Holiday Gift Ideas For the Food Obsessed

[meatn3]

The holidays are approaching and I'm starting to see lots of interesting goodies!

I thought it could be handy to have a seasonal thread.

Maybe you'll find something for your wishlist!

[meatn3]

I'll start the thread off with this snazzy molecular cuisine starter kit. It has 50 individually proportioned packets of "chemicals" and a recipe DVD to get you started!

http://www.thinkgeek.com/homeoffice/k...

[egbluesuede]

OMG this looks like so much fun!

[meatn3]

Wow! The same company has a molecular cocktail kit too!

http://www.thinkgeek.com/homeoffice/k...

[sandiasingh]

Anything from Paulina's Meat Market in Chicago's Germantown (except headcheese).

http://www.paulinameatmarket.com/

[rockandroller1]

I've been thinking of doing the Reuben kit from Zingerman's for mr. RNR, but am not sure how to properly time shipping, and then what about storage? We live in an apt so there's no back porch or whatever I could keep it on to keep it out of the way but still cold. Has anyone done it? Also wondering how long it would keep as fresh. I mean, I'd practically have to order it for overnight shipping to arrive Xmas eve and then stay home and wait for the delivery. Too much trouble.

[meatn3]

I suspect it is shipped in a cooler. You could probably add dry ice or frequently change out blue ice if you wanted to receive it a little early.

They might even be able to time it for Christmas day - ask! Sounds like a terrific gift!

[greygarious]

The dried fruit from www.apricotking.com is to the likes of Harry&David as croissants are to Wonder Bread. AK doesn't do a lot of fancy gift combos so the baskets and bows are DIY.
The jumbo dried Blenheim slip-pit apricots have a unique, amaretto-ish finish because they have been dried before the pit is removed. Even better are the sometimes-available ones with the pits still in them. I also love the dried cherries and dried Bartlett pears.

[buttertart]

Those pears are my favorite of their offerings. Like heavenly candy. The other dried fruits and the walnuts are very nice too.

[BobB]

What's with all the storebought stuff? My wife just put up a dozen or so jars of her (justifiably) famous whole berry cranberry sauce, made with wild cranberries we foraged on Cape Cod, plus oranges, nuts, raisins, and who knows what else she snuck in when I wasn't looking. Those will grace quite a few of our friends' Thanksgiving tables.

[meatn3]

Sounds luscious! I made 72 jars of various fig preserves this summer, so I'll use a few ( :-D )
for gifts too.

There are dozens of ideas for home made gift giving on Homecooking. So I thought it would be helpful to have a thread for really unique/wonderful ideas that are more widely available.

[cbjones1943]

These aren't my choices any longer, but, in past, a whole side of smoked salmon or Kobe beef have been hits. After this phase, I'd give boutique meats flown in from the West--caribou, buffalo, or other farmed boutiques--alligator, kangaroo etc Much cheaper are packages of boutique meat sausages--I purchased from amazon.com Great as gifts Cocktail parties Appetizers etc Generate great conversation piece Tasty on good black bread w/German mustard Maybe some cheese (I don't favor this) My favorite suggestion of all the ones on this thread is to give something homemade that's special Oh, not, not choc-chip cookies again I've done Jams Jellies Homemade bread Homemade cheese Holiday cake (had family recipe from mother-in-law) etcThings I never did eg Homemade candies

[HillJ]

Perfect timing meatn3!
Right after Halloween I start focusing on the holiday food gifts.

They include spices and teas from World Spice Merchants http://www.worldspice.com/

Vanilla beans from www.Saffron.com they sell bulk beans, saffron & dried mushroom

A variety of products from Apricot King

http://www.backtotheroots.com/ home mushroom kit, works very well

Popcorn seeds from Rancho Gordo

Rounding out the gift giving with our cookies, teabread and usual holiday baking.

I'd love to find a valued source for Pates de Fruits

[meatn3]

Here:

http://www.paperpastries.bigcartel.co...

is a cute set of pencils which would make nice stocking stuffers. It is a set of 6 pencils with a different cooking term defined on each one.