companies would be scooped up by giants like Williams and Sonoma and a few others. Brooklyn has a few good home grown products.There are artisanal pickles and beer coming from there. There are even jelly and jam companies too creating spreads from family recipes.

Luckily there are some Brooklyn manufacturers that have their pride and aren't selling to the big chains. These are the true artists who take pride in their work. They may not be nationally famous or bringing in the big bucks but they have integrity. Not to mention a local fan base that spreads the word about them. Maybe that's what this Brooklyn essence is all about. No fancy campaigns to buy this or that. Just word of mouth advertising that gets customers wanting to try the foodstuffs.

Brooklyn is not just a borough. It's a brand of home made products that reflect the tough grittiness the area emanates. The food may be gourmet, but the feeling behind it is down to earth.

An Estonian Christmas

Eastern Europe is full of wonderful traditions. Their foods are rich both ion flavor and religious meaning. Most of all they are home cooked which means a lot in this crazy but it already prepared world.

The holiday cuisine is explored in n to days Dining section of the New York Times.It was written by Julia Moskin who covers all sort so different countries in her writing. She writes in lavish detail of the delicious foods from savory to sweet. Estonian cooking can best be described as a hybrid of Polish and Finnish cooking. it sits directly below Finland on the Baltic Sea. it also is next to Poland and so that influence is strong there. The Estonians make home made blood sausage which is a lengthy and time consuming project. They serve it with roast pork , sauerkraut along with lingenberries (the Scandinavian influence) and cranberries

Estonian desserts are somewhat limited. I came across kissel which is a fruit soup. Ms Moskin also mentions roosemanna,a frothy pick concoction of cranberry and semolina's . It's kind of like an alcohol free zabaglione. Surprisingly enough rhubarb pies are favored too. The area isn't too bug on elaborate desserts , just earthy ones.


Estonia has a long and rich history.It;s food reflects that, especially at Christmas time. Recipes are carried through the ages so that generation after generation can enjoy them.

Holiday Hors D'Oeuvres

No matter how you cut it it;s the holiday party season. That means feeding the crowds with tasty appetizers not to mention appealing to all tastes and preferences. What makes a good hors d' oeuvre platter? Is just a plate of one thing? Or a platter of all varied savory treats? That depends on what you want to make.

Even a novice host or hostess can throw together a good appetizer table. Unlike the main meal or desserts, quick munchies are easy to create. Sometimes they just require some Ritz crackers and pate with a sprig of parsley on the top. Intersperse these withe some cheese cubes and you're good to go. You can elaborate on this theme by subbing in water or even rice crackers and putting various pastes such as ham or salmon on them. Another fun thing is offering a multi cheese board where guests can take what they like. Have a few loaves crunchy Italian or French bread nearby.

For hot appetizers ,try a warmed bruschetta. You can take the fresh sliced tomatoes and cheese on bread rounds and then pop into your broiler. It will get the cheese all bubbly creating a margherita pizza effect. Hot from the oven puffs are always a crowd pleaser. Luckily your grocery has all sorts of flavor in stock. Vary it with a few mushroom, crab and spinach. Serve dips or fiery mustard too with them.

This is the season for fun and tasty horsd' oeuvres.You can go as simple or elaborate as you like .It;s your choice . Either way your guests will love them.

Homemade Holiday Candies

This is the time of year when do it yourself candy makers shine. there;s nothing as fun as putting together Santa pops or making exquisite truffles. Best of all, unlike baking you have unlimited ingredients. You Can have fun turning some of the most mundane stuff into yummy drops or balls. Even add exotic fillings too for some fun. Best of this candy is yours. not some fancy designer label stuff.or ones from an expensive boutique.



The easiest candy to make are chocolate lollipops. I would suggest taking four or five bars of any chocolate whethe r it be Hershey's or Godiva . Put thes e in a plastic bag and them microwave on high for about one minute. Cut corner of the bag with a scissor. Squeeze into molds that already have sticks in them. Dust on sprinkles or nonpareils. . You can also ice them too if you want. Another fun holiday (Or anytime candy ) is haystacks. These are so simple to make. melt one bag of whether milk or dark chocolate chips, Mix in coconut, then place heaping teaspoons of the mixture on greased cookie sheets. let set in a cool dry space. You'll get about one to two dozen depending on the size . peanut or any nut brittle is easy to create too. It's fun as a dessert and even better as a gift it also doesn't take that long to make.

Truffles are a yummy treat and gift. The secret is the creamy filling . For a rich interior use one part cream to two parts unsweetened cocoa. As for extra flavoring you can try Gran Marnier for a rich citrus-y taste or Irish cream. Truffles can also have sea salt and chili (not together though) as ingredients for a different experience. You can then enrobe them in just melted chocolate or dip them in powdered cocoa and/or coconut.

This holiday season, go wild with your candy making . Make fun treats and gifts using just simple chocolate , cream and sugar. You can create wonderful chocolates and brittles that family and friends - and you will thoroughly enjoy.