that is one sexy round of cheese. brillat-savarin triple creme before noon? i am sorry to taunt you. we'll get to that later.
i woke up way too early this morning to the faint scent of pine. our christmas tree made its debut last night and, like a kid, i could hardly sleep. armed with a gift of coffee beans claiming to contain "the highest caffeine content of any organic coffee," i tiptoed upstairs, brewed a pot, and sat down to admire the white lights on green fir and write out what i might put under that tree. 'tis the season of commercial bliss. the only thing is, i vowed against the mall this year. gift-giving is a splendid high, increased exponentially if you invest a bit of love and labor in the gift. fueled by an intense caffeine buzz, i share these homespun ideas and a few purchases from small, local businesses. wishing all of you a delicious december.
all things homemade....
espresso-walnut toffee is reason to invest in a candy thermometer. recipe here.
my mom's granola. bonus points for packing it in a pretty canister from your local thrift store. recipe here.
chocolate caramel crack. that's right, crack. made with matzo and oh so addictive. recipe here.
fill a vintage cookie tin with whole wheat sables with cocoa nibs. recipe here.
sugar spice salmon rub in a mason jar, plus a trip to the fishmonger together. spice rub here.
if you really must burn cash, spend it yummy...
chuao chocolate's winter hot cocoa blend. i implore you to make it with whole milk. buy it here.
pancake & frank's letterpress gourmet note cards. their black-eyed peas and radishes are quantifiably cute. find them here.
my favorite fleur de sel ever. i have searched far and wide for the ultimate and the buck stops here. my advice: add a finger twist to pretty much everything.
aleppo pepper. a secret ingredient in many a great restaurant kitchen. get your sweet and smoky on here.
little flower sea salt caramels & vanilla marshmallows from pasadena. homemade goodness here.
smoked olive oil. endless, delicious possibilities. i like it on deviled eggs. visit the smoked olive here.
and beyond...
a cooking class is an extra special gift for anyone, and quite a bit of fun. if you need direction on choosing a great class in your area, please send me an email (my address is in the "about" section). or, join me as a i teach "sweet & savory rustic tarts" at cups in la jolla, california. info here.
greener groceries with map totes & wine totes. find them here.
bacon baklava? bacon of the month club is genius. npr tells you where.
think inside the box. a csa membership gives the gift of fresh produce and supports a local farm. find a nearby resource for community supported agriculture here.
brillat-savarin triple creme & lingerie. i dare you.
a labor of love. handwrite a favorite recipe and give it away.