Food Lush

Let's Go Out on a (sugar) High Note: Sugar Cookie Bars!

Editor's note: For our last week at Food Lush, I've asked the writers to share both a favorite post by another writer, from over the last three years, and a favorite post of their own. You'll see these posts linked to at the top of their new post for the week. Enjoy a stroll down Lush memory lane!

by Caitlin

I know plenty of others before me have already said this: but I had a hard time choosing a favorite post to share with you all. It's been such fun for me to write here, to reconnect with some of you reading, and to be part of this little community. I can hardly believe I've been doing it for almost two years. I have long wondered how Jennie does it all, and fully support her decision to step away. But, oh, I will miss it here. I will miss you. Thank you for reading along, talking about food, sharing your food memories with me, and being part of this adventure. So, until next time: the recipe I make most from this site is probably Sarah's versatile marinade. And my favorite post of mine has to be this one, about my Gram. A perfect bittersweet note to end on.

***

So! Does anyone else feel like blasting Vitamin C's classic hit Friends Forever - Graduation Song?

 

"If you got somethin' that ya need to say you better say it right now cuz you don't have another day."

Here's what I have to say.

A) I'll always have a soft spot for late 90s belly shirts and hackey sacks.

B) TODAY is Day 30. 30 days of grain-free, whole foods, no added sugar, no alcohol, no nothing? DUNZO. Fruit, vegetables, meat, seafood, nuts, seeds, oils. There was a lot of coconut. 30 days. I can't believe it.

C) I'm not sure what I'm going to eat tomorrow, other than oats for breakfast. It's a little scary, actually. They recommend you reintroduce things slowly to see how your body reacts with the clean slate it has to work with. And that's great and I totally get it, I just don't know exactly how that looks for me yet. I'm just going to take it one day at a time. At some point I plan on trying dairy, and at some point I will try gluten again, and then I shall make these delicious sugar cookie bars. 

Photo from dinnersdishesanddesserts.com

Back in December my friend Jen posted on twitter about the angels she heard singing when she made something magical called "sugar cookie bars." And the thing you need to know about me is that I LOVE sugar cookies. A nice soft, chewy, fat sugar cookie with frosting and sprinkles? GIMME. But I hate rolling out cookies and dealing with all that. It's so much work and I can never find a recipe that gives me the exact cookie I want. I'm a sucker for those horrible grocery store cookies that are round and topped with seasonally appropriate colored frosting and sprinkles (I think they're called Lofthouse?). They're full of nasty ingredients and probably dye your insides the same seasonally appropriate shade, so I don't buy them, except maybe once a year. Maybe. And then I eat one or two and throw the rest away. 

All of this is a long way of saying that while I really wanted to make sugar cookies at Christmas, I also really wanted to NOT make sugar cookies at Christmas. Enter this recipe. It was so easy, and so good, and I no longer see the point of cut-out cookies, unless someone else is making them. Sugar cookie bars! SUGAR COOKIE BARS! How had no one thought of this sooner??

I halved the recipe and made it in an 8x8 pan, and I had a hard time getting the cook time right. The first batch was way undercooked, the second was over - so far over I had to throw it away. It turns out that slightly underbaked sugar cookie bars are actually delicious, if a bit much. Next time I make them I'm going to have to be much more careful watching the cook time. I am willing to experiment and get it right though. For science.

The buttercream is the perfect consistency, the dough is soft and chewy, and the right sprinkles - I did a layer of sanding sugar, then a layer of Christmas colored jimmies - tie it together perfectly for look and crunch. They'd be fitting for any holiday (Valentine's! St. Paddy's Day, Easter! Rainbow sprinkles for summer, fall colors, Halloween! Thanksgiving and Christmas!), a shower, a birthday party, or just because HEY, sugar cookies are DELICIOUS and you just ate nothing but pure, whole foods for a month. Good luck having two bites and slipping into a diabetic coma, crazy.

Have you made sugar cookie bars? Do YOU have a favorite Food Lush post? I'll miss you!

Soy Sauce Substitute: Coconut Aminos

By Caitlin

How is my crazy diet going, you (don't) ask? It's going great! As of yesterday I am....officially....halfway THRROO-OUGGHHH my...WHOOOLE THIRRTAYYYY! (Oprah voice) 

It's...going well. I feel pretty great (except for what I expect is HA HAAA another sinus infection), I have more energy, I am getting more sleep and better sleep and am just more clear-headed in general. I am beginning to tire of the relentless cooking and meal planning, yet it is also becoming easier in the sense that it's more routine now. Zach and I have found things we like, and some great new foods we'd probably never have tried otherwise. I think ghee (clarified butter) is going to be a routine part of my diet now. All the delicious butter with out all the mucus-causing dairy component! Delightful!

One problem you have when eliminating all soy, sugars, legumes, and the like is that it can be hard to find a product that lends umami to your cooking. Soy sauce, worcestershire, and most other sauces and seasonings are out. Enter coconut aminos. This soy, nut, dairy, gluten, everything free, raw, vegan liquid gold is shockingly good inspite what all those hippie adjectives might imply, and tastes like a sweet soy sauce. It has been a delightful addition to our diet. Use in stir fries, dressings, marinades, soups, or for dipping sashimi; basically anywhere you'd use soy sauce.  

Photo from http://www.vitacost.com

I've read about coconut aminos before on paleo and healthy living blogs but as I have a rather large cabinet chock full of seasonings, sauces, and spices (such is the fate of being married to a chef), I had little impetus to actually try it. Until now. I scavenged my local Whole Foods, missed the first time, and found it the second. It was in the asian section, near the mirin and soy sauces. (You can also find it on Amazon.) When I got it home Zach opened it up to taste it and it fizzed everywhere. We were disappointed and were going to take it back to exchange it for a fresh one when I had an epiphany: I think it's fermented? A few google searches later and we learned that it's normal for it to fizz when you open it: It's made from the fermented sap of the coconut tree. It sounds like I made that up, but I sure didn't.

Have you tried coconut aminos? And tell me, how is candy? Is candy still as good as I remember? Tell it I said hi.

Orange Poppyseed Dressing: Vegan, Paleo, Whole30 Approved!

by Caitlin

Have you heard of the Whole30? In a nutshell (mmm, nuts, Whole30 approved!) it's 30 days of clean eating and whole foods; essentially just produce, meat, seafood, and certain nuts, oils, seeds, and fats. No wheat, no dairy, no legumes, no grains, no alcohol, no added sugar -- not even natural sugars like maple syrup. Fruit and sweet potatoes are okay, but no white potatoes. Zach and I are doing it January 2 - February 2, along with half the internet. 

At first glance you'd think the focus would be restriction, but there's just so much delicious food you can eat. And having done a strict allergy elimination diet earlier in the year, this seems easier in some ways. It's certainly a bit healthier (I miiiiiiiiight have turned to sugar to cope with that diet). Grassfed pot roast, smoothies, salads, shepherd's pie, grilled salmon, crab cakes, avocado on everything, lots of green vegetables, sliced pears with cashew butter: All things my body is thrilled to see after the past two months Zach and I have had of holiday indulging and stress, long hours, surgery, and too many convenience foods. It has actually been fun for me not to have an excuse to take shortcuts as it's forcing me to come up with things I've been meaning to try for a while. Like this orange poppyseed dressing.

I first made this for New Year's Eve (pre-Whole30), wherein I tossed it with mesclun/baby greens and added red grapes, toasted pecans, feta, and dried sour cherries. For Whole30 I think this would be delightful tossed with mixed greens, grilled chicken, avocado, and some grapes or fresh orange segments. Maybe cucumber and red bell pepper, too. It came together quickly and was fun and different from my normal default of olive oil & balsamic vinvegar.

Whole30 Orange Poppyseed Dressing

Juice & zest of an orange
1/4 c. red wine vinegar
1/3 cup extra light olive oil
small-medium shallot. (I had a huge one and used a quarter of it.)
1 T good mustard. (If doing Whole30 it should be free of sugar and wine.)
salt & pepper to taste
1-2 teaspoons poppyseeds. (I added a little at a time until it looked right.)

Wizz everything but the poppyseeds in the blender or food processor. When it's emulsified, add the poppyseeds and pulse once, just to mix. Taste it, add more salt and pepper and poppy seeds if necessary. If it needs more brightness or acidity, add a sploosh more red wine vinegar. With natural ingedients, your mileage may vary.

Pigs in a blanket and other upcoming appetizers

by Caitlin

Notice how I cleverly avoided titling this "Holiday appetizers," "Christmas appetizers," or "New Year's appetizers"? But consider this the ole bait & switch. I do love a good hors d'oeuvre, and I think this can be considered the season of the appetizer. And the season of the cocktail, cookie, baked good, giant meal, and anything else you want to justify indulging in.

I've got a few menus and meals to plan for, and I can't stop thinking about pigs in blankets. A few years ago on a whim I decided to make some (for the first time ever) for a party my husband and I were throwing. He'd just made his own duck breast prosciutto, was plotting a fancy cheese plate, and didn't see a place for pigs in a blanket on our snack table. Guess what was the first to go? Apparently people just can't resist processed meat products wrapped in processed pastry, especially when you offer them something to dip them in. They've become a favorite once-or-twice-a-year indulgence for me ever since, and this is the perfect time of year for them. 

Photo: me

Last year I felt much more virtuous buying cans of crescent rolls and Morally Superior Hot Dogs* at Whole Foods. They didn't have Humane L'il Smokies* at the overpriced hippie grocery store, so I bought regular sized Virtuous Hot Dogs* and cut them into L'il Smoky size. It worked great. Press some poppy or sesame seeds on the top to show you mean business. 

*Not the actual names.

Photo from browneyedbaker.com

In the past I've also had great success with buffalo chicken dip (again using Virtuous Chicken because chicken in a can = ew), and I am currently contemplating Things That are Wrapped in Bacon. Contenders: water chestnuts, scallops, dates stuff with goat cheese. 

Photo from sheknows.com

Yep, I think we've got a winner.

Do you have any fun appetizers planned? What are your feelings on pastry wrapped meat products?

My Favorite Cookie Swap Contribution AND Reader Help: Roll-out Cookies

by Caitlin

Ahh, cookie season. It truly is the most wonderful time of the year. Especially if you're in the Larger Pants Selling Business, and if you are then maybe also call me because I'm predicting I'll need your help soon.

For much of my childhood my parents' friends had an annual cookie decorating party around the holidays. It's one of my most dear childhood Christmas memories, and in my adult years I've longed to recreate it.
It was such a wonderful treat to go over to their house and spend an evening sitting at a table covered in a rainbow of colored frostings, sprinkles and candies as bin after bin of sugar and gingerbread cookies in various shapes appeared non-stop.

Joyce, prolific hostess, spent weeks baking hundreds of cookies. She'd freeze batch after batch until the evening finally arrived. She made a simple sugar frosting which she'd color with food coloring and pour into muffin tins - a great strategy. We each had an area to work in, and after using little paint brushes and loading our cookies up with decorations galore we'd carefully place them on wire cooling racks to dry. Some were garish, loaded with as much extra sugar as possible, others we took our time on and were little works of delicious cookie art.

Angels, trees, stars, candles, gingerbread people small and large: We loved that the shapes were familiar year after year, but what excitement there was if she debuted a new shape! For several years she even made special gingerbread house pieces for my brother and I to construct. Those gingerbread houses are what first taught me about royal frosting and that there was such a thing as sugared violets. Some flowers were edible?! 12 year old Caitlin was in awe. 

A marvel our hostess was.

Over the past few years I've longed to recreate those wonderful memories. I've collected various sprinkles, jimmies, sanding sugars, and adornments. My baking cabinet is full, and my husband rolls his eyes at the mention of colored sugars. The truth is, aside from the issues of first not having the space, and lately not having the time, a major inhibiting factor is that...I'm afraid of cut out sugar cookies. I haven't had good luck with them in the past. I don't quite have the technique down, and I don't have any recipes I love.

I need your help, dear readers! How can I achieve a roll out sugar cookie that will keep it's shape, that carries the frosting and decorations well while still imparting a little taste, and which won't break your teeth to bite into? A sugar cookie that looks as good as it tastes: That's what Santa can bring me.

These two recipes look promising, but I've got a little Rollout Cookie PTSD. So much work, and what if it's not worth it?

Gingerbread Snowflakes

Holiday Sugar Cookies

(Photo from Epicurious)

Dear readers, can you help?

And! In return I offer you my favorite cookie swap contribution:These molasses crinkles. My grandmother always made molasses crinkles so I'll always have a soft spot for them, but they were specifically requested for a party last year and this recipe did not disappoint. Spicy, sweet, chewy, they are true holiday perfection.

I'm supposed to be attending some cookie parties soon, and (spoiler alert, friends!) I'll be bringing these to both. They were a huge hit last year, and why mess with a favorite? My secret trick, as with all cookies, is to underbake them slightly to retain that chewy softness. They'll still cook a bit when you take them out, so leave them a little shiny on the tops.

Also, find a fun, festive, cocktail napkin to unfold and display them on, and people will think you're more put together than you are.

(Photo: me)

Current Obsession: Whole Foods Frozen Fruit Bars

by Caitlin

Well! It's been a while since I've had a Regularly Scheduled post around here, eh? Hey, did you see the Gift Guide that went up last week? That is by far my favorite post of the year. It's a beast to put together, but in the best way possible: it's fun and exciting to discover new food gadgets and treats. I love window shopping for others, and I maintain a list of ideas all year long, jotting things down as I see them, just to be able to tell you to buy them come November. I hope you found something on there that tickled your fancy, and for further fancy tickling I also highly recommend the Style Lush Gift Guide, handcrafted for your perusal by the lovely Elizabeth who has been doing this far longer than I. She is in fact the originator of the gift guide 'round these parts, and she nails it year after year. 

Speaking of years, 2012 has been a doozy. Those of you who have been following along - whether here or anywhere else in my life - know that I've had some health problems stemming from my sinuses. I had one procedure done in June, and when that didn't take, I had major sinus surgery the week before Thanksgiving. So far it seems to have been a success, although recovery is definitely going much more slowly than I anticipated. 

Something happy about my two week convalescence, aside from my remarkably improved ability to breathe, spending hours a day in bed with Tim Riggins, and being able to blame almost anything on the pain meds, is rediscovering my love for popsicles. 

Hey girl. I like popsicles too. We have so much in common. 

I thought that Tim Riggins photo alone was enough but then I stumbled on this. 

Gosh it feels dreamy in here. But that may just be the pain meds talking. (SEE?) Aaaaaanyway. 

After they wheeled me out of the operating room and into recovery on the day of surgery, I was quite confused and not fully with it. If you've ever been under general anesthesia, you'll know exactly what I mean. I actually woke up crying, confused, and in pain. It took a while for them to get it under control (druggggsssss are magical, kids!), but once they did I felt much more cheerful and chatty (drugs!). It was around this time, I think, that my husband inquired about whether they had given me a popsicle. You see, I hadn't been able to eat or drink anything since the night before, and I'd been told that they'd give me a popsicle after my surgery. At this point I was high as a kite, still a bit confused, and had just told a lovely, sweet nurse who was helping me that she must be so good at her job because there were two or three of her (drugggs). When Zach asked me about the Promised Popsicle, I distinctly remember feeling a) happy, because oh yeah! popsicles! and b) robbed, because WHITHER, POPSICLE? I said I had NOT received my popsicle and literally shook my fist and proclaimed it "a grave injustice." LET THEM EAT FROZEN TREATS.

I did eventually get my Popsicle of Justice, you'll be relieved to know.  

One of the many popsicles I've eaten recently, filtered for instant nostalgia!

And since I'm a Preparation Panicker and cope with stress and uncertainty by making lists, spreadsheets, and over-preparing I had Panick Stocked my kitchen with all manner of fizzy water, juices, and popsicles. It turns out that I made a wise choice in my frozen treat selection, with a variety of Whole Foods Brand 365 Frozen Fruit Bars. There's nothing weird in them, no corn syrup or fake sugar, no added coloring. It's mostly fruit juice, sugar, water. I'd bought a variety of flavors - lime, strawberry, mango, and carribean blend - and my favorite turned out to be the strawberry. My husband's favorite are the mango, as evidenced by the fact that he demolished an entire box of them before I even had my surgery. He did replace them, which I think we can agree was smart considering my apparently strong feelings about Popsicle Justice.

 

You can't touch the mango!

So. That's what'ss been going on with me. I've missed you and my regular writing here. How have YOU been lately? What's your favorite Friday Night Lights moment? Have you started shopping? Have you tried these popsicles? Will you put them in anyone's stocking this year, like maybe mine?

Tim Riggins photo from http://kingdragon.tumblr.com. Mango pop photo from http://enthusiasticrunner.com.

Official 2012 Food Lush Gift Guide

by Caitlin

The 2012 Official Food Lush Gift Guide is here! 

Just like I said in last year's guide: gift giving can be tough, but it doesn’t have to be. I think the best gifts are the ones that are thoughtful, useful, fun, and/or are not necessarily something someone would buy for themselves (but can't live without, once they get it!). With that in mind, what better way to achieve those goals than a food-centered gift? Everyone's gotta eat! 

I've hunted down the best bargains I can find for items that are classic, endurable, well-reviewed, and/or favorites in my kitchen. This year we have 75 things under $25 and 25 things over $25.

Ready? Go!

1. The Cook's Illustrated Cookbook: 2,000 Recipes from 20 Years of America's Most Trusted Cooking Magazine. I started last year's guide with a subscription to my favorite magazine, Cook's Illustrated. It was one of the items I heard the most feedback about, and this year I'm kicking things off with the ultimate cookbook by my favorite food people. Buy one for yourself, then one for everyone else on your list. Currently only $23, that's a steal.

(Photo from cooksillustrated.com)

2. Pantone mugs, $15. For the designer in your life, a Pantone mug. Pick their favorite color and pair it with your favorite hot chocolate, tea, coffee....or wine.

(Photo from aplusrstore.com)

3. Marble mortar and pestle, $13.95-24.95.

 

(Photo from surlatable.com)

4. OXO Good Grips locking tongs, $11.99. Versatile, different sizes, available with silicone or metal tips. There are at least three pairs in my kitchen.

 

(Photo from amazon.com)

5. Red rooster twine holder with built-in cutter, $14.99. 

 

(Photo from kaboodle.com)

6. Ice princess straws, $6.99. 

(Photo from thinkgeek.com)

7. Wine stopper, $6.99. Attach this to a good bottle of bubbly (try a Food Lush rec!) and you're still under $25!

(Photo from bedbathandbeyond.com)

8. Real maple syrup. The best. Truly, the best. There's no substitute, and I'm looking you in the eye, Aunt Jemima, when I say that. Check out the Vermont Maple Syrup official website for a list of various sugar makers selling online.The Burgess Sugarhouse has beautiful glass liters of real Vermont maple syrup for only $18. 

(Photo from burgesssugarhouse.com)

Also check out their gift packs, with pairs of maple syrup and maple cream. The maple cream is described as "100% Pure Vermont Maple Syrup boiled, cooled and stirred resulting in a creamy product which spreads easily on toast." I'll take three, please.

 

(Photo from americastestkitchenfeed.com)

9. Vintage mod champagne coupes, $12.

 

(Photo from Etsy seller Vint. etsy.com/shop/vint )

10. Julienne peeler, $9.99. For easy, matchstick vegetables.

(Photo from bedbathandbeyond.com)

11. Cheese slate. Dishwasher safe, non-porous, non-skid feet attached. Soapstone pencil for labelling cheeses is included; various sizes, starting at $25.

 

(Photo from brooklynslate.com)

12. Finger sporks, $4.99. Maybe these will get your kids to eat their veggies. (Perfect stocking stuffers!)

 

(Photo from thinkgeek.com)

13. Luscious dried pears, $10. Perfect alongside cheese, nuts, and a bottle of wine; or to fill a stocking. 

(Photo from https://katzfarm.katzandco.com)

14. Classic wine coaster. Only $11, so you can still throw in a bottle of your favorite under-$15 wine and be at about $25.

 

(Photo from crateandbarrel.com)

15. Platter, $17.

(Photo from allmodern.com)

16. Ninjabread men cookie cutters, $10!

(Photo from landofnod.com)

17. Angled measuring cup, $8.95. For easing reading with getting a crick in your neck. I can't live without mine. Include a box of your favorite cookies or cupcakes, for baking inspiration.

 

(Photo from http://www.coffeekrave.com)

18. Orange or grapefruit handcrafted bitters, $4. 

(Photo from eatboutique.com)

19. Mini salt and pepper shakers. My husband would argue that no food should be served needing salt or pepper, but I'm enamoured with the idea of everyone at the table having their own little shakers. Set is 12 bottles (6 pairs, comes with tray), and at just $12.95 you could get two sets and pair them with your favorite fine sea salt and fancy ground pepper for a still-reasonably-priced gift. 

(Photo from chefscatalog.com)

20. Charles Chips, $19.95. Remember these? Give the gift of nostalgia! Delicious, crunchy, salty nostalgia.

(Photo from charleschips.com)

21. Drizzle stick, $6.

(Photo from fusionbrands.com)

22. Leopard oven mitt, $8.96. Oh, yes, my friends. 

(Photo from surlatable.com)

23. Spider skimmer, $9. An indispensable kitchen tool in my kitchen, with endless uses.

(Photo from amazon.com)

24. Unfiltered organic olive oil, $21.99 "...very unique green color, spicy taste and herbaceous flavor...a great finishing oil for salad dressings and to drizzle on soups or pastas." 

(Photo from ditalia.com)

25. Salsabol, $16+. Sweep it up the sides: form and function so you can get the salsa on the chip and keep the salsa on the chip.

(Photo from uncommongods.com)

26. Smitten Kitchen Cookbook, $19.75. Deb's gorgeous photography and impressive recipes have finally come together on paper. Check out the Smitten Kitchen blog for a primer!

(Photo from amazon.com)

27. Stainless steel mixing bowls. A classic that can be hard to find these days. Three sizes, from $5.95 to $13.95. 

(Photo from kingarthurflour.com)

28. A fun tea ball and a bag of your favorite looseleaf. I can't get enough of this Tea Diver for $12!

(Photo from aplusrstore.com)

And this rubber ducky ($9.99) is completely ridiculous and totally fun, especially for the little tea drinker in your life.

(Photo from thinkgeek.com) 

29. Wall mounted bottle opener, $8.54. I have one on my deck and it has a way of making even the smallest gathering feel like a party. Under ten bucks, so throw in your favorite six pack, too. 

(Photo from amazon.com)

30. Milk Chocolate Baumkuchen, $9.99. A German Christmas tradition. 15 layers, baked one at a time!

(Photo from germandeli.com)

31. Butter bell, $24.95. Keep your butter soft and spreadable at all times.

 

(Photo from cooking.com)

 32. Pickle ornament, $4.95.

(Photo from crateandbarrel.com)

Cocktail ornaments, $14.85.

(Photo from crateandbarrel.com)

Rolling pin ornament, $6.

(Photo from thestylecure.com)

33. Grill comb, $19.95. A different way to kebab. Set of four.

(Photo from launfd.com)

34. Ice cream ball, $17.93. Great for the backyard, camping, the beach, or just 20 minutes of keeping the kids busy.

(Photo from icecreamjournal.turkeyhill.com)

35. Hand carved salad tongs, $18.25. I received these as a gift, and they're simply lovely; beautifully carved from one piece of wood. I don't know why it hasn't ever occured to me to give a pair to someone else! As a bonus, these are available through Gifts With Humanity, a fair trade organization you can feel good about supporting.

(Photo from amazon.com)

 36. Traditional steel paella pan, $23. 15 inches, serves 6. La Tienda has everything else you need for paella making, too. Check out their selection of rice, cookbooks, starter kits, accessories, and ingredients at tienda.com.

(Photo from tienda.com)

37. Knobby juice glasses, $4/each (on sale!). Pick one of each color, and they'll still be under $25. 

(Photo from anthropologie.com)

38. Leopard print high-heel cake server, $13.07. Sturdy stainless steel that's not just for show, and mine gets a laugh every time I pull it out at a party. The leopard heel is removable. 

(Photo from amazon.com)

39. Dried wild mushroom mix. For the risotto lover in your life. Throw in a box of arborio rice, and your favorite mushroom risotto recipe. You can't get much better than $17 for this mix, which includes chanterelles.

(Photo from williams-sonoma.com)

40. Speaking of mushrooms, how about a mushroom garden? ($19.99) Grow your own!

(Photo form thinkgeek.com)

41. My Life in France, $18.16. Julia Child's memoir of her entree to food. A must-read for any Julia fan.

(Photo from malisaprice.com)

42. Le Creuset spatula, $9.99. Because a kitchen can never have too many spatulas, and these are the best. Available from several places in many colors and sizes, so be sure to shop around.

(Photo from amazon.com)

43. Kid's chef's coat, $23.95. Pick a size, and get it embroidered for $7.95 more. Watch the tiny chef in your life keel over from excitement.

 

(Photo from http://www.growingcooks.com)

44. Pair the chef's coat with a Kid's oven mitt. Perfectly sized for little hands, in a variety of colors. At only $4.95, they'd make a great stocking stuffer! You can also get a monogrammed one for $9.95. 

(Photo from growingcooks.com)

45. Silicone poach pod, $9.95.

(Photo from cheftools.com)

46. Two-tier wire basket, $19.99.

(Photo from worldmarket.com)

47. Dave's Bloody Mary mix, $7.99. My husband, the Bloody Mary connoiseur, has tried them all, and this is his favorite. Nothing fake, corn syrup free. Pair it with your favorite vodka for a hope-you-make-it-through-the-holidays gift for the Bloody Mary lover in your life. 

Maybe throw in Dave's spicy nut trio, too, $19.99.

Or there's always the hot sauce gift pack, $24.99.

(Photos from davesgourmet.com)

48. Polka dot offset spatula, $~3.

(Photo from thestylecure.com)

49. Gift certificate to a favorite place or a local hit on Yelp! We had this on our guide last year, but we'd be remiss not to mention it. Always a good idea.

(Photo from ignitewoo.com)

50. Herb keeper, $15.95.

(Photo from chefscatalogue.com)

51. Tender at the Bone: Growing Up At the Table, $10.88. For the bookworm foodie in your life. Memoir of Ruth Reichl, New York Times Food Critic and former Editor in Chief of Gourmet: the story of her childhood and eccentric mother through the lens of food. 

(Photo from forthesomedaybook.wordpress.com)

Or Garlic and Sapphires: The Secret Life of a Critic in Disguise, $10.88. Also by Ruth Reichl. How she managed to stay anonymous as a well-known New York Times food critic. 

(Photo from gourmetfood.about.com)

52. Glass cannisters, $15.99. Various sizes. Use to store flours, sugars, oats, and grains.

(Photo from crateandbarrel.com)

53. Corn zipper, $10.77. I'm generally not a fan of one-use items, but I make an exception for this. Makes quick, safe work of getting your kernels off the cob.  

(Photo from amazon.com)

54. Pineapple corer & slicer, $8.99. Another one-use item I am making an exception for. Used just like a corkscrew, it magically cores and slices your pineapple into rings, leaving a perfectly intact shell. This would be perfect for someone who likes to make fun, fancy cocktails. Preferably in, you know, pineapple shells. Maybe pair it with some rum and a Mai Tai recipe.

(Photo from amazon.com)

55. Artichoke print, $10.

(Photo from Etsy seller BelleBotanica etsy.com/shop/BelleBotanica)

56. Dancing dreidel platter, $19.95.

(Photo from crateandbarrel.com)

57. Cook's stir stick, $7. Don't be fooled! It's made of sturdy silicone for spreading, flipping, mixing, turning, frosting, reaching deep into jars, or swatting hands away from the cookie jar. Go check out the video in the link. Fun!

(Photos from fusionbrands.com and thekitchenoutlet.com)

58. Squiggly ikat napkins, $16. Set of four.

(Photo from westelm.com)

59. Wooden napkin rings, $2.36/each.

(Photo from pier1.com)

60. Zeroll ice cream scoop, $15.35. The best. 

(Photo from amazon.com)

61. Popcorn gift set, $12.99. A twist on the classic holiday popcorn tin. Urban Accent brand kernels are some of the best I've had, and I'm intrigued by their dill pickle seasoning. It also comes with classic kettle corn and white cheddar. 

(Photo from urbanaccents.com)

62. Citrus Pod, $10. A three-in-one citrus station: cut, squeeze, and store your citrus here. 

(Photos from fusionbrands.com)

63. Expandable cooling rack, $19.95. Because there never seem to be enough racks, even on the rare occasion they're all in the same place when you need them. 

(Photo from surlatable.com)

64. Tipsy Olives ($13.95) or Tipsy Onions ($13.95).

(Photos from normthompson.com)

65. Blender Bottle, $7.58. For your favorite smoothie/shake drinker. 

(Photo from betterfitnessproducts.com)

66. See's Custom Chocolate Box. I still love their peppermint patties, as featured in last year's Gift Guide but I also love that you can go to their website and mix your own custom box of favorites. 65% caramels and 25% peanut butter patties and 10% chocolate creams? It's all up to you.

(Photo from sees.com)

67. Mugtopper marshmallows, $6.99. Rounded and sized to float atop your favorite hot chocolate, I bet they'd be great for s'mores too. Gluten free and no corn syrup!

In vanilla bean or peppermint or mochaccino.

(Photo from plushpuffs.com)

68. Caffeine molecule t-shirt, $17.99.

(Photo from thinkgeek.com)

69. Oven thermometer, $10. Because sometimes the knobs on your stove lie.

(Photo from amazon.com)

70. Hartley's Ma Made marmalade starter, $15.55. To make marmalade a little easier for your favorite DIYer. They'll just add sugar and water. (I've made this myself before, and it was a huge hit.)

(Photo from .english-shop.de)

71. Homemade vanilla extract. There's nothing like real, from-scratch vanilla, and it's the gift that keeps on giving. There are recipes all over the web, but you just need vodka, vanilla beans, and a bottle. Make some fun labels or tie a ribbon around the neck. Here's a starter guide, but do some googling, too. Your giftee can keep adding vodka to the bottle as they use it, and they'll have an almost-endless supply of delicious vanilla.

 

(Photo from beanilla.com)

72. Iced beverage to-go cup, $8.

(Photo from amazon.com)

73. Peppermint pig, $14.95. A peppermint candy pig, a velvet pouch, and a little hammer: A fun, Victorian, good luck tradition for any holiday gathering, and a perfect hostess gift. Everyone takes turns breaking the pig while sharing tales of good fortune from the past year, and hopes for the new. Read more here. 

(Photo from domesticallyseasoned.com)

74. Dishtowels, $19.95. Absorbent, resilient, a favorite in my kitchen. Various colors, set of 4. 

(Photo from williams-sonoma.com)

75. Soup and cracker mugs, $11.99. Set of two.

(Photo from vat19.com)

OVER $25

1. Glass Dharma Reusable Drinking Straws. Last year I left these off the Gift Guide by mistake. I think they really did deserve their own post, but I'd be remiss not to highlight them this year as they're a favorite in my kitchen and they'd make a beautiful, useful, fun gift. They come in a variety of sizes and options, and custom work is offered. My favorite is the set of four Decorative Dots Sippers for $33. These are shorter straws with a narrower hole, which are perfect for cocktails and coffee. As an added bonus, each straw has different colored dots which both helps keeps drinks straight and keeps them from rolling off the counter.

(Photo from designmilk.com)

2. Classic linen apron, $34.95.

(Photo from eatboutique.com)

3. Odd-size measuring cups and spoons set, $40. Odd-measure cups come in 2/3-, 3/4- and 1 1/2-cup sizes. Odd-measure spoons are 2-tsp., 1 1/2-Tbs. and 2-Tbs.

(Photo from williams-sonoma.com)

4. Dropp! bowl, $50. This is kind of ridiculously priced, but the image made me laugh out loud when I first saw it. Apparently you can't put a price on whimsy.

(Image from aplusrstore.com)

5. Support small business with a Yellow wavy mug, $28.

Or red swirly mug, $28.

Or patterned blue mug, $28.

 

(All photos from Etsy seller Mad Hatter Ceramics. etsy.com/shop/madhatterceramics)

6. Rosle cheese knives, set of 3, $49.95.

(Photo from cutleryandmore.com)

7. Emile Henry ramekins, $35.95. Set of four. A little pricey, but about as good as it gets. Pair with your favorite creme brulee recipe.

(Photo from surlatable.com)

8. Set of three cookie scoops, $49.95 (set of three). For the baker in your life, though they're for more than just cookies. Scoop dough, batter for cupcakes, or make melon balls. These are a must-have in any kitchen.

(Photo from chefscatalogue.com)

9. Yogurt maker, $49.99. Works overnight: Wake up to fresh yogurt with no weird ingredients. (You may want to include the yogurt starter.)

(Photo from chefscatalog.com)

10. Pint sized chef's set, $59.95 (+ free shipping of $25+ orders). All the tools and equipment your little helper needs, sized for small hands, with a chef's hat and apron to complete the look. 27 pieces, dishwasher safe. I would have loved this as a kid. 

(Photo from chefscatalog.com)

11. Spongester, $28. Never confuse your counter sponge with your dish sponge again.

(Photo from uncommongoods.com)

12. Fleur de Sel kitchen hand lotion and soap, $29.95-39.95. Made with essential oils, comes with the caddy so it will stay together next to your sink.

(Photo from williams-sonoma.com)

13. Mason jar cocktail shaker, $29. In case you're not over the mason jar craze just yet.

(Photo from westelm.com)

14. Lighted rosemary tree. The gift that keeps on giving. Makes a fragrant decoration during the holiday season, and can easily be repotted for use the rest of the year. Rosemary is quite hardy and holds up well outdoors year-round, in many areas. I currently have a large rosemary shrub on my deck from a small plant purchased several years ago, and winters here are below freezing. You can also find them for very reasonable prices (think under $10, undecorated) at your grocery store. 

 

(Photo from normthompson.com)

15. This pitcher, $48.

Or this pitcher, $29.95.

(Photos from anthropologie.com)

Or this pitcher. (A classic. I have one, it's my favorite, and $29.95 is a steal.)

(Photo from amazon.com)

16. The Bouchon Bakery Cookbook, $27.98. I was fortunate enough to sample several goodies from Bouchon earlier this year. This will be a must-have for the baker in your life. 

(Photo from amazon.com)

17. Electric kettle, $49.99. So fast, so easy. Your giftee will wonder how they lived without it.

(Photo from target.com)

18. Coffee Joulies, $49.99. Keep your inner nerd caffeineted with these awesome "beans" that somehow capture the heat of your coffee and redistribute it evenly, keeping your coffee at the perfect drinking temperature. Magic!

(Photo from thinkgeek.com)

19. Chemex coffee maker ($38.85) & filters ($9.10). Another one for the coffee purist in your life. Clean, modern design, low-acid and slow drip, it makes the cleanest, most delicious coffee I've ever tasted. Can also be used with the cold brew method. You do need the filters for it to work properly.

(Photo from williams-sonoma.com)

20. Pizza stone, $54.95. Make homemade pizza taste professional, with perfect crust every time. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes, but I find I like the rectangle best as it's most versatile.

(Photo from kingarthurflour.com)

21. Make your own bathtub gin, $39.95. This is a last minute addition to the guide, and probably my favorite. All you need is a bottle of vodka: My favorite is Svedka, which is both delicious and cheap. A hat tip to my friend Lexa for the heads up on this. She's also the one that turned me onto the Chemex (above) last year. Good work, friend. 

(Photo from homemadegin.com)

22. Baker's Edge brownie pan, $34.95.

(Photo from amazon.com)

23. Wine aerator, $26.

(Photo from matchmywine.com)

24. Rustic olive wood cutting board, $38.50.

Or olive wood wine bottle holder, $46.50.

(Photos from tienda.com)

25. Stainless steel stockpot, $49.95. Cuisinart, 10 Quart.

(Photo from amazon.com)

26. (Sure, we said 25 items over $25, but rules are for the birds.) A CSA share. Know someone who's always wanted to try a produce share? Check out Local Harvest to find one in your giftee's area. Prices and commitment vary.

(Photo from onestrawfarm.com)

And finally, please consider The Real Gift of Food: A different kind of food-related giving, in the spirit of the season. UNICEF makes it easy to give the gift of food to someone in need, and it starts at just $18. The Child Survival Gift Pack is $85.20 and provides water purification tablets plus nutrient dense food and milk to those who need it most. Check out the rest of UNICEF's offerings here. Heifer International also has wonderful programs.

Photo from unicef.org.

Thanks, friends. We hope you have a wonderful, healthy, safe, and delicious holiday season! 

***

So much awesome stuff, am I right? (Great, great job Caitlin!)

Be sure to check out the Style Lush Gift Guide for a few other kitchen- and food-related gift ideas (and a lot more awesome gift ideas, too).

We plan to host a similar giveaway as last year, a giveaway that gives one of you the chance to win your favorite item from this list, so check back on 12/3 for your chance to enter.

You can also share the Food Lush Gift Guide love with your very own sidebar badge. Pretty, right?

(Code for the badge: <a href="http://www.foodlushblog.com/2012/11/official-2012-food-lush-gift-guide.html"><img src="http://www.shelikespurple.com/FoodLushHG2012.gif"></a>)

***

Happy holidays and happy shopping!

Bubbly Crack Part Deux: La Croix

by Caitlin

I have a problem, in the form of Bubbly Crack. If it's water with bubbles and without artificial sugar/color/etc, then I've probably tried it. I have a few favorites, to be sure, and my favorite variety in the can is La Croix. For the longest time I'd assumed it was a 'diet water' type drink that looked like seltzer, but actually had fake sugar. Not the case: It just has kind of wacked out packaging. 

Take for example their newest variety (which quickly became one of my favorites), Peach Pear:

 

(Photo from lacroix.com)

It screams a lot of things but "I'm just plain flavored seltzer." isn't one of them. Although! According to their website, there are actually some important differences between seltzer and sparkling water: "Seltzer Water is water with carbonation that may or may not contain sugar or certain flavors, as well as varying amounts of sodium. LaCroix Sparkling Water is water with carbonation that is sodium free and contains only natural flavors." WHO KNEW? There's further information on the site that all their flavors are fruit-derived, with nothing artificial added to them. I can definitely get behind that. 

I've tried almost every flavor, and I have to say they're really all quite good. I'm always a fan of lemon or lime, and theirs are lovely. They also have wonderful orange, grapefruit (actually labelled Pamplemousse, which is fun to announce in a French accent a la Flight of the Conchords), and the aforementioned peach-pear. I happen to also love their coconut flavor, but I know it's an acquired taste not for all. My local Target usually has a couple dfferent flavors, but never all of them at once. And the more basic flavors can be found at my local grocery store. 

Have you tried La Croix? What's your bubbly crack of choice?

New Favorite Candy: Darrell Lea Soft Eating Liquorice

by Caitlin

It's been fairly well-established around here that I'm a sucker for gummy candy. Haribo specifically, but any gummy, fruity confection is a friend of mine, and I am happy to announce I'm adding a new cast member to my (hypothetical) (as far as you know) gummy shrine. There are so many things to love about this new-to-me candy, I hardly know where to start. They spell it liquorice! They call it "soft eating"! It's soft, sweet-but-not-too-sweet, fruity! It comes in a wide variety of flavors, each more delicious than the next!

Photo from amazon.com, and sure, I'll take an 8 pack.

Someone (wisely, generously) gifted me a bag of the strawberry, and just like crack, the first hit is always free. It suddenly became the quest of all parties in my house to find this stuff wherever they went, in order to sample all the flavors, and also apparently to consume bag after bag. We've so far found it at liquor stores (aka Packies, if you're a New Englanduh), and our local World Market. Amazon has a nice selection, too. If you order an 8 pack from Amazon and are looking to unload some, give me a call. I'm a very charitable person and will be happy to help you out.

Photo from amazon.com.

I can't decide what my favorite flavor is: I'm torn between mango and strawberry. The green apple is also quite good. And aside from purchasing all three of those flavors to try, my other piece of advice is to make sure that they are really soft. Give that bag a squeeze. Go on. Don't be afraid. Someone (no naming names) once brought home a rock-hard bag of the ginger, and it was a very sad first world situation indeed. Wonderful flavor, but inedible due to the texture. So squeeze that bag! Be gentle, but firm. The liquorice will understand.

Sadly they are not gluten free, so they're not allergy diet friendly for me, but in the long run that's probably better. I'm betting my dentist is happy, too. Eat some for me, won't you?

Have you tried Darrell Lea LIQUORICE? What's your favorite soft, fruity candy?

(Confidential to Haribo: I love this Darrell Lea fellow, but you have my heart ALWAYS N' 4-EVA. Caitlin + Haribo 4 Life xoxo <3.)

Original Recipe: Coconut Curry Cauliflower Sweet Potato Soup

by Caitlin

Well that name's kind of a mouthful, isn't it? (No pun intended.)

Over the weekend I had a lingering pile of sweet potatoes and cauliflower that needed to be used. A creamy bisque sounded just right, but as I'm off dairy that was a no go. I decided to sub coconut milk for the cream, and what better to pair with coconut milk than curry? I've never really come up with a recipe before, where I measure and pay attention to steps and write things down, but I'm glad I did for this one, and I'm sharing it with you here today!

Mmm, yellow-y curry onions.

A few notes. I originally used Lite coconut milk to cut back on fat, but that was a mistake. I ended up adding some coconut manna that I had on hand to make up the difference and give it a creamy boost. (Coconut manna is just pureed dried coconut; sometimes also called coconut butter.)

Let the vegetables cook until they're tender, but not completely mushy. Otherwise ... well, your soup will taste like overcooked vegetables. To ensure the creamiest consistency, I cooked the stock and vegetables until the sweet potatoes were very easily pierced with a fork (almost falling apart), pureed with my stick blender, waited 10 or 15 minutes, and pureed it again. 

I call for 3 large sweet potatoes, and a medium head of cauliflower but the size of your veg isn't as important as having a roughly 2:1 sweet potato:cauliflower ratio: to get the consistency right, otherwise your soup will be on the grainier side.

I used about half and half of Penzey's Maharajah Curry Powder and their Sweet Curry Powder. I added the curry in different stages, as at first I didn't want to overdo it and didn't know how much I'd need. As a bonus, the taste of herbs and spices change throughout the cooking process so adding the curry in stages - during saute, while cooking, and when almost finished - helps build the flavor and make sure this subtle soup is still flavorful. At the first taste it might seem a little too subtle, but give it a chance: it builds with each bite. That said, make sure you season it well with salt and pepper to bring out the flavor and if in the end you think it needs more curry then have at it!

You can easily make it vegan by using vegetable stock instead of chicken stock. It's a great way to use up the beautiful fall produce that's so abundant now, and it's pretty inexpensive to boot. This would be delightful alongside a crispy, crunchy, creamy, chewy, big fat sourdough grilled cheese on a cold Autumn day. 

Hard to photograph, but you get the idea. Photos are mine.

Have you made a version of this soup before? Let me know if you try it!

Coconut Curry Cauliflower Sweet Potato Soup

3 large sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-2 inch pieces
medium head cauliflower, cleaned and chopped into 1-2 inch pieces (Use the stems/core pieces, not just the florets!)
1 large onion & 3 shallots, diced
1 tablespoon-ish Olive oil
chicken stock
1 can coconut milk
2.5 teaspoons curry powder, divided
salt & pepper to taste

Sauté onion & shallots in olive oil until translucent, avoid letting them brown. LOW AND SLOW, about 20 minutes. Season with salt early on to draw out the water.

Add 1 teaspoon curry powder to the onions. Sauté until fragrant, about 1-2 minutes. Add peeled and prepped cauli and sweet potato pieces. Add coconut milk. Add stock until veg are just covered - should take 6-8 cups. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and summer until veg are soft, add 1 teaspoon curry powder. Purée with stick blender.
Taste for seasoning - add salt & pepper.

Let cook 10-15 more minutes, purée again. Add remaining half teaspoon curry powder.

Voila!