Holiday Gift Guide – The Gifty Box
December 16, 2008 - Written by DianaYesterday in my 12 days, one of the gifts I wanted was cooking classes. I think cooking classes, or wine tours, or food tours all make great gifts. Something to broaden your horizons, helping you to stretch your brain and your talents is a good idea. Gifty box helps you to put together a package for you to give to someone. You choose a theme, while your recipient gets to choose the activity. Giving an experience is extremely personal, not to mention, if you are looking for a gift for “the person who has it all,” giving an adventure or a class or a winery tour might just be the best way to go.
Here’s how it works.
- As a buyer, you pick the theme you want to give based on whatever suits the personality of the recipient: winery tour/tasting, spa experience, adventure (e.g. scuba diving, scenic flights, horseback riding, whitewater rafting, rock climbing, 4×4 tours, etc.), classes (dance, martial arts, cooking, etc.)
- Once you pick a theme, the gift recipient receives a guidebook of all the options in the theme (beautifully packaged; this is far more than a gift certificate) so that he/she can choose the specific activity (based on preferences and location)
The prices for these packages range from $34.99 to $129.
Gifty box is giving Cookerati readers a 10.00 discount. Use the following promotion code when you check out.
Code: COOKERATI-2008H … $10.00 Off until 12.31.2008
Some examples of their Gifty box(es):
Pama Pomegranate Liqueur – mmmmm
December 16, 2008 - Written by Diana
Pama Pomegranate liqueur is the ultimate in alcoholic enjoyment. If you are hosting a party, or going to a party, this would be a really unique and delicious additive to your drinks. You can mix this in with other alcohol for a mixed drink or drink it over ice like I have recently. This delicious, delectable, delightful bottle of good stuff is just what you need to surprise everyone – unless of course, like me, you don’t want to share. My husband and I actually debated over whether or not to bring Pama to a party we went to. What we ended up bringing was another bottle of white wine, one we didn’t mind leaving behind. You see, we’re not sure we’re going to share it, we may just keep it hidden for our own enjoyment. That wouldn’t be fair though, no one else would get to experience this sweet, yet tart and sexy red liqueur in it’s lovely bottle. Yes, if I could send you all a sip, I would then you’d all be hooked. It …
The Twelve (Foodie) Days of Christmas
December 15, 2008 - Written by DianaI guess time is getting close, so if I were to pick out the 12 days of Christmas for a foodie maybe it would go like this.
12 Days of Cookies -
- Food Network is doing the Twelve Days of Cookies – MMMMM
- No Fear Entertaining has their own Twelve Days of Cookies.
- Nestle’s has it’s own Twelve Days
11 Lords a Leaping - You probably don’t think it’s food, but Lords a Leaping always makes me think of the Nutcracker Ballet. That in turn makes me think of Nutcrackers, and Nuts, and hopefully you can see the food connection. It’s not that Leaping Lords make me drool – well maybe they do, but we’ll stick with Nutcracker thoughts. Those Ballet Men are nice though. I’m getting my husband a nutcracker for Christmas. 
Holiday Gift: The Tender Filet
December 14, 2008 - Written by DianaDeb recently went on a rave about meat giving as a holiday gift. I never really thought of it as a gift, but I was at a Christmas party recently and a friend mentioned that there was a sale at this meat specialty place, so she was giving everyone steaks for Christmas. We discussed the merits of getting meat – I mean, you don’t need to find a stick it away in the closet until next year. You don’t need to worry if it matches the decor, or if it fits. It wouldn’t work for a vegetarian, or vegan, but it would work for me.
We (my family) had a chance to sample some of the Tender Filet’s really good stuff. First, my husband and I tried the Simmering Hearth Shepherd’s Pie one night while my son was off camping. I stuck it into the toaster oven and baked it. It came out great, the potato crust was crunchy with soft mashed potatoes underneath along with ground lamb, ground beef, and veggies. It was delicious. The portion size was listed as 3, but 2 is more like it unless it is used as a side dish. …
Homemade Stocking Stuffer – Chocolate Craisin Bark
December 12, 2008 - Written by DianaI haven’t started my treatmaking, so no pics yet. I make this treat every year and everyone loves loves loves it. It’s the number one requested item and so simple to make. This is one of the first things my kids ask for in their Christmas stockings.
Melt chocolate chips in a double boiler. I usually make it half milk and half semi sweet or dark, so it’s not too sweet and not too bitter. You can also substitute white instead of milk and dark chocolate if you prefer. If you use larger pieces of chocolate, cut them down in size so that it all melts evenly. You can use a microwave to melt the chocolate. Put the chocolate into a microwave safe bowl and for a minute at time melt and stir the chocolate until it’s completely melted. Empty Craisins into a bowl, pour the melted chocolate over top and stir together, blending well. Pour this mixture onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Place the baking sheet into the refrigerator until it looks like a big solid bar. Break this bark into pieces, put into small gift bags with a bow.
Orange Craisin works …
Holiday Gift Guide: Give the Gift of Meat
December 9, 2008 - Written by Deb Ng
Vegetarians hide your eyes, this post won’t be pretty. Today’s entry into the Cookerati Holiday Gift Guide is a carnivorous one, and you’re excused for the duration.
The past couple of weeks were good ones in the Ng home. Mr. N had a spring in his step and a whistle to his work. Why is the normally cranky Mr N so happy? In a word, meat.
You see, we had the opportunity to sample some meaty awesomeness, the results of which we’ll share here with you. If you’re looking for some suggestions for holiday gifts for the carnivores in your life, we have a couple of good ones for you here.
Bacon Freak - I don’t know what it is about bacon that incites passion in so many. Is it that it’s almost pure fat? Is it the salty, porky flavor that makes it a perfect compliment to eggs, burgers, salads and more? Is it the knowledge that after consuming a pound on a Sunday morning you’ll have enough cholestrol in your system to clog the arteries of an entire city block? All that and more, I think. In short, bacon …
Holiday Gift Guide: Delivered Holiday Gifts
December 7, 2008 - Written by Diana- Charleston Cookie Company
- Charleston Cookie Company makes the best gourmet cookies I have ever tasted – hands down. I had the gold tin of cookies – which contained 3 cookies of each of 4 different types of cookies. They were moist and chewy and so delicious with a really good flavor. These would make a great hostess gift or something to send to a friend to let them know you are thinking of them.
Charleston Cookie Company, which hand bakes more than 30 varieties of cookies and brownies for customers nationwide, has introduced three new varieties of cookies and six new brownies and bars to its already popular lines of customized, specialty products for holiday sales.
Judith Moore the owner of the Charleston Cookie Company spent many months on research in order to perfect her cookies. She uses a refigerated dough with only the best ingredients, such as really fresh eggs, vanilla, real butter, pecan meal, etc. She wanted her …
Holiday Gifts : Highly Recommended Books for the Foodie you love
December 3, 2008 - Written by DianaThere are three books that I recommend you buy for your friend, spouse, loved one who cooks.
They are:
- The Old Farmer’s Everyday Cookbook Almanac
- 1000 Gluten Free Recipes by Carol Fenster PHD
- The Christmas Table by Diane Morgan Photos by E.J. Armstrong
These are such great books and would make such great gifts.
The Old Farmer’s Almanac Everyday Cookbook - 
This is a recipe book for good old fashioned comfort and everyday foods. I made the meatloaf following the recipe and it was great. Goes well with all of our potato recipes, although there are plenty of them in the book. This book also has dressings, stews, breakfast meals, hints tips etc. A full range of recipes for the regular home cook. If you know someone who is just starting out, or moving away from home this would be a good first cookbook. This would also be a good gift for the cookbook collector since it is recipes put out by Farmer’s Almanac.
Basic American Meatloaf
Ingredients
1 1/2 lbs ground meat
1 large egg
1 cup liquid(such as milk or tomato juice)
1/2 cup dry ingredients (such as bread crumbs)
1/4 cup chopped onions
salt and pepper to taste
Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Combine all of the ingredients in a large bowl. Using your hands, mix together until thoroughly blended. Pat the mixture into a 9×5 inch loaf pan and bake 1 hour. Makes 6 to 8 servings.
Holiday Gift Guide
December 2, 2008 - Written by Diana
We have created a holiday gift guide of sorts.
You can also look at our Book Reviews to see what suggestions are there.
We have had some wine suggestions throughout the year and a sparse liquor selection, but it is all good, along with all the cocktail recipes we’ve given you.
You can even see what we had for our family gathering last year.
As we update through the holiday season, this guide will be valid, just click on the links to see what our suggestions are.
My husband and I disagree about presents. He was looking for a frying pan, and I told him the non stick was coming off so I threw the old one away and I could use a new one for Christmas. He tells me that you don’t buy your wife a frying pan for Christmas. I tell him you do if your wife asks and I’m asking. I also pointed out ramekins. I don’t have any and they’d be …
Holiday Gift Guide: Global Gardens Gourmet Club
November 22, 2008 - Written by Diana
Did you ever get to review something, or taste a food or look at pr materials and all you can think is WOW! That’s how I feel about the Global Gardens Gourmet Club. This would be such a great gift for a foodie, gourmet chef, or just someone who likes to experiment and try new things in their cooking. Deb, take note, this is what I want my husband to get me for Christmas. Send him this link. When you subscribe to the Global Gardens Gourmet Club you get a bottle of Extra Virgin Olive Oil, an in-season Champagne Fruit Vinegar and two additional items. Every shipment is guaranteed to be worth 50.00 or more, but only costs 39.00 per shipment. There are 4 shipments during the year, February, May, August and November. Join the Olive Revolution!!
The Holiday 2008 shipment includes: California Estate Mission Varietal Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Fig Infused Balsamic Vinegar, Roasted Garlic Spread and Finishing Glaze.
The photo was from the late summer shipment that consisted of the California Estate Ascolano Varietal …
