Gift Ideas – Buying Local Isn’t Just about Food

Materialism Alert, with Apologies to Madonna

I do love shopping and the material world.  If you don’t lust for material goods for yourself and don't get pleasure out of shopping for others, then maybe you should stop reading this post right now.  In fact, you may not want to bother reading the next 3 posts because they'll all be about food and cooking-related holiday gifts – the cute (under $10!), the useful (but not boring), and the cool (without breaking the bank.)  Everyone else - read on!

Online shopping is all the rage these days.  Efficiency and price are understandable drawing cards for using a mouse instead of your feet.  But there is nothing like browsing in a “real” store.  When you need inspiration or advice, a knowledgeable sales person is more precious than gold.

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Meal Planning Rule #6 - Be Organized

We’re coming down the homestretch on the 10 Rules for Meal Planning Success. The rule for this week is #6: “Gather Equipment & Ingredients, Clear Space Before Starting,” otherwise known as “Be Organized.”  Whether you can follow this rule consistently has more to do with your organizational DNA than with your cooking skills or knowledge.  Whatever your genetic predisposition or organizational skills, this is a rule worth following as best you can. These pictures are the ingredients & equipment for a baked apple. It’s a rule that I honor more in the breach than I should.  I’m especially bad about clearing the counter before starting to cook.  Of course, my counter and my desktop are a matched set.  I do try, but in any event - do as I say, not as I sometimes do.  Now that I’m done with my “True Confessions”, let’s get down to business.

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Fabulous Chocolate Bark

I was taught that good guests never arrive empty-handed.  At holiday time, I’m always looking for new homemade presents to bring instead of wine or flowers.  This year I discovered a fabulous host/hostess gift – homemade chocolate bark candy with dried fruit and nuts.

There’s a lot to love about this chocolate bark.  It’s super easy to make, no-bake, and quick too.  It’s not messy to clean up afterwards, there are endless variations, and it looks fabulous presented in a gift box or bag, surrounded by nice tissue paper.  It’s addictive too – sweet, but not cloying; unusual, but appealing to the less adventuresome eaters too.  And at less than $5 for an 8 ounce gift box or bag ($6 or $6.50 if you count the fancy box or bag), it's an inexpensive present. 

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