When I have time, I love to cook! I enjoy reading my cookbooks, researching recipes on-line and generally checking out all the food porn! I've got quite a few chefs and foodies in my family; this list is in honour of all the family get togethers and celebrations past and those to come:
Cookbooks:
Around
Thanksgiving, my aunt was telling me about a pumpkin pie she was making for
their family get together that was a recipe from her mom. I learned that my grandmother loved listening
to Madame Benoit on the radio and noted several of her recipes. As such, I've
got my eye on her The Canadiana Cookbook: Madame Benoit Complete Heritage Canadian Cooking cookbook as a celebration to both my grandmother and Canadian cooking
traditions.
More specific to my province, I've also got my eye on this Made in Quebec Cookbook by food journalist Julian Armstrong; which features recipes
from different regions of Quebec based on 3 years of travel, interviews and
research.
Small Appliances & Cookware:
With
the exception of a great cutting board and chef’s knife, my stand mixer has got
to be my favourite tool to work with. In fact, I was just telling my mum exactly
that when she was over for our holiday cookie baking fest!! This no doubt pleased my mum since she gifted
it to me as a house-warming gift over a decade ago. Whether I'm whipping up a
batch of cupcakes, meringue or bread, my Kitchen Aid stand mixer helps me get the job done quickly and efficiently. I've got mine in white, but
this cobalt blue version is quite pretty.
Worth the investment ;)
I haven’t gifted any Creuset pieces, but I have definitely happily been on the receiving end! Although enameled cast iron cookware is
expensive, these puppies last for a long time.
I've had some of my pieces for over a decade and they are still holding
up perfectly. Not only is this cookware
and serve ware, but they also have a plethora of colours to choose from to
match any style.
Spices
I seem to be surrounded by pepper lovers, as I have gifted Peugeot pepper mills on several occasions. The one I gifted my dad close to two decades ago is still
holding up great! A joy to use on a daily basis.
Salt
may seem like a strange gift to give, but hear me out. Salt is a key ingredient in enhancing
flavours, so having various types on hand allows for creative pairings. Not everyone is inclined to spend $10 for
salt; making it a great gift to receive.
I particularly enjoy using Maldon Sea Salt in these brownies I make from Smitten Kitchen.
I more than double the recommended
quantity of salt and, trust me, anyone who has ever tasted them can’t just stop
at one!
Serving Ware
I
have been eyeing Atelier Make goods for quite some time. I find their tasting/ tapas plates simply adorable. Perfect for show casing your edible
goods. They are on my wish list this
year!
I have been collecting Louise Bousquet porcelain for several years now. I actually
stumbled upon her work while visiting A Table Tout Le Monde,
located in Old Montreal, to pick up Mud Australia, but ended up leaving with
several of Louise’s pieces instead! Louise
is a local Quebec artist working from her studio located in Saint-Jean-Baptiste,
but you can easily find her items on her website. This serving platter is a great example of her work.
Tidying Up
I tend to make a little bit of a mess when I cook, so an
apron is a must for me. I’ve gifted many
of my aprons to friends and family over the years and it is what got me started
with Shannon Fraser Designs;
this particular apron style is reversible so you get two looks in one!
When I have company over everyone seems to comment on the
hand soaps I have and how wonderful they smell.
I've been relying on Fruits & Passion soap in
my kitchen for many years now and love that their products are
biodegradable. I have been gifting this
soap to my step-father for many years and he still loves them. Every year they come out with a new scent and
this year it is Spiced Tea shown her in their collectors bottle.
Hope you like my foodie/ chef gift idea round-up!
xo
S
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