My Favorite Things
Food
Some of my most favorite gifts are food. It is no wonder, I am a graduate of Johnson & Wales University's culinary program. So there is many a time when food has created a lasting memory, and some of these I share with you. These items are not just my favorite shops, but I am adding my favorites food gifts too... so keep checking back!
Chocolate, nothing but chocolate
Shari's Berries www.berries.com
I received a gift of these berries recently, and
was completely blown away. The berries were not large, they were HUGE.
Think of small tangerine! I cannot believe how large they were. I
have seen Driscoll's dipping berries in the store before, these however,
were larger. Gianormous! The nutritional information
included said each berry was 100 calories (about), which I thought was
pretty good considering they were dipped in chocolate! Trust me, you
will not be disappointed!
Choco Logo
http://www.chocologo.com/
This company is NY
based and has quite a history. For some background on the company
click here.
They make great chocolate gifts and even create
chocolate logos custom to your business or for an even like a graduation
or mothers day! Yummmmm!
Dale & Thomas Popcorn
www.daleandthomas.com
Thanks to my cousin Laura, I found a great
snack and cool gift (and addicting gift); POPCORN and CHOCOLATE!
Jacques
Torres Chocolate www.mrchocolate.com
No one can be without some good quality
chocolate! In comes the one, the only Jacques Torres, my favorite
pastry chef, and I can say that confidently being a chocolate lover
myself! His entire line is great, but I am partial to his dark
chocolate, and they are healthy too! He has a local shop in Brooklyn, so
make some time and pay them a visit!
POPCORN ON THE COB!
http://www.mastgeneralstore.com/products2.cfm/ID/45972/n/Popcorn-on-the-Cob
Popcorn on the Cob! Yes, you heard it, this is so cool!
You remove the cob from the bag it comes in, put it into a paper bag and
nuke it. The corn actually pops off the cob, which you later
discard, and there is no fat or chemicals. You can sprinkle some
salt or pepper, crushed chili pepper, spray with some Olivio butter
spray, this is a cool food gift!
Homemade Gifts
Pecans, a treasure of
the south I recently supported the
local Coweta County Kiwanis and bought an entire case of Pecans grown in
Vienna Georgia at a family owned wholesale/retail pecan grove. You
can shop their store by navigating to
http://www.werenuts.com/ you will not be
disappointed. The nuts I bought were on a tree two weeks ago!
They are so fresh, and yummy, I have been eating them like they were
potato chips. So I am giving them to the family for the holiday, to give
them a little taste of the South. I am making Candied Pecans and
pralines. For the
Candied Pecans
recipe,
click here for the
Pralines here.
Pickled
Eggplant (how this all started!)
This was the first gift I made
from my kitchen, as I was not able to shop when I was recuperating from
surgery several years back. So I jarred pickled eggplant.
You do not necessarily need to go through the jarring process, as long
as your gift recipients know that your item must be refrigerated, but to
jar pickled foods is easy, click here for the
recipe
and in there is the link for the jarring directions.
What Are Your Favorite Things?
Ok, so chocolate is my weakness. There are a lot of other things to crave that are worse for you!
Chocolate in moderation can be good for you! Dark chocolate contains anti-oxidants and flavenoids and can lower blood pressure and keep your heart healthy!