Tag Archives: holidays

Gift Guide for Foodies – 2018 Holiday Edition

Posted on by LeAnne Notabartolo

It’s that time of year again – Gift-mas. That time when you KNOW you have to get ready for the gifting season and you are stumped on what gift to actually give. I’ve got you covered! Most of the items on this list are from small manufacturers or small businesses, local artists, and one is a new book, just released, by a friend of mine. Let’s dig in! Be sure to read through to find a  coupon code and info for ordering online to save you the hassle of driving around. Check websites for details on Hanukkah and Christmas delivery cut off dates. You are welcome. Also – wait until “Cyber Monday” to order online for offers that may be available that day only.

The Tailgate Cookbook

Tailgate Cookbook by Beth Peterson

Written by pal Beth Peterson – get your tailgate on!

This is the perfect gift for the tailgating fanatic on your gift list! Loaded with tried and true recipes from my pal Beth Peterson (former World Food Champion), this book is sure to be a hit with all of the football fans on your list. Even if you dislike football (like me) the recipes are sure to make you the “host with the most” for any get-together. $19 on Amazon – Paperback format only.

This Blue Carbon Steel Frying Pan

Beautiful Blue Carbon Steel pan by Made In

Blue Carbon Steel is the love child of cast iron and stainless steel and THIS pan at just $69 is the perfect gift for the home cook who is ready to go to the next level. With better heat conductivity than stainless and the superb searing properties of cast iron without the weight, this is a game changer for the budding chef or expert home cook. You season this pan like you would cast iron to get non-stick properties (don’t worry – instructions are included and there is video on their site). While you are at the site, check out their entire line. The majority of their line is made in Austin, Texas, but this pan and a few other things are made in France. $69 Pre-order now for shipping on the first of December.

Funky Jewelry

Twisted Fork Bracelet by MarcelloArt on Etsy

If you have ever seen me in person, chances are I was wearing this bracelet. I have a love of all repurposed silverware so this made a perfect gift for me. If you have a gal on your list that is tough to shop for, this might just be the perfect gift. I even wear it in the kitchen. Because it is silver and there are no stones to fall out, no clasp to come undone, it works just as hard as I do. There are several retailers on Etsy, so check them out. This image from MarcelloArt on Etsy Pictured item $30, but prices vary depending on design.

Tasting or Saucing Spoons

Hangry Stamped Spoon by Sky Metal Designs on Etsy

Photo from Sky Metal Designs on Etsy – link above

These make fab stocking stuffers and you can get customized ones (like the Hubs bought me a few years ago) or any of several designs that are commercially available. Check out these two sites for some great gift ideas. Friend Nanette bought me a rose gold saucing spoon from Gray Kunz that I love (pictured). Prices vary. Gray Kunz Spoon available at JB Prince. Stamped tasting spoon available at Sky Metal Designs on Etsy.

Rose Gold saucing spoon available at JB Prince

Photo from JB PRince – link above

Time – yes, you can buy itKitchen Timers available on Amazon - give the gift of time

Most microwaves and ovens have timers on them, but what do you do when you need more than one? These handy little guys are magnetic, so you can stick them to the fridge. With count up and down features, they are great for recipe development (seeing how long something ACTUALLY takes to cook) or timing anything on the stove top, smoker, grill, or in the oven. In a set a three, you can keep one and gift two or give them all as a gift together for that “time challenged” person. $14 on Amazon

The Gift of Flavor – Raw Spice Bar Spices

Raw Spice Bar Global Spices Starter Set $78 on their website - give the gift of flavor

Global Spices Starter Set- as pictured $78. Photo from their website

 

No more bland food. No stale spices and herbs. Raw Spice Bar has fresh and flavorful spices, herbs, and spice blends to help you! The gift sets are a treat for anyone who loves to experiment. The individual spices and seasonings are perfect for replenishing your own pantry or creating your own gift set or gift basket. Get your orders in now for holiday gift giving and holiday cooking in your own kitchen. I am officially in love with their Poultry Seasoning and their Apple Pie Spices. Pro Tip- when making pumpkin pie, using your regular recipe, add all the spices volumes together (e.g. 1 Tbsp cinnamon, ½ tsp nutmeg, ¼ tsp cloves, ½ tsp ginger = 1 Tbsp + 1¼ tsp total) and sub that volume of Raw Spice Bar Apple Pie Spices for a balanced and slightly different take on your pumpkin pie. Bonus for all of my readers from Raw Spice Bar – 10% off your total order through 31 December when you use the coupon code  goodforspooningspices!  Prices vary.

 

 

Perfect Pecan Pie

Posted on by LeAnne Notabartolo

I love a pie. I especially love pecan pie (and for the record I say PEEcan, not puh-khan). Frankly too often pecan pie is really sugary and way too sweet. Soooo, I reworked an old recipe to reduce the sugary-ness and increase the flavor and each time I serve it, it’s a hit. With the baking season upon us and potlucks galore, enjoy this. The end result LOOKS way more complicated than it is. This is a recipe that doubles easily so you can make 2 at the same time. Serve with ice cream, whipped cream or drizzle with cold heavy cream. Each slice (1/8 of a pie can be warmed in a microwave oven in about 15 seconds) prior to serving.

Pecan Pie

makes one 9” pie

3 Tbsp unsalted butter – DO NOT substitute margarine.

2 tsp pure vanilla extract

¾ C sugar

3 eggs

¾ C dark Karo® corn syrup

¼ C molasses (either regular or robust – depending on your taste)

2/3 C chopped pecans

A heavy pinch of salt

Pecan halves to decorate the top

1 unbaked 9” pie crust

 

Preheat oven to 450. Roll out pie crust and have it ready to go.

Using an electric mixer on medium-high, beat first 3 ingredients until light and fluffy. It will not look like the beginning of cookie dough; it will be more granular. Reduce speed and add eggs one at a time until well incorporated, scraping bowl as necessary. Reduce speed again and gradually add first the corn syrup and then the molasses, scraping bowl as necessary. Fold in chopped pecans.

Pour into pie crust and bake for 10 minutes at 450. A crisp shell will develop on top while the middle stays syrupy. CAREFULLY remove from oven and reduce temp to 350. Decorate the top of your pie with the pecan halves. They will sink into the filling a bit as it continues to cook.

Return to oven and bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes or until set. Cool completely on wire rack before cutting. If you cut it while hot it will ooze all over the place. It needs to cool completely to allow the sugars to set up.

See how the top is puffed up? It will sink down and flatten out as it cools.

See how the top is puffed up? It will sink down and flatten out as it cools.

War on Thanksgiving – Updated

Posted on by LeAnne Notabartolo

I know everyone keeps bitching about a “War on Christmas”, but I can assure you there is not. Even before the Halloween decorations were down, the Christmas stuff started going up. How in the hell is that a war against a holiday? To promote it so vividly and early constitutes an act of war? It has been getting earlier and earlier; in fact I saw the first candies on the shelf when back-to-school stuff was on display. I applaud and honor Nordstrom’s who stated in a press release that their holiday deco wouldn’t be on display until Black Friday.  Now don’t get me wrong, I love Christmas. I love Hanukkah, Kwanza, Yule, Festivus, Human Light Day and Saturnalia. I will celebrate anything if you teach me how. The real holiday with a war on is Thanksgiving (here after Tgiving for brevity and because I suck at typing).

Have you ever noticed that the Halloween (Hween) commercials magically morph into Christmas (Xmas) commercials seemingly overnight? Immediately following Hween there are about 2 minutes of specifically Tgiving commercials before we start seeing the Xmas and holiday commercials. It’s almost like folks forget about Tgiving; like it’s an afterthought or “that holiday between Hween and Xmas”. Now true, Tgiving is based on religious separatists being given safe harbor from a completely different culture (Puritans and Native Americans respectively) after a treacherous journey (aka refugees) and taught how to live in their new land. And maybe some folks conveniently forget that, but I don’t. It is a celebration of acceptance, friendship, and abundance. It’s my favorite holiday of the year and there is a war going on people!

I never thought I would be one of those people who would say, “When I was younger…” but I do. When I was younger everything was closed on Tgiving except gas stations, hotels and the grocery store that closed at 2 pm so EVERYONE was able to spend the holiday with their loved ones. Then more than hotel restaurants started being open to accommodate travelers. And now retailers are open. As a former retail employee I can assure you if I had to work on Tgiving I would be livid and in tears at the same time. Why is it that our lowest paid population doesn’t deserve to spend a day off with their loved ones before things get REALLY crazy?

So here, I beg you, DO NOT SHOP ON THANKSGIVING! If the people don’t shop, the retailers won’t be open and EVERYONE gets to spend a day with their loved ones. Stay home, eat seconds and watch f-ball if you must, but don’t go shopping! Don’t skip dessert to spend money. If you HAVE to shop, do it online or Black Friday or Cyber Monday when the sales will be different, but just as good. I can promise you I will be out early on Black Friday with Thursday’s make up on! Do you REALLY NEED those towels that are on sale? Is the small amount of savings worth it to you to have someone work when they SHOULD be home spending it with loved ones? Trust me, retailers will get your money, but you might not get back the time you miss with loved ones. Being a military family, we have spent Tgiving with bio-family 4 times in 28 years. If I could have Tgiving with my Grandmother one more time and sit at the “kids table”, I would skip a LOT.

And if you REALLY want to make a difference in someone’s day, invite a dorm resident from your local military installation to YOUR Tgiving celebration (search “adopt an airman/soldier/sailor and the name of your closest military installation to find out how). They are away from home and the chow hall isn’t as welcoming as YOUR table. FYI – our Island of Lost Toys Tgiving started in JUST that way! And to make a BIGGER impact, donate what you would have spent shopping on Tgiving to your local food bank and help provide meals to people in need in YOUR neighborhood.

These retailers won’t be open on Tgiving – show them some love on Black Friday and be sure to support your LOCAL businesses by shopping with them on Small Business Saturday.