Well. It’s been a rough week, to say the least. I can barely
tolerate any form of social media right now, and the fact that every single
person in our congested newsfeeds and groups feels the need to have their voice
heard on the state of our nation, plus the sharing of countless unsubstantiated
news articles jamming every inch of every screen, is simply exhausting.
I have very strong ideas about the leadership of our
country, and concerns about what the next four years will bring. But what I’m
thankful for is the foundation of faith that’s taught me that if we can all
ease up a bit and work positively for change in our own little sphere, the cacophony
of fear and negativity do not have to become all-consuming. I think part of
this faith comes from growing up in the Episcopal Church – a footing that
helps me to understand that sometimes, it’s better to quiet one’s own voice in
the storm of shouting, and just try to put more good out into the world. When I
was a kid, I participated in a bunch of youth ministry activities through my
church and its diocese, and one of the parables that meant the most in that
time is also a terrific Christmas gift for any families you might know with
young children: The Precious Present.
This book is short, and makes really wonderful holiday
evening reading in front of the fire or next to the glowing Christmas tree. It’s
not religious, but it is a parable in the order of The Gift of the Magi or
similar tales. This one focuses on a man’s search for happiness as he grows up
from a boy. Finding happiness within is a lesson we could probably all use
right now, so think about this for any families on your list.
Looking for something tastier to give to the foodies in your
life? As usual, I’ve got the hook-up. Here’s what’s dancing around in my head
rather than sugar plums this year.
If the special person on your gift list loved Kitchen
Confidential, meat in tube form, or any other iteration of the Anthony Bourdain
food empire, you might want to go with Appetites, his first cookbook in years.
This one’s on my personal list, as well, and I can’t wait to make Tony’s recipe
for savory pie crust. Bring it.
Sur La Table is on my naughty list right now over an unfortunate
cinnamon bun mishap, but before that happened, I secured a couple pieces from
its new Jacques Pepin line. This colorful, whimsical batch of bakers, linens,
bowls, and spatulas features designs painted by the French master himself, and
would be perfect in any country kitchen.
Delicacies is a new line of chef-inspired jewelry that I’m
craving this holiday season. Each bracelet or necklace features a charm of an
ingredient – like a tiny silver pig, head of garlic, lobster, or ear of corn –
set either on a thick leather band or delicate metal chain. They let you wear
your favorite ingredients loud and proud for the whole world to see, but in an
elegant way. Maybe an octopus for my friend Katey with a blog called The Mother Octopus? Or a tomato for the person who brings you fresh vegetables from his garden every summer? That piggy has my name on it, personally.
Have you ever seen the episode of Friends in which Chandler
and Rachael steal several cheesecakes from an absent neighbor and shame-eat
them in secret, and then Joey comes along with a fork right in his pocket and gleefully
asks, “All right, what are we having?”
Well, if you’re the Joey in that scenario (hey, we’ve all
been the Joey at least once), or you know someone who is, this next gift may be
right up someone’s alley. Andrew Zimmern’s travel cutlery set cracked me up
right away when I spotted it, and immediately reminded me of Joey. It even has
chopsticks! And it’s only $10! This is a fun stocking stuffer for the Joey Tribbiani
in your life, or anyone who frequents food trucks and hates sporks.
Staying with my buddy Andrew, he also has this cool travel
toothpick holder for the dude in your life who always needs a toothpick after every meal. I know you know this person
– I have one! And he’s getting this for Christmas.
This next treat will seem pricey – they are a splurge, to be
sure. But if you are a person who makes bomb gift baskets of food around the
holidays, need a tasty hostess gift, or have a nut lover on your list – these are
the pinnacle of what cashews can be. DiBruno Brothers’ Black Lava Cashews are a
tiny bit sweet, addictively salty, and 100 percent delicious. I know $12 is extravagant
for only 10 oz of nuts, but please trust me when I tell you they are worth it.
You will be obsessed with them and just as mad as I am that DB doesn’t sell
them in a larger package online. I’m placing my holiday order this week.
You probably think you don’t like Israeli cooking. It sounds terribly exotic, doesn’t it? I’m here to tell you that most Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine is much more tame than you might imagine. The spice profiles are warming, rather than spicy-hot, and less complex and funky than Indian flavors. Israeli food is fresh-tasting, the flavors of all vegetables dialed up to 10, with loads of parsley and lemon, plus a sweet spice called sumac, and tahini, which is the sesame paste that enriches hummus. This book, from the chef at Philly’s wonderful Zahav restaurant, is a full-color riot of the vibrant foods of this country and its people. Also, the chicken soup recipe absolutely rocks. And if you have a vegetarian who loves to cook on your shopping list? Bingo.
If you've ever gone on vacation in the Southeast and had wonderful, salty ham biscuits for breakfast, then come home and wondered why you couldn't replicate the flavor, it's probably because we can't get real country ham in stores up here. Our breakfast hams are, for the most part, factory-produced, with smoke flavoring added instead of actual smoking, and curing accomplished by chemicals instead of salt and time. Broadbent's is one of the last, great smokehouses (there's also Benton's) doing it all the right way, turning out spectacular country hams, sausage, bacon, and other cured meats that are the true charcuterie of America. A great gift for a transplanted Southerner or anyone who loves country ham would be Broadbent's Bluegrass Biscuit Brunch. This assortment of biscuit mix, bacon, and country ham slices will cure what ails you, and make any breakfast lover on your list happy as a pig in....well, you know.
No Kid Hungry is an awesome charity that works to insure, well, that no kid in this country goes hungry. They work with school lunch and breakfast programs, as well as community programs to help low-income families feed their children. A really great way to help out this cause AND delight the cook or baker in your family who also has a celebrity obsession (or Nascar, or Cheftestant) is to buy them a spatula from Williams-Sonoma's very cool No Kid Hungry collection this year. 30 percent of the proceeds go to the organization, so you're doing some good while also getting your loved one a spatula designed by Jimmy Kimmel, Danica Patrick, Trisha Yearwood, Ian Garten, Michael Voltaggio, or Chrissy Tiegen. I want one!
So that’s it, kids. My list of the best of what’s around for 2016 for the foodies you need to buy for this holiday season. So bust out your credit cards and warm up your search engines. Hey, some of this stuff may even be eligible for Black Friday deals! Make that food lover in your life extra happy on Christmas morning and try these gifts! My personality is big; my hunger is bigger!
No Kid Hungry is an awesome charity that works to insure, well, that no kid in this country goes hungry. They work with school lunch and breakfast programs, as well as community programs to help low-income families feed their children. A really great way to help out this cause AND delight the cook or baker in your family who also has a celebrity obsession (or Nascar, or Cheftestant) is to buy them a spatula from Williams-Sonoma's very cool No Kid Hungry collection this year. 30 percent of the proceeds go to the organization, so you're doing some good while also getting your loved one a spatula designed by Jimmy Kimmel, Danica Patrick, Trisha Yearwood, Ian Garten, Michael Voltaggio, or Chrissy Tiegen. I want one!
So that’s it, kids. My list of the best of what’s around for 2016 for the foodies you need to buy for this holiday season. So bust out your credit cards and warm up your search engines. Hey, some of this stuff may even be eligible for Black Friday deals! Make that food lover in your life extra happy on Christmas morning and try these gifts! My personality is big; my hunger is bigger!