The gifts are wrapped, the family is here. Will you get that special something you’ve been craving? If they somehow missed that hint you were dropping all year, pick up something for yourself, or that special someone…just because.
From the girly girl to the wine lover, the gourmet kitchen cook, to the beauty and health nut-there’s something for everyone in this goodie gift guide!
FOR THE GOURMET KITCHEN COOK
Drawing inspiration from Middle-Eastern and Mediterranean flavors, Savour This Kitchen’s spice line features four signature blends: Merchant, Gypsy, Seafarer, and Nomad. Completely vegan, gluten free, sugar free, and salt free, they use ingredients like dried orange peel, garlic, turmeric, and mint to help home cooks quickly enhance everything from veggies to chicken, beef to lamb. Just add a bit of salt to your liking, and you’re good to go.
A Martha Stewart American Made nominee for 2014, Savour This Kitchen is sure to have good things coming for 2015. Buy a 4-pack of their gourmet spice blends on Amazon for only $19.99.
Part of the proceeds go back to The Foundation For the Preservation of Honey Bees. Available at: www.henryshumdingers.com, $5.99-$8.99.
Tissage Moutet Luxury Tea Towels: Kitchen towels, dish towels, tea towels-to some people, they’re all the same. In France, however, the French have taken kitchen towels to a;n art form. Quelobjet.com’s Tissage Moutet cotton jacquard tea towels are large, beautiful examples, and totally deserve to be framed. Each group celebrates an aspect of French life, geography, or history, with themes from French artists, Shakespeare, and whimsy. Whether you’re simply drying dishes, wrapping a bottle of wine or a loaf of bread, or creating a fun piece of art for a kitchen wall-they make wonderful gifts.
Each tea towel measures 21″x 29″, is made of 100% French cotton, and is completely washable. $22/ea, or $84 for a box of 4 at Quelobjet.com.
SRP is $179.99, available at fine home goods retailers near you.
THE SWEET TOOTH
Desserts are the finishing touch to a great meal. If you’re rather over the baking, cooking, and clean up that comes after the party is over, pick up some of these indulgent treats.
AG Signature Panettone Glassato: This best-selling classic panettone is studded with raisins, candied fruit and whole almonds and has a crunchy hazelnut “glassato” or icing. Serve it slightly warmed with a dallop of coconut milk whipped cream, or mascarpone cheese for a decadent dessert. Made by historic baker Bonifanti in northern Italy just outside Torino, who is fastidious about the quality of their ingredients and their traditional baking methods. $19.99 at A.G. Ferrari.
Augusto Fieschi began producing torrone in the historic city of Cremona in 1867. In the 130 years since, his family’s objectives have remained unchanged: to research, rediscover and preserve the flavors and tastes at the core of Lombardia’s traditional cuisine. Today, Fieschi’s award-winning collection of sweet specialtites have become recognized for “Lo Stile Fieschi” – the Fieschi Style – marked by quality and authenticity, as well as – the family is quick to point out – production free of genetically modified organisms. Also available at A.G. Ferrari.
THE WINE AND SPIRITS LOVER
SRP is $25.99, available at fine spirits retailers nationwide.
THE HEALTH AND BEAUTY QUEEN
You can pretty much guarantee that your Dentist in Vista or wherever you might live will be able to notice the difference in your teeth. We got to test the black version, and within a week, our teeth were definitely whiter and better looking. Find the Sonicare DiamondClean Pink, Black, or White on Amazon for under $200.