Archive for December, 2007
« Previous EntriesAnother Valentine’s Day Pick
Sunday, December 30th, 2007 Food and Candy GiftsWhile most of us think about what men will buy women for Valentine’s Day, this post is more for the girls looking to buy gifts for their boyfriends and/or husbands. Sure, you could probably get him something car-related like a Chrysler 300 accessory, which would be nice, but it’s not necessarily the first thing you think of when you think Valentine’s Day. I think I would have better luck with this Beer Gift Basket.
In addition to having a variety of different beers, it also comes with snacks like pretzels and snack mix and pistachios. If you’re lucky, he’ll like it so much that he forgets to try to celebrate another holiday
Let the Valentine’s Day Countdown Begin - Wine & Truffles
Saturday, December 29th, 2007 Food and Candy GiftsValentine’s Day is just over a month away, so you can count on at least 10-20 gift ideas here over the next few weeks. Remember people, everyone loves SOME kind of food. We’ll start out with this Mrs. Beasley’s Anniversary Wine and Truffles set.
The set comes with a bottle of 2003 Beringer Napa Valley Founder’s Estate Cabernet and a small drawer that contains 8 of Mrs. Beasley’s signature chocolate truffle cookies and 4 Lindt truffles from Switzerland.
If you can’t afford remote condos for sale, you can at least get this gift set and create an evening that makes it seem like you’re far away.
Sodas That Come in Glass Bottles
Thursday, December 27th, 2007I’m a huge fan of soda in glass bottles. It doesn’t matter what kind it is; it nearly always tastes better in a cool glass bottle than from a plastic bottle or aluminum can. Unfortunately, glass bottles aren’t particularly economical these days. They’re heavy, breakable, slightly dangerous, and generally difficult to deal with. All the same, there are a few companies out there that continue to do things the old way.
1. Jones Soda - I’m still a little miffed at the fact that they discontinued Pineapple Upside-Down Soda, but I have forgiven them. The fact that they sell online is a bonus, since my local grocery store doesn’t carry more than 1-2 flavors at any given time.
2. Boylan Bottling - Boylan makes a variety of “healthy” and natural sodas. I love their blueberry soda, even though it’s a little on the expensive side.
3. The Switch - The Switch is nothing more than carbonated juice, but it’s clearly one of the best ideas ever. It’s going a long way towards helping me break the nasty 4-6 soda a day habit I’ve been nursing the last few years.
4. Cheerwine - I haven’t yet had the opportunity to sample Cheerwine, but I will soon. I love the retro look and feel of the bottles, though.
5. Cool Mountain Sodas - If you’ve ever been tempted to drink antifreeze, you’ll want to pick up a case of their Razzberry Soda. If it weren’t for the internet, I would have absolutely no idea where to get this soda.
After this much soda, I’m going to need a hoodia patch to keep the weight away!
All Natural Chocolate Mint Truffles With No Preservatives
Wednesday, December 26th, 2007Chocolate Mint Truffles are pretty common in chocolate stores, but it’s rare that you’ll find truffles that aren’t made in a factory and loaded with preservatives. I’ve looked for them in the past, but it seems like I’m stuck making my own if I want them to be fresh and pure. Mrs. Cavanaugh’s can give you exactly that, though, and it doesn’t even cost what I would have expected.
For $20.99, you can get a 1 pound box of All Natural Chocolate Mint Truffles. They say that they’re made with a premium natural peppermint oil, so you know they’re going to be good. I’ve never gone wrong making chocolates with high quality peppermint oil. Also, they’re available in Milk Chocolate, Dark Chocolate, and Assorted Chocolates.
Pie Shelf Life - Saving Your Holiday Leftovers
Tuesday, December 25th, 2007Since the holiday season usually mean lots of delicious leftovers, I thought I’d do a quick post to discuss the staying power of a typical fruit pie in normal conditions. I’ve seen far too many good pies end up in the trash because someone got her bustiers in a bunch and decided that day-old pie was unfit for consumption.
If you store the pie in the refrigerator, you can expect to get between 6-8 days of good storage time. If you leave it at room temperature, it should last around 2-3 days.
After that amount of time, you’ll probably find that it’s getting a little gross, anyway. The crust will get mushy and the fillings may get watery or even rotten. Before that, though, you should go for it (as long as there are no offensive smells or other signs that something could be wrong - remember, if you used questionable ingredients, your pie won’t last as long).
Simple Holiday Confetti Popcorn Recipe
Monday, December 24th, 2007While there’s definitely no shortage of pre-made food gifts during the holidays, it can be nice to make something from scratch once in a while. Below, I’ve shared a simple family recipe for confetti popcorn. It’s quick, easy, and you can color it to match the holiday in question.
Ingredients:
3 cups granulated sugar
3 tablespoons butter or margarine
3/4 cup cold water
8-10 cups (at least) of air-popped plain popcorn
1. Combine all ingredients but the popcorn in a pan. Cook until you can make a fine thread with the mixture, or until it reaches the soft crack stage on a candy thermometer. Be careful not to overcook.
2. Take the mixture off the stove, add food coloring as desired, and pour over the popped popcorn. Stir the mixture until it is evenly coated.
3. Spread or shape into balls until leave out until dry. Store in an air tight container.
With some colored plastic wrap or cellophane, you can dress up this incredibly cheap snack and make it look surprisingly nice.
The Dream Kitchen Contest
Sunday, December 23rd, 2007As much as I love food and cooking, you’d better believe that I have a certain future dream kitchen in my head. At present, I’ll have to be content with fun kitchen gadgets and appliances, but when I eventually get around to buying a house, I’ll be a lot pickier. Grohe faucets, detailed tile work, stainless steel appliances (the good kind, not just a cheap stainless steel finish), a massive island/workspace in the middle, multiple sinks, and a shiny pan rack hanging overhead. I could be happy living in a shack, so long as the kitchen was nice. That’s not usually how it works, but I’d definitely be okay with it.
Anyway, I’m curious - What’s your dream kitchen like? I’m offering a $25 Amazon gift certificate to the best dream kitchen description.
To enter: Just write your own dream kitchen blog post and link back to this contest post. If it doesn’t automatically show up in the trackbacks, be sure to make a comment and include the link so I’ll see you. You’re welcome to use photos, video, or text.
Contest Deadline: January 31, 2008
Winner Chosen: On or before February 14th, 2008.
Best of luck!
This isn’t exactly what I’d choose, but it’s pretty close. The image comes from Wilbo Builders.
Chocolate Chip Pancake & Waffle Mix
Sunday, December 23rd, 2007After a long day of shopping on Friday, I was pretty much convinced that there is no way to find a reasonable gift for less than $10. You might be able to buy something for that price, I thought, but there’s no way that it would be a gift that you wouldn’t be embarrassed by. Even the average paperback book costs $10-15. I was pretty sure that I was going to spend roughly the amount of a couple caribbean cruises just to buy gifts for the last few people on my list this year.
I’m happy to say, though, that I was wrong. This Chocolate Chip Pancake & Waffle Mix would make a outstanding gift for only $7.50. The packaging is cute, and for their insanely low price, you get 17 ounces of mix that includes Guittard Chocolate Chips. If you’re not familiar with Guittard Chocolate, let me assure you that you should be. Even the international adventurer and NY Times best-selling author Tim Ferriss agrees that they are world-class chocolates (although they’re too expensive to make his <$5 list).
Food Jokes Guaranteed to Make You Groan
Sunday, December 23rd, 2007I came across some really, really awful food jokes today and I thought I’d share a few.
Why couldn’t the poppy seed leave the casino?
Because he was on a roll!
What kind of sandwich do astronauts prefer to eat?
Launch meat.
What did the mayonnaise shout to the refrigerator?
Close the door, please, I’m dressing!
Yes, I know they’re bad, but it’s almost Christmas and I’m spending most of my time creating my own edible masterpieces. I may post recipes as time permits, but for now I’ll be attending to getting car covers for a relative and some last minute gifts for people I wasn’t expecting to see.
Restaurant.com 70% Off Promotion
Saturday, December 22nd, 2007 Food and Candy GiftsIf you enjoy eating out, or if you simply need a great last minute gift that you can print out on your computer, check out the latest Restaurant.com promotion. They’re offering 70% off their already insanely cheap restaurant $10-25 off certificates. Sure, your recipient may prefer something like a memory foam mattress, but Restaurant.com certificates are much more affordable.
Mrs. Fields Cookie Cake - With or Without Nuts
Thursday, December 20th, 2007 Food and Candy GiftsEven without the mention of “real butter, whole eggs, and pure vanilla”, I was ready to dive into the Happy Holidays Big Cookie Cake from Mrs. Fields. at $34.99, they’re not exactly cheap, but they’re not unreasonable, either. The 12″ decorated cookies cakes would be perfect for a party or even to eat alone if you’re particularly ambitious. Not that I’d know anything about eating entire cookie cakes alone…yeah, I might as well move in the cat furniture now.
The cookie cakes also come in flavors like peanut butter, triple chocolate, and white chocolate and macadamias.
Make Your Own Soda - Soda Club
Wednesday, December 19th, 2007 Food and Candy GiftsHere in the midwest, the weather is absolutely awful. As I write this, we’re dealing with mounds of snow and ice and general unpleasantness, but somehow, I decided it was worth it to make the trek to the store to get a case of soda. When I got to the store, other people were buying things like food or truck accessories for the snow, but I was buying sugary, carbonated water. I’d say I have a problem.
Then I got to thinking - some people don’t do that. Some people make their own soda and get it at a fraction of the cost that you pay in the store. I remembered seeing a Soda Club online and immediately decided to look it up. You can see a picture of the Soda-Club Home Soda Makersmachine below:
I’m not entirely sure that I’m sold on the idea, but it definitely sounds cool. Has anyone tried it before? Does the soda taste generic, or is it actually pretty good? Clue me in if you have any experience with it!
Global Food 101 - Yokan
Sunday, December 16th, 2007I thought it might be fun to add a series of posts about various international foods and snacks, and I’m starting today with Yokan. If you’ve ever hoped to find a snack that is occasionally mistaken for explosive C4 during airline baggage checks, look no further.
Yokan is doesn’t sound terribly appetizing when you hear it described. It’s a thick, jellied dessert made from bean paste, some form of sugar, and a variety of other ingredients, depending on the flavor. You can get Mini Yokan Neri, Mini Yokan Ogura, Yokan (Dainagon Shiro), and Yokan (Dainagon Kuro) at Asian Food Grocer by clicking here.
They’re fairly cheap (you can get one of each for less than $20), so it’s easy to get a few and experiment with which ones you like best. I highly recommend Yokan as a fun treat at a regular get-together or party. Group candy exploration is always more fun than group use of treadmills or group algebra.
Also, if you were wondering how to eat it, Yokan is typically eaten in slices and it’s occasionally served cold.
Food & Candy Coupon Codes
Saturday, December 15th, 2007With all this talk of food, I should probably be offering up coupon codes for treadmills instead of food, but I trust that you can all take care of yourselves. Enjoy!
Free Shipping on 3 or more boxes at AppetizerstoGo.com:
Free Popcorn at Dale & Thomas:
10% Off Plus Free Shipping at David’s Cookies:
Free Shipping at GiftBaskets.com:
Mrs. Fields Classic Gift Sets
Saturday, December 15th, 2007 Food and Candy GiftsI know a divorced single mother who gets depressed once in a while and eats so much junk food that she has to get out her old maternity clothes to feel comfortable. As sick as that sounds, I understand where she’s coming from when I see these Mrs. Fields® Classic Gift Baskets. Their brownie sets are consistently soft and moist, whether I’ve purchased them online or in the stores. Of course, I prefer to buy them in person, since that way I only purchase one
Carrot Cake
Saturday, December 15th, 2007 Food and Candy GiftsAs strange as some people may think it is, I love Carrot Cake. OF course, I think it’s strange that my boyfriend gets exciting about things like HDMI switches, so I guess it just depends on your tastes. From the carrot cake’s cream cheese icing to the complex texture to the slight but not overpowering sweetness of the cake…they’re just awesome. I could seriously see myself ordering one of the cakes below and eating the entire thing in one sitting.
Delicious Crumb Cakes - Apple Cinnamon, Original, & More
Saturday, December 15th, 2007 Food and Candy GiftsOld Fashioned Crumb Cake is one of my all-time favorite desserts. It’s squishy and spongy and sweet and absolutely perfect for a warm winter evening in. It’s one of those great dishes that works equally well for people in tiny cabins and giant luxury homes. If you want to enjoy it but you don’t have the time or ability to make it for yourself, you can get them at Bake Me a Wish for $29.99. They have both the regular old fashioned style pictured below and a Caramel Apple Crumb Cake
.
EDIT - I just noticed they also have this Black & White Crumb Cake, too. How good does that look??
Top 5 Coffee Gifts and Coffee Gift Baskets of 2007
Friday, December 14th, 2007 Food and Candy GiftsWhile I’m not a huge coffee drinker, my father is a huge fan, and I’ve gotten pretty good at figuring out which coffee gifts impress and which will get the polite, “This is really nice,” line. So, without further ado, the list - My selections for the best coffee gifts and coffee gift baskets for 2007.
1. Coffees of the World Gift Basket - This $119.99 gift basket gives you nearly 7 pounds of coffee from around the world. This basket tells your recipient that you thought enough of him or her to pick something that’s a far cry from the discount store baskets with “assorted coffee” of unknown origin.
2. Frango Coffee Assortment - There used to be a fantastic department store called Marshall Fields. Then, they were purchased by Macy’s and now they’re just Macy’s stores. Fortunately, though, they kept the best part of the Marshall Fields tradition - the Frango products. The mints are amazing, but this post isn’t about mints so we’ll focus on the coffee instead. I can’t imagine that it would be anything but divine, given that it bears the Frango name. Note: this one appears to be sold out at the moment, but if you enter “Frango Coffee” in the search bar, it will take you to a similar arrangement.
3. The Coffeehouse - I can’t decide if this basket is more retro or European - or maybe retro-European - but I like it. At $29.95, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better presentation.
4. The Boca Java Coffee Club - Their online reviews are consistently positive and they offer a ton of cool flavors and free gifts. At just $22.90 (including shipping), you may be inclined to splurge and hook yourself up, too.
5. Breakfast Gift Tray with Assorted Starbucks® Coffee Blends - I know the true coffee lovers may flip out at the suggestion that Starbucks is good coffee, but they’re one of the biggest chains for a reason. Whether you like it or not, most people do. At $29.96, it’s not a bad deal at all.
Your caffeine-addicted friends, associates, and family members will definitely appreciate your gift of coffee. It’s a lot better than sending them to drug rehabilitation for their caffeine issues.
Top 5 Popcorn Gifts of 2007
Monday, December 10th, 2007 Food and Candy GiftsPopcorn is truly a miracle of the earth. Obviously, good popcorn is a little more complicated than planting a seed and harvesting the results, but I think there’s something very cool about the fact that you’re eating something that was once a seed. Anyway, these popcorn gifts are nothing like that. They’re still popcorn, but they’re altered and packaged to the point that they’re almost nothing like the boring, plain popcorn you make in an air popping machine.
1. Dale & Thomas Twelve Pack Sampler - If you don’t read anything else that I write, read this and go get yourself some Dale & Thomas Popcorn. Dale & Thomas is pretty much the Rolls-Royce of popcorn, and they have flavors that range from Peanut Butter & White Chocolate to Toffee Crunch to Country Smokehouse Cheddar (and of course, all the old standbys like caramel).
Their flavors are inspired, their packaging is simple but attractive, and the overall eating experience will ruin you for other popcorns forever. There’s a reason that Oprah swears by it. My tip - The best way to try Dale & Thomas Popcorn is in a sampler. It’s cost-effective and absolutely delicious. This particular sampler will set you back $48.
2. Kettle Corn from iGourmet - It’s sweet and salty and a it might even stir up some nostalgia. Remember, sometimes simple works just as well as something completely over-the-top. At $39.99, it’s pretty reasonable, too.
3. Popcorn Balls - These popcorn balls look an awful lot like snowballs. Their largest package gives you 100 balls for $39.95, but they have smaller packages starting at $14.99. This is a great choice for a party, since there’s plenty of popcorn for everyone.
4. Holiday Sweets & Snacks Tower - If you’re looking for a “popcorn hybrid” gift, a tower may be the answer. Most will fill the bottom layer with popcorn, and possibly other middle layers as well. This one is interesting in that it has blueberry cookies and southern pecan rolls. At $39.95, it’s also very reasonable.
5. Ultimate Snowman Bundle - As usual, Mrs. Field’s gets an A+ for presentation with this Snowman Tower. It includes toffee popcorn, 48 cookies, 24 brownies, an entire cake, and enough other stuff to keep someone busy for weeks after the holiday season is over. This magnificent display will set you back about $170, but for the right recipient (perhaps yourself!), it’s definitely worth it.
And if none of these things do it for you, you can always get your friend or loved one one of the usual, boring gifts that you can’t eat - ties, sweaters, makeup mirrors, perfume - I’m sure they won’t mind that you didn’t care enough to get them something totally awesome and delicious
Wine & Fruit Basket
Saturday, December 8th, 2007If you’re looking for a Gourmet Fruit Basket with Wine, Gift Tree can definitely help you out. Their basket includes wine, fruit, and a number of extras like crackers, cheese, and hard salami. At $99.95 for the basket, it’s a great holiday gift for business associates or maybe even potential in-laws. They might actually be willing to listen to your term life insurance pitch if you get them something this delicious.
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