I’ve always loved the line “repeat the sounding joy,” from Joy to the World. It is a time of year
to find joy in unexpected places, and repeat it to those around us. If you have
foodies on your gifting list to whom you’d like to repeat some joy, I have you
covered again this year with my gift list.
I am one of those people who can totally take violence in a
movie or TV show, unless that violence is of the stabbing/cutting variety. I
have an unreasonable fear of cutting myself, even though my knife skills are
pretty good. Chalk it up to an early job at a bagel shop and some pretty nasty
cuts on the line, I guess. So this BladeBrush from
Joseph and Joseph would make a terrific stocking stuffer for me. It allows you
to really scrub your knives with a solid piece of plastic between the blade and
your hand, rather than a sponge or dishcloth.
I’ve waxed poetic about the delicious attributes of DiBruno
Brothers’ Black Lava Cashews to you before, and to satiate my hungry heart,
those mad geniuses have cooked up a new treat using them this year: the Black Lava
Cashew Dark Chocolate Bar. I can’t even image how good those
buttery, salty flavor bombs are going to be enrobed in high quality, bitter
dark chocolate. Mine are on order already, but you can (and should!) get yours now.
Confession: I received an Instant Pot last year for Christmas, and I’ve only used it twice. I’m not sure it’s my jam. I have a big one, and by the time the pressure’s built up in that sucker, it doesn’t feel quite so instant. But then Williams Sonoma came out with this line of Instant Pot sauces and starter kits this year, and I’m hoping to try some out and that they’ll make this whole thing feel easier. I have my eye on the carnitas sauce and the tortilla soup starter.

If your giftee loves Harry Potter AND eating (like me!), you
might want to go for the Solemnly
Swear appetizer plates from Pottery Barn. They were on my list this year,
and I can’t wait to feast from them. I love that they’re Harry Potter-themed,
but not obviously for kids. There’s some sophistication to the spell these will
put on you.
If you want to help someone make their kitchen elegant AND festive, you can’t go wrong with Kate Spade Christmas kitchen towels. I’ve already gifted this set, and more are on their way as the season progresses.
I’m mad for tomato salt. Well. There’s a sentence I’ve never
written before. Listen, salt infused with dried tomato powder is good for many
dishes, but the flavor punch it gives plain white rice really makes my skirt
fly up. I found some made by Saltopia,
and it’s going in some of the holiday baskets I’m making for folks this year,
so I thought you might want some, too.
I always give you a cookbook to buy, yes? This year, I love
Chrissy Teigan’s Cravings:
Hungry for More, which I received for my birthday, but what might be
even cooler for the Gen X foodie you love would be the Beastie
Boys Book – part memoir, part cookbook, with illustrations and
playlists that will make your beloved’s next kitchen romp so much edgier.