From Dean and Deluca

It’s that time of year again. Only 2 days ’till Christmas and still haven’t bought all your gifts?  Here are 10 food-related ideas that are easy to pick up or put together at the last minute.  Most of us like food so many of these gifts are universal. I’d enjoy each and every one of them.

1.  Seeds - Got friends or loved ones who grow their own veggies and herbs (I might be one of them)?  Well, a great and useful gift idea is to give them a packet of seeds (this would be a great stocking stuffer).  Better yet, head down to your local nursery and buy them a starter plant for a couple of bucks.  This time of year is great for broccoli and peas!

2. You’ve either received or given a jar of cookie mix.  This year, change it up and give a jar of dried beans or a mixture of beans in a jar (canning jars can be found at Ace Hardware or The Container Store).  Wrap a ribbon around the top with a recipe for soup attached.  Here’s a recipe for Vegetable Bean Stew in a Crock Pot.  Easy, affordable and useful.

3. For  your coffee-loving friends, skip the Starbucks gift card this year and buy a bag of beans and a cute coffee mug to go with it. If you really prefer the gift card, give it with an additional card noting a time, date and location to meet up.  This way you can share your gift and spend time together.

4.  Christmas gifts don’t have to last all year, but if you insist that they do, then hit your local bookstore and find your friend a regional cookbook.  Or, think of something they love and get them a cookbook that features that item.  A perfect example is a Cupcake Cookbook for your sugar-loving sweetheart.

5. I couldn’t write this post without including a bottle of wine on the list.  I heart wine! And I love receiving a bottle from friends or family.  It’s easy, you can usually find a bottle within your budget and if your friend likes wine, then they will certainly be aglow with holiday happiness and thankful that you thought of them.

6. Home-made Herb Infused Olive Oil.  I know that I’m not the only Olive Oil lover on this planet.  You’ve all seen those beautiful bottles with sprigs of Rosemary and Peppercorns that cost upwards of $20.  Well, here’s a post on doing it yourself! It’s quite easy, cost efficient, it looks good and it tastes great.

7. Gourmet Mustards, yum.  These can often be found in your local grocery store, but if you happen to have a Wine Store around, go there first, they will usually have some great choices that work best not only on sandwiches, but as dipping sauces for Pretzels or Veggies.  The jars typically look nice and with a bow tied around the top, would make any foody happy!

8. The Italian Kitchen Gift Basket.  I got this idea from Dean and Deluca and it’s a bit pricey from them, but can easily be done by you for less.  Hit Target and get a pasta strainer, then go to the grocery store (Trader Joe’s is a good one for this stuff), grab some home made dried pasta, a jar of sauce and a bottle of olive oil.  Toss in a head of garlic and that’s a pretty fun, unique gift!

9. Chocolate dipped Candy Canes is a nice twist on this holiday treat.  Just melt some semi-sweet chocolate, dip the candy cane in and let it dry.  Wrap it in cellophane and tie it with a bow.  This is a great treat for little ones or would go nicely with a unique coffee mug and can be used to stir things up.

10. The gift of time.  This is what it’s all about anyway, right?  Just being present is enough for many of us and if $$ is an issue this year, as it is for the lot of us, then just show up with a smile on your face and a big I LOVE YOU!

Wishing you all the Merriest of Christmas’ and a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year!