Gift Guide- The Hard to Buy For

For the next few Fridays, I'd like to share with you a couple of gift guides for the holidays-starting with one full of gifts that keep on giving.

A couple of years ago Eric and I adopted this little guy

We got him from Nudo. We picked which grove we wanted him from and in the spring we received 3 bottles of their flavored oils (chili, orange and lemon) and in the fall we received olive oil from the grove of our adopted tree. Both the flavored and plain oils were delicious. They even made it on to Oprah's Favorite Things list this year. You also get a picture of your tree and it's exact location so if you're ever in Italy, you can visit and thank it for all it's delicious offerings.


Janice Beaton Fine Cheese offers a Cheese of the Month gift. Each month (you can choose from 3, 6 or 12 months) 3 incredible cheeses will be delivered to the recipient's door. It includes descriptions of each cheese and where they come from.

What an awesome surprise to receive every month. It's also a great opportunity to branch out and try some cheeses you might normally be too scared to try.

You can't have all that cheese without beer and wine! Zyn offers a case of the month for both. You can choose between an all red, mixed and beer case and delivery is free!

Gourmet gifts can run a bit pricey, but these photobooks from Pinhole Press are budget friendly and great, personalized gifts for someone close to you. You pick which book you want, add your photos and titles, they put it all together and send it to you.



Photo: Pinhole Press

You can also make your own notepads, cards and calendars.

All of these gifts are available for order online so you don't even have to brave the mall. And, if you were to order them now, the lucky recipient would have them in time for Christmas. Probably best not to leave cheese under the tree though.

Christmas Baking- Magic Cookie Bars

You might also know these as Seven Layer Bars (although, I only count five). By any name, they are incredibly easy and always get rave reviews. Doesn't everything involving condensed milk?

Magic Cookie Bars

3/4 c. butter, melted
2 c. graham cracker crumbs
1 1/3 c. chocolate chips - I prefer milk chocolate, but any kind will do
1 1/3 c. pecans
1 1/3 c. sweetened coconut
300 mL sweetened condensed milk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix graham crumbs with melted butter and press into a 9x13 pan. Spread chocolate chips evenly over the crust. Layer pecans and coconut on top. Pour condensed milk evenly on top of the mixture. It's ok if there are a few uncovered parts. Bake for 25 minutes.

First Covers

Flavorwire did some digging and found the first covers of some of today's most popular magazines.

1888



1925



1892

1933

1944

It's so interesting to see how similar some covers look and how some have completely changed. Very cool!

To Market With Leo

Usually, when I go to the Asian Supermarket I leave with the same things: milk bread, pork buns and tea. Anything outside of those three items and I'm totally lost so I asked my friend Leo to help. After an exciting game of "Would You Eat That?" Leo helped me navigate the market and stock up on some Asian cooking essentials.

Would you eat that?

Probably not

Hot dog flavored chips? Maybe

One of his essentials was this Korean BBQ sauce. This stuff is amazing. I bought the small bottle and after using it once, I knew I should've gone for the big one. Cut up some steak and marinate in this for a day or so and throw it on your BBQ griddle. Tip: before cutting meat, throw it in the freezer for a bit. It makes it easier to cut into strips.

For a super fast and easy dinner I make broccoli slaw using this dressing:

Broccoli Slaw with Peanut Dressing

3 tbsp. rice wine vinegar
2 tbsp. vegetable oil
2.5 tbsp unsweetened peanut butter
1.5 tbsp soya sauce
1.5 tbsp brown sugar
1 tbsp grated ginger root
1 clove grated garlic
dried cranberries (optional)

1 bag of broccoli slaw (shredded cabbage would work too)

Whisk all the ingredients together in a bowl and pour over the broccoli slaw. Add dried cranberries and mix well.

Ahh the Weekend

Babies galore this weekend! We celebrated my niece Georgia's 1st birthday.

Happy Birthday Georgia!

We also welcomed this little munchkin to Eric's family.

And a big happy birthday also goes to the best darn Dad a girl could ask for. Love you Dad!

A wonderful weekend, indeed.

11:11.11.11.11

Make a wish!

Found here

Remembrance

Tomorrow, we honor and remember those who have served our country.

My Grandpa Eric served in the Royal Canadian Air Force for World War II. His story, as told to me by my Uncle Garry, was as follows

Your Grandpa Eric joined the RCAF (Royal Canadian Air Force) and went to England before travelling through Africa to India and Burma where he was a Radar Technician. His job was a dangerous one as they took bombing, machine gun fire and flack from the Japanese for the control of the South Pacific. He contracted malaria twice and returned to Canada in an extremely weakened condition and severely underweight at the end of the war in 1945. Conditions in the jungle were atrocious and the food was 'eat it or starve' rations (mostly mutton as the Indians consider cows sacred). He brought back a few souvenirs including shrapnel that nearly missed his head and some coins. Most veterans didn't talk about the war. They were too happy to live in peace and start families of their own.

Which is exactly what my Grandpa did. He and my beautiful Grandma Beth had 4 strapping lads. He passed away when I was just a toddler.

My Grandpa was lucky to make it home from the war and live to see his kids grow up and have kids of their own. However, it was not without sacrifice.

Tomorrow, when we honor all of those who have dedicated their lives to keeping our country the incredible place it is, I will hold a special place in my heart for my Grandpa Eric and the amazing man he was.

Lest we forget.