10 Holiday Gift Ideas for the Foodie in Your Life

Alternative Title: Dear Santa, I’ve been a good girl (more than 50% of the time). Here’s what I want this year.

1. Digital Measuring Cup and Scale $34.95
How many times have you read in your baking books that measuring ingredients by weight is much better for baking? I am almost ashamed to admit that I still do the old school scoop-and-level technique. But now this little gadget combines a measuring cup and a digital scale. It’s the best of both worlds. If Santa doesn’t bring me one, I might have to buy it myself.

2. Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer Pasta Attachment $179.95
I love pasta so this attachment makes me giddy. Check out the link for a video too. I think the thing that pushes me over the edge is all the different pasta cutters that come with it in a nice little compartment. I’m a sucker for packaging.

3. Kitchenaid Glass Bowl $69.99
I don’t need the Kitchenaid Mixer. I already have my beautiful Artisan red that I fondly named Ginger Spice. I just want the glass bowl. Think about it. You can microwave it. Can you imagine the possibilities if you could microwave and go straight to beating/whipping in your mixer? It also has measuring lines and a spout to pour. I’m sold.

4. The Magic Mouse $69.00
This isn’t “quite” foodie but it’s foodie related esp if you are a foodie that blogs. I love my iPhone and my Mac so I’m excited to try out the touch mouse esp since I hate the ball scrolling mouse I have right now. The ball is on it’s last “roll”. Right now I can scroll “up” but “down” aint happening anymore. I think it’s a design flaw for the mac mouse so the touch mouse would eliminate that issue. And it doesn’t hurt that the mouse is damn sexy.

5. Le Creuset French Oven, Red $225-$260 (depending on size)
Talk about lusting. I’ve been LUSTING after a Le Creuset french oven for a LONG time. But check out that price tag. All foodies swear by it regardless of price. That’s how I feel about my KitchenAid mixer but I have yet to break down and buy a Le Creuset. The price always deters me. But I’m a little hopeful after reading Michelle of Brown-Eyed Baker’s post about “Buying Le Creuset on a Budget“. Next stop. Marshalls.

6. Temecula Olive Oil Sampler Pack $23.99
I am obsessed with Temecula Olive Oil. I went to their store for an olive oil tasting a couple months ago and it’s better than a wine tasting! Although many of my wino friends may disagree. HA! I use it so much that my 4 bottles are almost gone! I have tried their Citrus Olive Oil (made cupcakes with it!), Lemon Olive Oil, Basil Olive Oil (it’s amazing on pizza and pasta!) and Vanilla&Fig Balsamic Vinegar (pour a little on some brie and instant appetizer!)

7. Pizza Peel $18.71
I already have a pizza stone from William Sonoma but I feel like I’m not using it to it’s full potential without a pizza peel. Trust me. Trying to get an uncooked pizza onto a HOT pizza stone is impossible in one try. Unless you don’t mind ghetto looking pizza and/or burned fingers. Nothing wrong with ghetto but I’m OCD about my pizza being round and pretty.

8. The Steamy Kitchen by Jaden Hair $18.45
I’m Asian (specifically Vietnamese) so I have a thing about wanting Asians to succeed. You can ask my bff, Nikki, about my Asian obsession. When we watch our 2 fav shows, Project Runway and Top Chef, I always want the token Asian to win. (Chef Hung rules!) What can I say? I’ve got the Asian pride. So of all the new cookbooks out right now I definitely wanna get a copy of The Steamy Kitchen. My mom would be so excited to see me learn how to cook Vietnamese food. And I can tell my mom that I kinda sorta know Jaden. Ok not really. But I follow her on twitter so I feel like I do. (Is that stalker-ish?)

9. Lowell Ego Light $88.99 ($177.98 for 2)
My old apartment use to face in the wrong direction to get any natural light. My new house is better but in the natural light department but not as good as it could be. Many foodie friends that live in a cave like me swear by these Lowell lights. I think it’s about time to take my food photography to the next level and get myself some decent lighting. My camera will thank me.

10. Sony Under-Counter LCD TV/CD Clock Radio $399.99
My friend has an under the counter LCD tv/radio combo in her kitchen and I LOVE it. Wouldn’t it be fun to watch your favorite foodie shows (Top Chef, Ace of Cakes, Cake Challenge, Giada DeLaurentiis, Barefoot Contessa etc) while actually in your kitchen cooking? I think so! That way my Hubs can watch what he wants and I can be in the kitchen watching what I want. I wonder how hard it would be to run cable to my kitchen? Ah details details.

Footnote:
I stole borrowed this fabulous list idea from my foodie friend, Maria of Two Peas and a Pod after reading about her favorite foodie things via her blog. I added a few things from her list to my Dear Santa letter along with other gadgets I’ve been lusting after for a while. Hope my list (and hers) gives you some ideas for the foodies in your life. Hopefully one of the foodies is me! *wink

NaBloPoMo: Day 30

I can’t believe it’s been 30 days.

So much has happened.

I don’t even know where to begin to recap.

Let’s just end my NaBloPoMo journey by saying… There’s no place like home.

NaBloPoMo: Day 29

Hallelujah!

My kitchen is almost unpacked. I’m ready to get my bake on again soon. What should I bake to christen my new kitchen? So many choices… Not enough calories in a day. I tell ya. It’s a hard knock life. *wink*

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NaBloPoMo: Day 28

I can’t believe I’ve been in my new home for almost a week. There are still boxes everywhere. But we can almost fit one car in the garage now though. HA!

It’s still kinda surreal for me.

Remember when I blogged about being unsure if it was all worth it?

Two words.

It is.

NaBloPoMo: Day 27

Readers,

I’m running on 4 hours of sleep and credit card adrenaline to write this post so bare with me.

My friends and family that know I wake up at 4am to get the early bird after Thanksgiving shopping deals think I’m crazy since a lot of the deals are online too but to them I ask one question… Can you make money shopping online? Answer: No you can’t! Whereas since I let someone cut in front of me in line at Best Buy, they paid me $20.

Booyahhhhh!

That’s what I’m talking about.

I save money *AND* I make money.

(And the new Blu-ray player and 32″ LCD for the bedroom doesn’t hurt either. *wink*)

I L.O.V.E Black Friday.

How did all you bargain shoppers make out?

Now I’m off to bed. (Yes, I realize it’s only 730pm. Stop laughing.)

NaBloPoMo: Day 26

*gobble gobble*

But more importantly…

HAPPY BLACK FRIDAY’S EVE!

After I eat my weight in turkey, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, cranberry sauce, sweet potato casserole and pumpkin pie, I’ve got my eye on a tool set from Sears for Hubs, a Dyson vacuum from Target, a blu ray player from Best Buy for Hubs, a dutch oven from Macys and …

*happy sigh*

I love the holidays.

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NaBloPoMo: Day 25

This will be the first year that I won’t be baking anything for Hubs’ family Thanksgiving dinner.

I’m usually in charge of dessert but considering I can’t find my springform pans and my glass pie pan broke during the move, I’m not in any position to bake. Looks like good ‘ol reliable Marie Calendar will be filling in this year instead. *sad face*

But here’s what I was planning to make. It’s the thought that counts right?

Cheesecake with Cranberry-Maple Topping from Cooking Light Magazine

Sorry Family. I’ll make it up to you for Christmas.

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NaBloPoMo: Day 24

I can’t believe I’ve been a first time (town)homeowner for 2 days now. Let me tell you. I have learned a few things in that short amount of time.

Get ready for a list. Remember I’m a listmaker. It was bound to happen (again).

1. I guess marking a box “fragile” doesn’t mean much at the end of a long moving day. I lost a few “glass” items during the move. I found the box at the bottom of a tower of boxes. The box on top was marked “books”. *smacks head*
2. You *CAN* have too much packing tape on a box. (My husband loves the packing tape.)
3. Set aside some band-aids b/c you will need them before, during and after. Last count was 13 box related cuts. Oh wait. There’s number 14 and 15 too.
4. Don’t be surprised if you are using a beach towel as a bathroom rug b/c you can’t find your “real” rugs. I mean. So I’ve heard.
5. Call the utilities ASAP. The builders will only foot the bill for so long. My neighbor learned that the hard way. Can you say… Light’s out!? They even padlocked her meter. Dayum.
6. The boxes start to multiple like rabbits.
7. You will have TONS of trash on your first trash pick up day. I think my trashman hates me right now.
8. You won’t be able to park in your garage for several weeks. (See #6)
9. You won’t know how you ever lived without your own washer and dryer before.
10. Acknowledge and appreciate all your friends and family. Without them this would not be possible.

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NaBloPoMo: Day 23

It’s coming along. Slowly but surely…

(Sorry for the crappy lighting + iPhone picture. My digi camera is still packed in a box somewhere and I desperately need to go lamp shopping.)

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NaBloPoMo: Day 22

Moving Day Part Deux

Welcome home Ginger Spice.

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NaBloPoMo: Day 21

Moving Day Part Uno

I’m tired, my back hurts and I have a zillion paper/box cuts. You can ask me tomorrow if it’s all worth it. Right now I just wanna sleep.

Zzzzz…

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NaBloPoMo: Day 20

Welp. There’s no turning back now.
Out with the old. In with the new.
Eep. Scratch that. Double EEP.

NaBloPoMo: Day 19

Do you believe in signs? Fate? Things that are or aren’t meant to be?

My husband doesn’t.

I do.

At least I think I do.

I am/was really sad when Moose’s rescue decided that our home wasn’t the best match for him. They explained that “it’s not you, it’s Moose” kind of thing. He has separation anxiety and squeals… LOUDLY… for hours… until someone gives him attention and the rescue was afraid that living in a townhouse situation wouldn’t be the best environment for him or our neighbors. I guess now that it’s 2 days later I understand their concern but I still think it stinks.

How do you miss something that you never had? I’m a big dork.

Now I’m starting to think that maybe it’s a sign.

Maybe I’m not ready for a dog. I’m a first time home buyer. My townhouse isn’t very big. No yard. Just a little patio. Maybe a dog wouldn’t be happy with me. And to be honest I’m kind of afraid to put my heart out there again.

My husband just thinks I’m stressed out and feeling sorry for myself.

Um. Duh??

NaBloPoMo: Day 18

I’ve been in a dinner rut for the past 2 weeks.

I think I’ve made every variation of pizza that I found on Food Blog Search (which is a fabulous website for any foodie btw). But don’t get me wrong. My husband’s not complaining. He LOVES pizza. As do I. Even though he wouldn’t mind if I made pizza everyday, tonight I decided to clear out my freezer and pantry and found some tilapia and pecans.

I have to admit that is one perk of moving – you find all sorts of things that you had previously shoved so far back that you forgot you had it. Like they say. Out of sight out of mind.

… And the rest is history in my husband’s satisfied tummy. Yum!

Pecan-Crusted Tilapia
Recipe from Mele Cote

INGREDIENTS

1/2 cup pecans, finely chopped (pulse in a food processor or hand chop)
1/4 cup plain dried bread crumbs
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon Emeril Essence
1 large egg, beaten with 1 tablespoon water
1/2 cup flour
2 tilapia fillets, each sliced down the center, lengthwise, to create 2 smaller fillets
Salt and pepper

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat the oven to 425°F. Lightly oil or coat a large baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.

Combine the pecans, bread crumbs, brown sugar, and Emeril Essence in a shallow bowl. In another bowl, beat egg and water. Place the flour on a plate. Season the fish with additional salt and pepper. To bread the fillets, coat both sides with flour and shake off excess. Dip in the egg and then coat evenly with the nut mixture. Place each fillet on the baking sheet and bake until golden brown, about 15 minutes.

(I served with parmesan asparagus and baked potato.)

ENJOY!

Husband rating: A+
He’s usually a good non-picky eater and loves fish but I wasn’t sure he’d be down with the sweetness from the brown sugar for this recipe. Thankfully it only took one bite and he was sold. He even said next time I should double the recipe!

Wifey rating: A+
Ditto hubs. Also this is my first experience with Emeril Essence and I am loving the combination of spices! I already have so many ideas about how to use it for future meals. The amount of cayenne pepper didn’t bother me but my wussy husband said that maybe I could reduce the “hotness” next time. HA!

NaBloPoMo: Day 17

I have some good news and some bad news.

Good news: Moose got adopted!

Bad news: It’s not by me.

Even though I’m really disappointed and sad, I’m glad that Moose found his forever home.

That’s all that matters.

At least that’s what I keep telling myself.

It’s crazy how much you could love something that you’ve only met twice. *sniff*