valentine’s day find: skip the teddy bear, try the wee ninja
I hate getting stuffed animals for Valentine’s Day. While the thought is well-intentioned enough, I can’t stand the fuzzy, pink teddy bears holding lace-edged hearts that Walgreens stock by the dozen. They all seem like the plushie equivalent of Splenda. I was all set to think that I had outgrown stuffed animals completely when I came across the Pocket Ninja ($10). I’m not embarrassed to admit that I squealed when I saw this miniature dangerous assassin. Equal parts deadly and adorable, the Pocket Ninja is the perfect Valentine’s gift for your sweetie who finds the usual stuffed animals lame but still visits Cute Overload daily. While there is a slightly larger version (the Wee Ninja, $20), I love the fits-in-the-palm-of-your-hand, portable version because, really, you never know when you’ll need a ninja. –Katie D.
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etsy holiday: valentine’s day cards
Let’s face it: Valentine’s Day peaked when we were in elementary school. Now that we’re grown-ups, it’s a holiday full of prix fixe menus in overstuffed restaurants and boring teddy bears holding hearts. When you were little though, Valentines Day was the first fun holiday of the year. You got to hang construction paper mail boxes off the edge of your desk and read all the awesome pop culture-themed valentines your fellow students left for you (for the record, I gave out Batman cards ). In honor of the tradition that I’ve long since outgrown, I browsed through etsy and found some fabulous antidotes to the flowers-and-sonnets Hallmark standards. Get your construction paper mailbox ready. . . –Katie D.
Narwhale Heart Valentine’s Day Card by TwoHungryBlackbirds, $2.50
You Complete Me by papermichelle, $4
The Fire in My Pants by sweetperversion, $4
Steed Love by Earmark, $4
Mr. T Valentine by LucysArtEmporium, $3.75
consumable host gifts that aren’t wine
I love to have people over for dinner, and I try to make it happen as often as I can. One of my constant dinner party invitees recently asked me for a list of my favorite host gifts I’ve received that aren’t wine, because she wasn’t comfortable picking a wine for someone else’s taste. The following is my list of favorite not-wine gifts that I shared with her. For the most part, they’re something easy and inexpensive to keep on hand for last minute dinner invitations.
- Cheese paper
Proper storage of cheese helps to preserve the purity of its flavor, and helps prevent bad molds from forming.
- Fancy peppercorns
I didn’t really understand peppercorn differences until someone introduced me to green peppercorns, with their clean, mild flavors. Delicious!
- Quality olive oil
I love a delicious olive oil that I can enjoy with crusty bread or drizzled on arugula salad.
- Pink salt block
Amazing to cook on, and at less than $30, a really fun surprise gift!
- Organic Honey
Sweet and earthy, and very versatile!
- Quality Black Tea
I love using black tea in baked goods, to smoke chicken, or in a fruit glaze. The better the tea, the more special the flavor turns out!
- Chocolates
I don’t think i need to explain …
- Local Coffee (like Chicago’s own Intelligentsia)
Even if a host is not a coffee drinker, having coffee on hand for guests is a must.
- A hunk of good Parmesan
Parmesan will add life to any salad, grilled pizza or a simple pasta.
Non-food gifts
These two aren’t edible, and probably appropriate for a more special occasion.
– Guest book
During dessert, having guests sign a guest book is a special way to end the night.
- Cook’s Illustrated magazine
One part cooking geek, one part culinary school, this publication helps demystify basic and more complicated cooking techniques.
Enjoy! — Rebecca F.
Photo credit: Intelligentsia Coffee
delish gift: tiny gingerbread men in chocolate pants
My new friend Marja recently gifted us with some homemade gingerbread men that were devoured almost as soon as I opened the container. (I actually had to hide the one you see above to ensure that I’d be able to get a photo.) Not only was the tininess of the cookies adorable, because they were so small, they were softer and chewier than gingerbread men usually are. Marja said that she decided to make tiny gingerbread men when it was just plain tiring to make the larger version — she and her husband kept running out of dipping chocolate and dough trying to make enough to give as gifts. She says that she increased the ginger spices in the cookies slightly because it tastes better with the chocolate. I can attest, they are all gone — this one was eaten as soon as I hit “save.” — Mary T.
etsy find: all jarred up
Yes, the holiday season is the appointed time for feel-good gifts and our credit cards remind us of this daily. But, for a “just because†moment throughout the year, look no further than etsy seller All Jarred Up, who has capitalized on the notion that the only happy-maker better than a mason jar or homemade pie is, well, homemade pie baked into a mason jar! Stop by her shop to browse an ever-changing array of pies, cookies and dessert sauces all packaged in adorable jars perfect for personal portions, starting at just $6. –Sarah C.
