Christmas Gifts: 2013 edition

I was going to wait another week or so for this particular post, but one of my gift suggestions has free shipping through the weekend.  Usually everyone on my list will get at least one food oriented gift a year.  I think food gifts are perfect for everyone, especially those who are difficult to shop for.  I like to find unique products that someone (like my parents) wouldn't buy for themselves on a regular basis.

Alright, lets get to the goodies.

1.  The Southern Vegetarian--You probably know my love of The Chubby Vegetarian's blog by now.  earlier this year Justin Fox Burks released his first cookbook, and it is amazing.  Sure it is vegetarian, but there are some simply fantastic recipes in here that are sure to please.

2.  Locally Roasted Coffee--This has been a growing trend over the last few years.  Micro-roasters have been popping up as fast as micro-breweries.  Importing fresh coffee berries and roasting them on site can produce some truly terrible coffee.  But it can also produce coffee that is probably magic.  The Nashville area is clogging up with some really good roasters.  I happen to live about a mile from Just Love, which is one of the best within an hour of me.

3.  Micro-brews, spirits, and local vineyards--Speaking of micro-breweries....  Nashville also has some incredible beer:  Blackstone, Yazoo, Fat-bottom, Mayday.  Mayday is actually in Murfreesboro, a few miles from me.  If you pick up a growler of Evil Octopus (a black-BLACK!-IPA), you will not be disappointed.  Micro-stills are also poking their heads through the woodwork.  Middle Tennessee clearly is home to Jack Daniels, but we also have Short Mountain (my favorite moonshine) and Corsair Distillery.  And let's not leave out Arrington Vineyards.  However, I suggest finding business local to you... I mean, unless you want to sample the awesomeness of Middle Tennessee (and we are pretty freaking awesome.)

4.  Oils and Vinegars--Upscale oil and vinegar "taprooms" are making appearances in many high end shopping centers.  I am a big fan of Seasons.  Every single oil and vinegar I tried (and I tried, like, 30) was delicious.  The price per bottle may seem steep, but their premium products are worth every penny.  And they have recently introduced gift boxes!  Through Sunday (Nov 24) , they are offering free shipping on orders over $30.

5.  Cackalacky--This is a North Carolina original.  I met these guys at the bluegrass convention in Raleigh in September.  This is hands down the best hot sauce I have tried this year.  Maybe one of the best I've ever had.  It isn't aggressively spicy, and it has a thicker consistency than many hot sauces which makes it perfect for dousing a chicken breast or piece of fish straight from the bottle.  They have also started making a Cheerwine BBQ sauce that I'm sure is stupidly tasty.

Christmas Plunder & Dinners

I hope everyone had a great December and whatever holiday you choose to celebrate (unless it was that Nonsecular Human Light Existence of whatever... that is stupid. Just celebrate the damn solstice.)  I feel like my Christmas started a little early when the hubs shot a deer!  With all the deer running around Mid-TN you'd think they'd be easier to kill.  We don't have the meat back from the processor yet, but we got some fantastic things to help us use all the lovely, red, gamey meat.

My mom got us a deep fryer, which I have surprisingly never owned.  It is a nice one with a basket and digital temp read-out.  But more exciting than that... we got a meat grinder!!!  It has sausage filling attachments too.  To go with the grinder, seasoning blends, and various casings, we have what seems to be the charcuterie bible, Charcuterie: The Craft of Salting, Smoking, and Curing!  This books has every type of curing you can possibly think of in it from tasso ham to jaegerwurst to pate en croute.

Christmas Eve night, we went to my parent's hose.  Seafood has always been kind of a tradition for Christmas in our house.  Thanksgiving is our big traditional American meal and Christmas is a little more subdued, especially if we were travelling to see family because that usually involved a huge dinner.  This year, my mom decided to do an Italian inspired feast of seven fishes meal (we have no Italian blood in us whatsoever.)

Christmas Eve Seafood Feast

Sauerkraut Balls (not seafood, but always delicious) 

Hot Crab Dip w/ Spinach & Artichokes

Seared Sea Scallop w/ Fennel & Orange Salad

Linguine w/ Clam Sauce

Cioppino w/ Mahi Mahi, Mussels, Shrimp, & Lobster (similar recipe here)

Christmas day was our combined families and a bit more of a traditional meal.  If both sets of parents will be in attendance at any given occasion, we are basically required to bring smoked salmon.  But we got my dad a smoker, so maybe we will be relieved of that duty on occasion.

Christmas Dinner

Smoked Salmon w/ Roasted Garlic & Caper Spread

Garlic & Rosemary Roasted Cornish Hens

Yellow Rice (w/ Wild Rice)

Brussel Sprouts w/ Goat Cheese & Balsamic Reduction

Chicken & Cornbread Dressing

Fruit Salad w/ Honey Mustard Vinaigrette

White Chocolate Bread Pudding

Apple Tart w/ Cinnamon Pear Balsamic

Spinach with Garlic and Raisins

I am always looking for new and easy vegetable side dishes.  This fits the bill.  It takes less than 10 minutes to make, is super healthy, and is absolutely delicious.  I don't know if it is a tradition Indian recipe, but the Betty Crocker Easy Indian cookbook features it (I don't know why the pic says 'everyday'.)  The raisins are the perfect sweet touch to the earthy and slightly bitter spinach.

I guess I should talk about this book for a second.  I got it in the bargain section of Barns and Noble for my husband as a Christmas present.  We love Indian food, and I thought that I would at least be able to get some ideas from the book.  And because he wants to learn to cook a wider variety of things, I wanted a book that wasn't technically intimidating.  I didn't expect it to be a great cookbook or anything, but it has surpassed my reserved expectations.  The recipes are really easy and most of the ingredients are readily available in your local supermarket.  For the  less common items, there is a buying guide with several websites listed, just in case you want to expand your spice cabinet and pantry.  For anyone looking to venture into Indian cooking at home, I definitely recommend this cookbook.

Spinach w/ Garlic and Raisins
1/2 med red onion, thinly sliced
1/2 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
2 lrg cloves garlic, minced (2 lrg tsp)
1/4 C golden raisins
10-12 oz spinach, roughly chopped
1 scant tsp garam masala*
salt and oil

   Heat about 2 tsp oil in a large nonstick skillet over med heat.  Saute onion and pepper for about 5 minutes.  Add garlic and raisins, cook about 1 mintue.
   Add spinach and a pinch of salt.  Allow spinach to wilt.
   Sprinkle with garam masala, toss.  Adjust salt to taste.
   Serves 4.

*If, like me, you don't have garam masala when making this, but have a bevy of other spices, substitute with 1/4 tsp cardamom, 1/4 tsp coriander, 1/4 tsp cumin, and a pinch of cinnamon.