The holidays are coming, the goose is getting fat, chestnuts are roasting and all that. Although I prefer to keep gift giving low-key, finding the perfect gift for your loved ones can be a fun and fulfilling part of the season.
Here are a few delicious little items (many kitchen-related, some plain fun) that may be just right for someone nice on your list (although don’t exclude the naughties, as they make some of the most interesting friends and deserve a gift too.) Some of these I own and adore, others I’m coveting.
These are all divine gifts, however, remember that something homemade is often cherished the most. A batch of cookies, a knitted scarf, or a few jars of preserves would be welcomed by anyone. And if not homemade, shopping local businesses and farmer’s markets can yield unique offerings and support your local economy. Continue Reading »
Posted 10 December 2011 |
cookbook review gardening gift guide Ideas
Tagged: 101 Cookbooks, Etsy, gifts for a foodie, gifts for a natural cook, gifts for the gardener, gifts for the novice chef, Heidi Swanson, holiday gift ideas, Homemade Soda, Jeni Britton Bauer, Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams, lusa organics, new york times essential cookbook, seed saver's exchange, Super Natural Every Day, tallgrass kitchen gift guide
The beans are white, but the soup is a richly hued orange. It’s warm, comforting, with subtle notes of fennel polished by a good olive oil. If your beans are cooked, it’s fairly quick to put together. We enjoyed it with warm rolls and glasses of milk. I’m sure the more sophisticated among you can find a more elevated beverage, but milk hit the spot here.
Earlier, I gave you the skinny on soaking your own beans. Here’s an opportunity to use them. You will need approximately 1 1/2 lbs of dried beans, soaked and cooked. Continue Reading »
Granola is a great alternative to traditional cold cereal, but also serves as a hearty snack or a versatile crunchy topping for yogurt or oatmeal. With a drizzle of maple syrup and a dollop of creme fraiche, it becomes dessert.
This granola has a warm spiciness and toastiness, and the mahogany syrup adds sweetness with a hint of bitter molasses to keep it interesting. If you want it less sweet, swap unsweetened coconut for sweetened. This granola would also love some pecans (but not for us, with my youngest’s tree nut allergy) in lieu of some of the pumpkinseeds, and dried cranberries or cherries could be exchanged for a few dates to add a pop of color.
Swept up in a clear bag and a pretty ribbon, this would make an ideal holiday or hostess gift. Continue Reading »
Homemade pie, from crust to filling, is regarded as the mark of an accomplished homemaker.
I’ve heard stories of people in my grandparent’s generation choosing their spouse primarily on their pie-making skills. Sounds antiquated, and a little shallow, but I think it might be a better benchmark than a witty facebook post or a stunning Match.com photo.
Pie crust can be a little daunting–too much water, and your crust is tough. Too little, and it is difficult to roll out. And then there’s the question of fat. Butter, shortening, lard, or a combination? There are only slight variations on pie crust recipes, and I’ve tried many of them.
I made a lard crust. It had a nice texture, but the flavor was less than memorable. For years, I’ve used Martha Stewart’s pate brisee, which is melt-in-your-mouth buttery, but is a little finicky to roll out. This year I tried America’s Test Kitchen’s famous vodka pie crust.
Continue Reading »
This can hardly be called a recipe (especially since I’m not giving you any measurements). It’s more ‘inspiration for bread’. Inspiration that made for a very nice afternoon snack with tea.
Here goes:
Toast your favorite bread.
Spread it generously with butter.
Sprinkle it with brown sugar.
Sprinkle it with pumpkin pie spice.
Enjoy.
Here is my recipe for pumpkin pie spice.
If you want to take it over the top, after you slather on some butter, add some pumpkin or apple butter. Then dust with brown sugar and spice, and pass it under the broiler for a minute or two. Your kids (or your husband, or your wife, or your mother, or your new boyfriend) will think you are a kitchen goddess/god.
You are. And don’t you forget it.
