A Foodster's Gift Guide: For the Dessert Lover

It's day 2 of our Foodster's Gift Guide and today we're talkin' sweets. And who doesn't have someone on their list with a mega sweet tooth? Here's the breakdown:

philosophy 'classic cook book' gift set, $35 (Nordstrom); Margot porcelain dessert plate set of 4, $22.49 (Target); Cupcake courier, $29.99 (Amazon.com); Progressive International microwavable s'mores maker, $7.65 (Amazon.com); Kitchenaid stand mixer, $224.99 (Target); Peppermint bark, $26.50 (Williams-Sonoma)

philosophy 'classic cook book' gift set - So this one is less of a food, and more of a body pampering vehicle with a sweet twist. I don't know about you, but I'm a huge philosophy fan. Ever since my first jar of cinnamon buns lotion (a holiday gift from Catherine many years ago, thank you very much C), I've been hooked on their amazing quality and mouth-watering scents. While some sweet-scented lotions can be overkill, not philosophy. It's the perfect combo of subtle, yet true-to-life smelling sweets. Swoon over six recipe-inspired shampoo, shower gel and bubble baths (for you philosophy virgins, they're an all-in-one product). Pamper yourself to the decadent fragrances of red velvet cake, cinnamon buns, spicy pear cobbler, pumpkin spice muffin, gingerbread and double-rich hot cocoa. I don't know about you, but I'm getting hungry.

Margot porcelain dessert plate set - Whether you've slaved over a hot oven or traipsed over to your favorite bakery, all delicious desserts deserve to be decked out in their Sunday best. That's why I'm suggesting pretty, chic dessert plates that aren't limited only to holiday time. Can't you see these adorb mini plates in spring or summer adorned with a lemon bar or chocolate dipped shortbread? Yup, it's a pretty picture.

Cupcake courier - An item that I quickly became obsessed with after happily volunteering to make cupcakes for Catherine's New York City bridal shower. But how to cart them to a fabulous Upper East Side soiree? The cupcake courier, of course. If you are at all into making (and subsequently carting, as seen here) cupcakes, the cupcake courier is a must for keeping your hard work in perfect place.

Stand mixer - Any baker's best friend, and one of my favorite appliances (yup, mine's red too which you may have noticed here), the KitchenAid stand mixer is an essential for the regular baker. My absolute favorite part of this item, aside from it's obviously fabulous functionality? They come in virtually every color you could think of. These mixers just aren't the kind your mom used. Instead, they provide a veritable burst of color decor to any kitchen. Case in point, my blah apartment rental kitchen is instantly bumped up with my punchy red mixer along with a matching red toaster and paper towel holder. And even better? I use it all the time. Oh, and did I mention it's on sale?

S'mores maker - The perfect gift for the marshmallow-chocolate lover on your list (I'm of the graham cracker persuasion, so this suits me just fine). Just line up your s'mores supplies, pop this little guy into the microwave, and voila - homemade s'mores without having to go in search of your local camp fire. Bonus gift: supply the fixin's, including chocolate, graham crackers and marshmallows, for an instant gratification gift.

Peppermint Bark - Ok, so this is a total splurge, and yes you can easily make it yourself (check back for that tutorial coming next week). But I must admit that Williams-Sonoma Peppermint Bark is particularly fabulous and isn't holiday time the one time of year to let yourself have the goods? For one sweet food splurge, I'm going with the Bark. It's that good. And sure to satisfy the chocolate lover on your list to boot.

So there you have it. Six great gifts for the dessert fiend on your holiday list. See anything you like? Anything I've left out? What desserty gifts are you asking Santa for this year?

A Foodster's Gift Guide: When You're Just Starting Out

This week, we'll be serving up gift guides for the food-lovers in your life. Whether just starting out, a seasoned eater and cook, a dessert fiend, male, or female, we've got something for all of the foodsters on your holiday list. First up is my picks for those newbie foodsters who are trying to break into cooking at home. Though an at-home cooking collection is an ever-evolving organism, for my gift picks I've selected some fun basics that anyone can enjoy. Case in point: The Insanely Useful All-in-One Cook Prep Set. This complete set (for under $55 no less!) is screaming with fun, punchy color and is making me want to forget that I already have a beyond adorb Williams-Sonoma green mixing bowl and measuring set in my cupboard. And since I'm of the mind that gifts should be fun, useful, and something that one would not generally buy themselves, all of the items in this gift guide fit the bill. Take a look...

Kitchen Timer, Anthropologie ($12); Insanely Useful All-in-One Cook Prep Set, Delight.com ($54.50); The Joy of Cooking, Amazon.com ($20.47); Taste Test Recipe Book, Anthropologie ($28); Waffle Gift Set, Sur La Table ($49.96)

Kitchen Timer - I received this retro-looking magnetic timer as a bridal shower gift (in red of course) and use it every day (love ya Catherine!). It's the perfect stocking stuffer.

Insanely Useful All-in-One Cook Prep Set - I stumbled upon this and have since fell in love. It's the perfect set to punch up an eclectic kitchen or first apartment. The complete 8 piece set includes a large mixing bowl, colander, sieve, small mixing bowl w/ measurements, 4 measuring cups: 1 Cup, ½ Cup, 1/3 Cup, ¼ Cup. You can also snap up the 3-piece set which includes medium mixing bowl, small mixing bowl w/ measurements , juicer. What more could a girl want?

The Joy of Cooking - So fittingly, this was gift I received from my mom. Don't be discouraged by it's daunting size or lack of glossy photos. It's the ultimate, the original, and a great starting place for beginners.

Taste Test Recipe Book - Every new cook needs their own recipe book. Start your collection by gathering recipes you love from family and friends and add your own over time.

Waffle Gift Set - Does it get any more fun that this? This set includes all the trimmings and fixin's for a fabulous brunch at home. The complete set includes a non-stick waffle pan, a holiday-perfect gingerbread pancake and waffle mix, holiday syrup, and a gingerbread kitchen towel. Oh, and if that's not enough to get you going, the pan is dishwasher safe to boot. I know I'm excited...

So there you have it. A gift guide for the new cook. What do you think? Anything on this list strike your fancy? Any further giftable suggestions for the cook just beginning his or her love affair with the at-home culinary arts?

Food, Fun, and Freebies at Winter's Eve

Now that Thanksgiving has officially passed us by (for the complete breakdown on that fabulous holiday, check out this, this and this), I wasted no time jumping right into the next big holiday. And what better way to kick off the season than with a festival of food? Apparently Lincoln Center felt the same as the area was illuminated with food, lights, and holiday cheer on Monday night. An annual tradition, Winters Eve takes place each year on the Monday following Thanksgiving weekend. And I think it's the perfect kick off for my holiday season.

Featuring cheap-o food (in price, not quality) from local, high end restaurants and bakeries, live entertainment, bright holiday lights, people on stilts, long lines, and even a little tree lighting, this festival was one not to be missed...even though the day long rain beforehand had me questioning it for a while. Though the festival stretches from the Time Warner Center at Columbus Circle all the way up to 68th street, I was indeed slightly deterred by the rain and therefore only did the Time Warner circuit, armed with a pal and following my How To Do The Festival Circuit guidelines. Let's dig in, shall we?

First Stop: Whole Foods
What: Free holiday food samples

Free sparkling cider with pomegranate seeds, a perfect way to kick off the night.

Free turkey, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, and cranberry sauce, all jammed together in one little dixie cup. Thanksgiving never tasted so good.

Rum and almond stollen, a delicious sweet bread with bits of raisins and almonds, similar in variety  to panettone.

Sharp cheddar cheese dunked in sweet cranberry relish. I don't need to go into my thoughts on sweet 'n savory...(hint: I'm obsessed).

Second Stop: Williams-Sonoma
What: Free samples of their famous hot chocolate and peppermint bark

Sweet, rich hot chocolate with a dollop of marshmallow to complete this fabulous concoction.
A total splurge in the wallet and calorie department, but for a free tiny cup? I'm all over it.

One of my favorite holiday treats, peppermint bark. And I truly haven't found a better version than Williams-Sonoma. Though I've tried to recreate the recipe, it just doesn't compare.

Third Stop: Landmarc
What: Free cotton candy

Getting back to our childhood roots, Kristin and I scooped up these free banana-flavored sugary cotton candy concoctions (say that one three times fast).

Fourth Stop: Outside Time Warner
What: Cheap food samples from big, pricey restaurants

This is really my favorite part since many of the restaurants featured would likely not be ones of my usual repetoire. My first stop was A Voce, (where an in-restaurant ravioli would cost upwards of $22) which featured Vanilla Bean Crespella - a cool tortilla filled with Nutella mascarpone and topped with hazelnut brittle, snapped up for a mere $2. Yeah, it was as good as it sounds.

After having my dessert before dinner (hey, it's a food fest!) I stopped by the Landmarc tent for some oricchette (disc-shaped pasta) with sausage in cream sauce. For a mere $4, I got a full cup o'fresh pasta and the perfect warming, savory dish.

So that's my tale of Winter's Eve. I was bummed not to explore more - other food stands included Bar Masa, 'wichcraft, Magnolia Bakery, Bar Boulud, and P.J. Clarke's (though I did also pick up a Bouchon bite from Bouchon Bakery for a buck) - my stomach just really couldn't take anymore and the lifted rain had left behind a path of cold.

So what do you think? A fest worth checking out? All told, the night set me back $8 - not bad for a Monday. Any other food fests or free samples are out there this month?