Merry Edible Christmas Yum Yum Yum

by aliciak  -  December 21, 2008

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Hate clutter? Me too. Rather just EAT your Christmas presents and call it a day? Yes! Edible gifts are the way to go for those hard-to-buy-for thorns in your sides because presumably, everybody eats. Whether it's a foodie with his or her own strict restaurant rating system or your uncle Seymour who can eat a tub of cashews in one sitting, go edible this year! Or relatedly, buy something food-related for the peeps who want to do something a little more than just eat.

*For the Fine Diner/Foodie*

You know that person who simply MUST hit the top-rated places and nothing less will do? Yeah, I normally hate those people, but then again, I used to think KFC’s popcorn chicken and the McDonald’s McRib were two of the greatest culinary creations in existence. While my tastes have matured slightly (operative word being slightly), I am in no way a “fine diner.” BUT, I have a good idea of what they may like to find under the Christmas tree.

The Diner's Deck

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At only $30, The Diner’s Deck includes 52 cards all with a $10 off a meal at 52 restaurants around town. This year there are Manhattan and Brooklyn versions, as well as a Bar & Lounge one for the lushes in your life. Coupons for cool kids!

Buy The Diner's Deck

Foodie Fight: THE GAME

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Normally I’m not a trivia person, even though I do have an insane amount of information inside my brain. Trivia questions range from culinary science topics to celebrity chef knowledge, which means hopefully you watch those science behind food shows on the Learning Channel AND a crapload of Food Network.

Buy Foodie Fight

Super Tasty Edibles for the Foodies

La Maison Du Chocolat

1018 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10075

Things really do sound better in French, don’t they? House of Chocolate? No, La Maison Du Chocolat.

Things really do sound better in French, don’t they? House of Chocolate? No, La Maison Du Chocolat.

Macarons at La Maison Du Chocolat

La Maison du Chocolat: Assorted macarons (another view)

The foodie in your life can probably wax poetic about macaroons and macarons. Well, and they know the difference between the two in the first place.

Belgian Neuhaus Chocolatier

460 Grand Central Termin, New York, NY 10001

Martine's Chocolates Too

400 E 82nd St, New York, NY 10028

Snickerdoodles!

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A little biz called Bake Sale

A gourmet goodies delivery service called Bake Sale and run by a dude? Swooooon. Ginger portered cake, black and white cappuccino soliders and caramel apple dumplings are all on the mouth-watering menu. Mmm.

MSNBC's holiday must-have for fooooooodies

Buy Food Mag Subscriptions

A few of my favorites…

Food Network

Brand-spankin new! Yep, that’s right, in case you hadn’t heard, Food Network now has its own magazine and it’s got all the usual Food Network suspects.

Saveur

Possibly my favorite magazine, ever. It mixes fancy schmancy cooking (but not too fancy schmancy) with stories from around the world and beautEEFul pictures.

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Bon Appetit

Bon Appetit is almost too fancy for me, but I’m easily intimidated by lists of ingredients I’m totally unfamiliar with.

Martha Stewart

Of course Martha had to make this list. I am eyeing her penuche fudge recipe, except for the fact that it involves stirring something for TWENTY-FIVE minutes straight. Ack.

 

Oh vintage cookbooks, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways...

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*For the Cookbook-Loving Cook*

I used to read cookbooks cover to cover. No joke. Some day, I hope to write my own, but I can’t share my secret pitches for them or you’ll go steal my culinary brilliance. So, in lieu of reading MY words, you’ll have to settle for others’. Luckily, there are a lot of wonderful cookbooks being published, as well as food history books. Sigh…I wish I lived in a bookstore…

Vintage Cookbooks!!!

The 10 Best Cookbooks of 2008 according to NPR

I don’t mind receiving edible gifts, but I’d much rather receive the tools to make edible gifts, like Mark Bitman’s “How to Cook Everything,” or the awesomely-titled, “It’s The Aromatics, Stupid.”

Kitchen Arts & Letters Inc

1435 Lexington Ave Frnt 3, New York, NY 10128

Bonnie Slotnick Cookbooks

163 W 10th St Apt Ge, New York, NY 10014

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Baked Nyc

359 Van Brunt St, Brooklyn, NY 11231

Red Hook’s very own Baked, which really does explore “new frontiers in baking,” what with Brewer’s Blondies and a Chocolate stout milkshake, now has a cookbook! Which is great news, since Red Hook is hard to get to and no one should depend on the friggin G train for a sweets fix.

Red Hook’s very own Baked, which really does explore “new frontiers in baking,” what with Brewer’s Blondies and a Chocolate stout milkshake, now has a cookbook! Which is great news, since Red Hook is hard to get to and no one should depend on the friggin G train for a sweets fix.

Betty Crocker's Classics (Cards)

Betty Crocker was my staple cookbook growing up, particularly when it came to cookie-making. I prefer breaking the binding of books rather than using index cards, but these are very cute.

Bake Bake Bake!!!

You’re running out of time anyways, so maybe you should just put those oven mitts on, crack a cookbook or two and whip up some sweet things. I love baking and cooking for people, and while I do it year-round just for the heck of it, I’m going all out this year by learning how to make candy from scratch. On the menu?

  • fudge
  • cashew cinnamon brittle 
  • English toffee 
  • divinity 
  • caramels  
To make your goodies look really fab, you’ve got to package them in some cute holiday way. Colored cellophane, fancy tupperware or folded boxes like I found in Chinatown! 

    Pearl River Mart Inc

    477 Broadway Frnt 1, New York, NY 10013

    For packaging all my treats, I bought colorful Chinese take-out boxes to wow my fam. Pearl River is great for Xmas gifts in general, not just the edible kind, but one year I did buy teas and Chinese candies and everyone was impressed.

    For packaging all my treats, I bought colorful Chinese take-out boxes to wow my fam. Pearl River is great for Xmas gifts in general, not just the edible kind, but one year I did buy teas and Chinese candies and everyone was impressed.

    Peppermint Pinwheels

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    Peppermint Pinwheel Cookie Recipe

    How did I do that? Easy: make the dough, divide in half, dye one red, and roll together. It’s actually not too difficult.

    Nigella Lawson's Christmas Chocolate Cookies

    We all need a little Nigella in our lives, especially when we need baking/gifting inspiration.

    English toffee

    Homemade English Toffee

    My English Toffee recipe

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    Discussions

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    I made those pinwheel cookies they’re delicious!!!

    About The Author

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    aliciak Rss 

    Tribeca, New York
    I like to: crochet, eat, read, write, go to museums, watch old movies, cook, bake, observe children, visit the library, travel, cut my own hair, explore New York, mix gin drinks, bike ride, take photographs, keep in touch with people, be crafty, swim in the ocean, make bets, and read blogs and ca...