Gift Guide: 2022 Foodie Gift Guide

2022 Foodie Gift Guide

Finding the perfect Christmas gift for that foodie in your life is hard. How do you start? Where do you go?  So if you listened to my segment on AMI’s Kelly and Ramya Show I shared my gift choices for that foodie in your life, this holiday season and included the shop links below.

Eataly

Let me begin with a delicious basket from Eataly. Bring the fresh and delicious taste of Italy home! The Trip to Eataly Gift Box features delicious Italian goods like pasta, olive oil, jam, cookies, and more. There are plenty of gift boxes to choose from. And to make it even better, they can be ordered online and delivered across the country. Where: Eataly Website

BASKiTS

Then there’s the ultimate snack box that anyone would love to receive. Baskits Inc has a really special Sleigh Gift Basket that’s filled with gourmet goodies perfect for someone with a sweet tooth. This box is in the shape of a wooden sleigh, handcrafted to perfection. You can expect treats like gingerbread chocolate, maple crunch shortbread, almond cookies, salted caramel truffles, a keepsake wooden nutcracker, and much more. Orders for this basket can be placed online. Where: Baskits Inc. Website

David’s Tea

David’s Tea Holiday Wheel. When you can’t pick just one, try them all! David’s Tea has a special holiday wheel that features the best-selling festive teas. Expect Candy Cane Crush, Cinnamon Rooibos Chai, Hazelnut Chocolate, Orange Spice, Peppermint Amour, Pomegrateful, Salted Caramel Oolong, Santa’s Secret, Silent Night, Sleigh Ride, Sugar Pear Fairy, and Winter Earl Grey. The box comes with three sachets each, 36 sachets in total. Where: David’s Tea Website

Nibbl

Well, if you really want to show someone you care, a massive box of the finest cheeses is the only way to do so. Nibbl Cheese gift boxes, offers five carefully selected cheeses, fruity spreads, and artisanal crackers. It apparently serves six to seven people but if you’re on a mission, you and two other friends could probably dominate it. Where: Nibbl. website

Raven Rising

For the chocolate lover, make it local. Chocolates at Raven Rising use traditional Indigenous ingredients sourced by Indigenous peoples and businesses. A portion of the proceeds are donated to various societies and Residential School organizations. Raven Rising is located in Sudbury but ships nationally. Where: Order online at ravenrising.ca

Wine Club Canada

Wine Club Canada offers wine memberships for the lover of all things wine. The process is pretty customizable with the option to choose two, three, six, or 12 bottles to send a month. And you can decide how long you’d like your special someone to get their subscription. A month, three, or a year. Where: wineclub.ca

Momofuku

Momofuku Noodle Gift Bundle. Spice up their cooking game with Momofuku Goods’ Home Essentials Pack. This pack includes Soy & Scallion Noodles, Spicy Soy Noodles, Tingly Chili Wavy Noodles, Savory Seasoned Salt, Spicy Seasoned Salt, Tingly Seasoned Salt, Chili Crunch Hot Honey, and so much more. Really. It’s only available for a limited time during this holiday season so sign up for notifications to find out when the pack is released. Where: canadashop.momofuku.com

Two Brewers

For the whisky lover on your list. Class up any home bar with this bold single-malt whisky made by Two Brewers in the Yukon. Where: Two Brewers Website

Jamie Cooks Italy

The Italian-food lover (or anyone for that matter) on your list will absolutely adore Jamie Oliver's latest cookbook featuring a mix of simple everyday dishes, slow-cooking meals and familiar classics.
Jamie Cooks Italy. Where: Amazon

Wendell Estate Honey

Fresh from the Prairies, Creamed Raw Prairie Honey. This raw white honey is luxuriously smooth and creamy. It's best enjoyed by the spoonful or spread on sourdough toast. Where: Wendell Estate Honey Website

Baggu

Baggu - This reusable shopper tote is made of ripstop nylon with thick handles, perfect for hauling practically anything. Holds 50 lbs., 2-3 plastic grocery bags’ worth of stuff and folds into a flat 5” x 5” pouch. Now made from 40% recycled nylon sourced from pre-consumer waste! Fashionable and environmentally friendly. Where: Well.ca Website

Yeti

Yeti Travel Mug - YETI's Rambler® 20 oz. is made from durable stainless steel with double-wall vacuum insulation to protect your hot or cold beverage at all costs. While the magnet on the included MagSlider™ Lid adds an additional barrier of protection for keeping drinks contained and preventing heat or cold from escaping. Where: Amazon

Happy Shopping and Happy Holidays! XOXO

Rant: Last Minute Valentine's Day Ideas

Chocolates are delicious and flowers are sweet but why not change things up this Valentines day with an edible arrangement? Nothing says love like your favourite food. I've rounded up a few you can DIY.

Photo by ovbelov/iStock / Getty Images

Donut Bouquet

To make a DIY Donut Bouquet, you'll need: donut holes or donuts, wood skewers, tissue paper, chocolate chips, and ribbon. ...

Steps:

1. Insert skewers into the donut holes. …

2. when using soft donuts you will have to dip one end of the wooden skewer into the melted chocolate (white chocolate) poke it into the bottom of the donut and let dry (harden)

3. Arrange the donuts into a bouquet, and secure in place with an elastic.

4. Wrap the bouquet in tissue paper.

5. Tie a ribbon around the base of the flowers. ...

6. That's it!

Photo by smiltena/iStock / Getty Images

Cookie Bouquet

Not an original idea but you can always joosh it up with a favourite cookie and the recipe or a cookie that's been in the family for decades. 

Image from Bacon Addict

Bacon Bouquet

Can hold up unrefrigerated for a while and rolled bacon speaks to me on so many levels. Basically bacon roses are the gift that keeps on giving. 

What you'll need:

1 pack thick cut bacon, 1 bunch fake roses, toothpicks

Steps:

1. Tear off all the petals of the rose until you're left with the stem. Try and expose as much of the centre stem/wire for the bacon roll to sit on.

2. Take a strip of bacon and start at one end and roll it up tightly to form a rosette and secure it with two toothpicks as close to the bottom of one end to form an X with the toothpicks. Repeat with all the bacon and place them on top of a wire rack on top of a foil lined rimmed baking tray.

3. Bake in a 375 degree oven for 45-55 minutes. Allow to cool and place it onto a stem and repeat until the whole bunch is complete.

Image from BREWQUET

Beer Bouquet

What you’ll need:

Six bottles of their favourite bottled beer, an ice bucket or burlap drawstring sack, bottle opener, tissue paper and ribbon.

Steps:

Place the bottles into the ice bucket, wrap the tissue around the ice bucket and keep it in place by tying a ribbon around it wit a bottle opener tied into the bow. 

Fruit Bouquets

They’ve been around for a while, can be delivered and if you like fruit this is the perfect gift for you. Fruit on a stick in the shape of flowers (use cookie cutters), cantaloupe spears and chocolate covered strawberries are cute and perfect for the health conscious valentine gift but if originality is your thing this is not it. This can be ordered online or phone from Edible Arrangements. If making at home you don't have to get too fancy but cut up your fruit, spear the fruit with wooden sticks (kabob sticks work), florist sponge placed inside a flowerpot and begin poking the fruit skewers into the floral sponge to create your bouquet.

Inexpensive DIY Candy Bouquet - Dollar Store Finds: 

What you’ll need:

A small square box, bag of marbles or floral pebbles, floral foam block, 3 sheets of coloured tissue paper, wooden skewer sticks, 1 bag  of chocolate bars, hot glue gun, and a heart ballon of your choice.

Steps:

1. Place the bag of marbles in the bottom of the box to weigh it down. Layer the tissue paper onto of one another turning slightly with each one, place the floral foam in the centre and wrap the tissue around it and place it inside the box allowing the tissue to peek out of he top and spill over the sides of the box leaving the floral foam exposed. 

2. Take one chocolate bar and lay a line of hot glue down the centre of the chocolate bar and place the skewer stick on top of the hot glue. 

3. insert the balloon into the centre of the floral foam and begin to fill it in with all the chocolates. 

4. That’s it!

Happy Valentine’s Day

Rant: The Best Advent Calendars of 2019

The Best Advent Calendars of 2019

I’ve round up some of my favourite advent calendars of 2019.

Keep scrolling to find something for the Foodie, the Beauty, the Fashionista, and the Kiddies! I’ve got a little something for everyone in your life.

THE FOODIE

David’s Tea -

24 Days of Tea

The David’s Tea advent calendar is a tea lover’s dream. Filled with some of their best selling blends, old favourites, sneak peeks of new teas and exclusive offers. Grab your favourite holiday mug and pour, steep, and sip throughout the holidays.

SHOP

Squish 24 Days Of Candy

A delicious sweet gummy treat for every day leading up to the big day, and they have a VEGAN OPTION. Flavours from prosecco, pina colada, vegan matcha, banana orange, rose and this list goes on.

SHOP

Tim Hortons - Limited Edition K-Cup Pods Advent Calendar

Add some Canadiana to the holidays with Tim Hortons and a selection of single serve k-cup bevies to fill your holiday mug with fresh brewed coffee, espresso, steeped tea, and hot chocolate

SHOP

That Boutique-Y Gin Company Advent Calendar

Everyone loves an Advent calendar to help count down the days before Christmas! What better way to enjoy a variety of gins than doing a gin Advent calendar.

SHOP

Purdys - Starry Night

This festive red and teal ribbon box is the new holiday home for festive foiled milk and white chocolate, a dark chocolate Foiled Bell surprise and milk chocolate Mini Salted Caramel. When you are done don’t forget to flip each drawer while you're counting down, to reveal another beautiful surprise at the end.

SHOP

Bonne Maman - Limited Advent Calendar

A limited edition treat of 24 different Bonne Maman exclusive holiday flavours behind each door.

SHOP

Nespresso Advent Calendar

This Nespresso advent calendar includes regular, decaffeinated and flavoured roast. Enjoy a surprise a day with capsules from December 1st to 23rd and a gift on the 24th.

SHOP

Williams Sonoma Peppermint Bark Advent Calendar

Featuring their popular and festive peppermint bark in four festive shapes - 6 Christmas Trees, 6 Santas, 6 toy soldiers, 6 snowmen.

SHOP

Ilchester - Cheese Advent Calendar

Cheese Advent Calendar - need I say more? Sold in-store at Pusateri’s

CONTACT

THE BEAUTY

Saje - 12 Nights of Wellness

Adding some extra zzz’s to our bedtime routine with these Essential Oil Diffuser Blends, Mini Passive Diffuser, Free download to sleep meditation, Eyeshade, Lavender Sachet and a quartz crystal.

SHOP

The Body Shop - Dream Big This Christmas

Body butters, lip balms and sheet masks - OH MY! Hydrate, primp, and shine your way through the holiday’s with this collection of minis.

SHOP

L'Occitane - Signature Advent Calendar

24 doors filled with a mini of the brands bestselling products, like the Shea Butter Hand Cream, and Almond Shower Oil.

SHOP

Charlotte Tilbury - The Magic Moon Advent Calendar

12 full size and travel size makeup and skincare icons, with two dazzling looks built into one show-stopping treasure trove!

SHOP

M.A.C - Stars For Days Advent Calendar

Get party ready this holiday season with this starry number from M.A.C. 24 ways to keep you shine bright throughout the season.

SHOP

Sephora - Frosted Party Advent Calendar

This advent calendar features a combination of beauty, skincare, body, and accessories products; 11 of which are limited-edition beauty surprises.

SHOP

THE FASHIONISTA

H & M - Jewelry Advent Calendar

Add a little sparkle this holiday Thanks to H & M advent calendar. Surprising you with a little something shiny and new.

SHOP

Anthropologie -

12 Days of Volcano Advent Calendar

Showcasing the brand's beloved Volcano scent, this festive offering contains twelve sweet-smelling treats such as candles, scented oils, and room sprays, as well as beauty and bath treasures.

SHOP

12-Pack Advent Calendar Crew Socks

Count down to the winter holidays with this unique advent calendar pack from Denver Hayes. It features 12 pairs of socks in cheerful festive and novelty patterns.

SHOP

THE KIDDIES

LEGO® CITY ADVENT CALENDAR

Give your child a fun way to get into the holiday spirit with the LEGO® City 60235 Advent Calendar playset. It has 24 different buildable presents, one for each day of the season, including a snowmobile, snow fort, curling set, fireplace, rocking chair, telescope and much more. This children’s Advent Calendar includes 7 minifigures and a husky dog figure.

SHOP

Lindt Christmas Advent Calendar

Crayola Christmas Countdown Activity Advent Calendar

Kinder Chocolate Advent Calendar *Peanut Free*

Hot Wheels Advent Calendar Vehicles

24 Day Advent Calendar Frozen 2

Paw Patrol - Advent Calendar

LOL Surprise Chocolate Advent Calendar

Eyecandy Hair Accessory Advent Calendar

THE FUR BABIES

Canadian Made Christmas Dog Advent Calendar

Grain and Gluten Free

Preservative Free

Made in Canada

24 different treat flavours

SHOP

View fullsize

Luxury Advent Calendar for Dogs

View fullsize

Cat Advent Calendar

HAPPY SHOPPING!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Recipe: Grilled Honey Sriracha Lime Salmon

The weather is warming up, the sun is shining and the likelihood of me spending hours meal prepping on a Sunday during the summer months are slim to none. This time of year I tend to gamravitate towards quick and simple 30 minute meals and tonight’s dinner was no acception. 

The entire meal was prepared on the BBQ! Which  means kitchen cleanup is minimal and I had food in my belly in 30 minutes - pinch me I think I’m dreaming. Begin by tossing your veggies in a little EVOO, and get them on the grill. Add your marinated salmon and cook for 12 - 15 minutes. TA DA! Dinner is served. Now go and enjoy your meal you crazy kids. 

 

GRILLED HONEY SRIRACHA LIME SALMON

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 12-15 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Serves: 2
Author: Mary Mammoliti | Kitchen Confession

INGREDIENTS

2 individual (4-6 ounce) fillets
Salt and pepper, to taste
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons sriracha sauce
1 lime, juiced
2 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce (or Tamari)
1 teaspoon minced garlic

DIRECTIONS

1. Combine all ingredients in a shallow bowl and add the salmon, toss to coat, cover and let stand for 10 minutes.

2. Preheat BBQ

3. Place a reusable non stick mat on the BBQ grates. If you don’t have a reusable grill mat use aluminum foil and place it down on the grates

4. Place marinated salmon onto the grill mat and cook for 12 minutes.

5. Serve warm