Fabulous fun gifts under $40.00
Gourmet gift ideas for hostess gifts and lucky friends
Savory holiday gifts. This installment of my gourmet gift guide covers gourmet treats all under $40.00. From saffron in hand-painted jar to Gourmet chips, we've got it.
When you've been invited to a holiday party or dinner why bring the same old bottle of wine? These gourmet gifts will delight your host. At $40.00 or less, they're great for everyone on your gift list.
A sweet treat that keeps on giving
How about a brownie sampler from Dancing Deer? Their Sweet Home Pick includes a chocolate Sweet Home Project House Cookie, a Dark Gingerbread Cake and an 18 pack of Molasses Clove Cookies (a major award winner). These cookies and cake are baked fresh and artfully packaged in a gift box. When you purchase "Sweet Home" cake & cookie gifts Dancing Deer donates 35% of the price to education, job training, child care and housing through One Family Inc.
Cookies from Japan
Dean and Deluca carries a holiday tin of "Petit Cinq Delices" cookies from Japan. Think of Pepperidge Farms' elegant, rich cousins.Exquisitely delicate wafer thin jewels are individually wrapped. A holiday box contains a selection at $34.00
Savory treats
No one loves a salty crunchy snack more than me. Remember my gourmet potato chips? One of my favorites, Route 11, makes gift tins with holiday themes. A 3 lb Currier & Ives gift tin filled with Route 11 Mixed Vegetable Chips rings in at $42.00, other varieties are available for less.
Smoked Salmon is a luxurious holiday treat. All you need is a little crème fraiche and some crackers or toast points and you’ve got elegant hors d'oeuvres. Northwest salmon specialists SeaBear (since 1957) offer a smoked salmon trio (Smoked Sockeye, Smoked King and Smoked Keta) for only $35.99.
Saffron is the world's most expensive spice. It comes from the stigma of purple crocus, and each must be hand picked and dried. It takes 70,000 crocuses to make one pound of saffron. This essential element for Spanish cuisine is also an affordable luxury. Saffron from La Mancha in a beautiful, hand-painted ceramic jar is only $39.95 from LaTienda. Saffron is also used in bouillabaisse and aioli, and Indian dishes. It's a great gift for any cook on your list.
Landjaeger is German smoked, air dried sausages. Lobel's of New York carries them. Landjaeger are smoky, chewy bite, hints of garlic, wine with a consistency and texture reminiscent of pepperoni or dry salami, they're pressed into the characteristic square shape. These sausages are fully cooked so they do not require refrigeration and are ready-to-eat. A 12 oz package is $24.95.
Gourmet Popcorn? Oh yes. Dale and Thomas make highly coveted gourmet flavored popcorn in various flavors. Recommended by movie stars, Oprah, and my favorite, official taste-testers: Tricia, Rose, Maggie, Grace and Ginny. Dale and Thomas gift samplers include six flavors at only $28.00. Flavors include: chocolate drizzle, sweet Georgia pecan, peanut butter and white chocolate drizzle, and Southwest Cheddar Chipotle. They also have gift tins, gift bags and lots of options for sending this fun treat to your lucky friends.
If you want to pop your own popcorn old-school style: how about a popper, with 10 classic red and white striped boxes and a 5.5 oz bag of gourmet corn from Stonewall Kitchen? $39.95
A French Kiss perhaps? Mais Oui! D'Artagnan offers the perfect elegant hors d'oeuvres: prunes soaked in Armagnac and stuffed with foie gras. Perfect for a holiday toast with a glass of bubbly! $20.50 for six.
For your barfly buddies
A cocktail shaker paired with some fun cocktail picks. Present it with fun cocktail napkins like the ones I just picked up that say "Who invited all these tacky people?"; You could also pair a shaker with a cocktail guide. We were given the “Bartending for Dummies” guide along with an inscribed shaker on our wedding day from one of our favorite bartenders. He included a recipe for one of his special cocktails served at our wedding.
- For a fun gift idea, why not pair a shaker, a pair of nice glasses and a fancy ice cube tray? Or, two flutes, a pomegranate and my Ruby Sparkler recipe?
- For more holiday cocktail tips, see Ice, Ice Baby - Holiday Drinks Rock.
- For more drinkable desserts see Mary Luz Mejia's yummy post. Another great gift idea would be to pair two glasses and a small bottle of Bailey's.
