Gourmet Gift of the Day Blog

Autumn Themed Peanut Butter Popcorn Tin

admin — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 12:00:17 +0000

My brother-in-law LOVES peanut butter. Every morning since I’ve known him, he has peanut butter toast for breakfast. In true Elvis fashion, he also eats peanut butter and banana sandwiches for a snack. He buys peanut butter by the gallon, and uses it for nearly every meal. His wife contributes to his addiction by baking peanut butter cookies weekly, blending up peanut butter milkshakes for a late night snack, even incorporating peanut butter into a number of their gourmet dinner parties.

When I found this peanut butter popcorn tin online, I knew it was the perfect gift for my brother-in-law’s 50th birthday last week. He called us immediately after it arrived, and claimed that he had never tried peanut butter popcorn before (which was surprising to me), but he was going to try to make it himself after the tin was empty. He also loved the autumn-themed tin, and remarked that it reminded him of a time that he and his buddies skipped school to go canoeing down the river. I couldn’t have been more pleased with his reaction, and I have bookmarked this item so I can order it again for his birthday next year! The 3 1/2 gallon decorative tin, filled with peanut butter and white chocolate-covered popcorn, is available from another of my favorite websites - All About Gifts & Baskets - for $50 plus $10.95 shipping.

Molasses Chips

admin — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 12:00:26 +0000

After watching a documentary on The Food Network of how these gourmet treats are made, my curiousity was piqued. I had to see what fans were raving about so I ordered a case of Molasses Chips to find out for myself (anything that’s covered in chocolate can’t be all bad, so I decided that a case was the way to go). My first assumption was that the taste would be heavy, similar to molasses itself. I was pleasantly surprised to find that these bite-sized nuggets actually have a light and crunchy taste, making them quite addictive! I ordered the assorted boxes - which contain milk and dark chocolate - and was pleasantly surprised to find that I like the dark chocolate ones better. I can convince myself that these little goodies are good for me too, since dark chocolate contains powerful anti-oxidants that boost your immune system.

The case of 36 - 8 ounce boxes was on sale for $198, and I wrapped some of them for gifts at our “girls night out” while still having plenty left for myself. None of the girls had ever tried Molasses Chips either, but they all were quick to ask where I found these delicious treats!

Happy Holidays Snack Basket

admin — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 12:00:01 +0000

I think this basket is one of the most festive ones offered online for the holiday season! I love the dark wicker basket with the bright, cheery sign on the front. The food items inside the basket also add to the fun holiday presentation! Offering much more than just candy and sweets, Christmas Gifts & Gift Baskets has combined sweet and salty gifts and kept the price affordable. For $44 plus $9.95 shipping, this basket is perfect to have around for when unexpected guests or carolers stop by for a visit! Items included in the basket are:

Pecan Pralines
Holiday Peanuts
Chive and Onion flavored biscuits
Tomato Basil Pretzels
Cheese Lover’s Pub Mix
Fruit and Nut Snack Mix
Raspberry Cookies
Caramel Corn
Fruit Sours
Wafer Rolls
Happy Holidays Reception Sticks

Chicken Ballotine with Cherry Stuffing

admin — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 12:00:53 +0000

If Thanksgiving is more of a scaled-down affair at your house, consider this delicious alternative to the standard turkey and stuffing feast. Skinlesss, white meat chicken is wrapped around a tasty dried cherry and sage stuffing that mixes with the natural chicken juices when cooked. This dish is simple to prepare, attractive to serve, and combines two of the main components of a traditional Thanksgiving meal in a modern way. This Chicken Ballotine serves 4-6, and can still arrive in time for Thanksgiving for just $31.95 plus shipping.

Winter Wishes Logo Cookie Tower

admin — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 12:00:21 +0000

Last Christmas, my cousin and her husband were looking for unique holiday cookie gifts. She knew that I do most of my shopping online, so she asked if I could point them in the right direction. I sent her directly to one of my favorite websites - Cookie Gift Baskets. She found a cookie tower that was in their price range, and with some help from the friendly customer service rep they were able to create a logo that said “Happy Holidays from The Whites”. My cousin was especially pleased that a live person answered the phone immediately when she called this company, rather than having to leave a voice mail message or being forced to maneuver through a number of menu options.

The service rep explained that a company logo was not necessary for this tower, and even provided suggestions on how my cousin could create a festive and functional “family logo” for the cookie. My cousin ordered these towers to be shipped to her house, then she hand-delivered them to their friends and colleagues - she even kept one for taste testing. She has already told me they will be ordering the same tower again this year because they were such a big hit last year! She thought the $66 price was very reasonable considering all that was included, and shipping was relatively inexpensive since they ordered well enough in advance to have the towers shipped via UPS Ground.

Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee

admin — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 12:00:33 +0000

One of the most sought-after coffee flavors is the rare Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee. Adored by coffee enthusiasts worldwide, this elite bean can only be sold by certified Jamaican Blue Mountain distributors. One of these distributors is Specialty Java. Over the years, this company has been able to establish wholesale connections with gourmet coffee growers in more than 20 countries.

A glance at their product listing shows an impressive array of flavors - from a light and crisp Kenyan bean to a dark, smoky Organic French Roast. Specialty Java also offers shipping discounts to a number of midwestern states, and guarantees you will love their product or they will give you a full product refund. If you are searching for an intense coffee experience, look no further!

Corporate Football Fan Gift Set

admin — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 12:00:28 +0000

This unique gift set offers tasty food items with a football theme. The cutting board is firebranded with your company’s logo, and the beef summer sausage is shaped like a football! Along with the cutting board and meat, the gift set includes mild cheddar cheese, sesame crackers and a cheese knife.

These personalized gift sets can be shipped directly to your clients or can be bulk-shipped to your office to be given in person. Each gift costs $37, and the customer service team at Holiday Gifts & Gift Baskets will help to ensure your logo will be perfectly firebranded onto each cutting board.

Authentic German Kuchen

admin — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 12:00:04 +0000

When my girlfriend was married 11 years ago, her aunt made authentic German kuchen for each reception table. A traditional German dessert, kuchen is a big part of my friend’s heritage and she wanted to introduce guests at her wedding to the delicious pastry. Kuchen is made in a pie pan, but that is where the similarity to pie ends. The outside is more like a cake than a crust, and the filling is a sweet and creamy custard. Kuchen can be made with plain custard, or it can be flavored with virtually endless combinations of fruit and/or spices.

During my online kuchen search (since I haven’t been able to reproduce the recipe I was given with much success), I discovered that kuchen can also be found in nearly every grocery store in Chile. It seems that when German settlers introduced the dessert to their new Chilean neighbors, they fell in love with the dish and have now made it a staple in their country.

For a sweet German kuchen experience, try the gourmet desserts offered by Lapp’s Kuchen. Located in Hebron, North Dakota, the Lapp’s have been perfecting their recipe for years - much to the delight of German-Americans nationwide. Try a case of 6 - available in more than 30 flavors - for $25 plus shipping.

Autumn Leaves Iced Cookie Tin

admin — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 12:00:25 +0000

For a sweet appreciation gift during the season of Thanksgiving, nothing is more appropriate than this adorable tin filled with iced sugar cookie cut-outs! The fall-themed tin is a great decoration, and the cookies inside are a fun surprise for your recipient.

Very reasonably priced at only $19, order a tin for everyone that has gone that extra mile for you this year - employees, teachers, neighbors, even the mail carrier! Ship these delightful cookies anywhere in the country for only $8.75.

Bumbleberry Jam

admin — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 12:00:12 +0000

The taste of this jam is very smooth and fresh, which makes the name appear to be deceiving. Nothing was “bumbled” when this recipe was created - Steve Cory of Cory’s Kitchen has put together a divinely sweet topping for bread, muffins, even ice cream! With a myriad of fruits added to the mixture, if you taste carefully you can taste each flavor - farm fresh strawberries, rhubarb, peaches, blueberries and raspberries. I loved the jam with cornbread, and my son said it makes a yummy PB&J sandwich!

An 8oz jar of this delicious topping is available directly from Sweet Berry Farm in Rhode Island for $8.50. But hurry, because quantities are limited and berry season is over for the year!