Some of you might be scrambling for gift ideas. Then again, some of you might be like us, sort of lazily drifting towards the holidays. Maybe there will be gifts, and then again, maybe there won't. A holiday surprise!
We're trying to keep it simple this year. Rather than just buy a bunch of stuff, we want to give friends and family things that they will really enjoy.
So here are some ideas for you that we've collected over the last few months. Have something you'd add to the list? Let us know in the comments.
GIFTS YOU CAN MAKE
Full disclosure: We're not sure either of us has ever actually made a holiday gift for anyone since the sixth grade.
But last December we made Jacques Torres' Cherry-Nut Mudslides (pictured left) and we liked them so much, we still think about them to this day. No doubt the person on your list who receives them as a gift this year year will as well.
December's Real Simple also has a feature about homemade gifts. We loved their ideas for Infused Vodkas and Chocolate Chunk Hot Cocoa Mix.
The latest Food Network Magazine has an excellent feature about recipes-in-a-jar that can be given as gifts, from Curried Lentil Soup (pictured left) to Blue Cornbread to Christmas cookies. The photos are beautiful and make for festive looking packages. The full batch of ideas are available on their site.
THE GIFT OF FOOD/GIFT CERTIFICATES
This year's hot holiday gift? Pork. You heard it here first.
We're giving a lot of gifts from Western Kentucky-based Broadbent Hams, who has been making award-winning pork products since 1909. We've been Broadbent's obsessed since visiting their store this fall. Here are some items we liked from their store that would make excellent gifts:
- Bacon Trio Gift Pack: Maplewood, Hickory & Pepper! (6 packages for $35).
- Two pounds of classic Cooked Country Ham (2 pounds for $28)
- Country Sausage Sacks (50 servings for $20)
If pork's not your thing (Heaven forbid!), a friend introduced us to La Tienda (Tienda.com), an online retailer specializing in products from Spain. They carry everything from food to kitchen gear. It's definitely a fun site to browse. We already have our eye on this Bomba rice and this Chorizo Soria.
Our friend Ken is a huge fan of Ricks Picks, a New York based company that makes fourteen varieties of pickles. Ken, who has excellent taste, recommends the Mean Beans, a spicy take on dilly beans, and the Smokra, pickled okra with Spanish paprika. With a name like Smokra, how can you go wrong?
More ideas after the jump, including gifts you can drink, read and cook with.
Continue reading "The Bitten Word's Holiday Gift Guide 2009" »









