Food gifts?

I got a big box of dried Black trumpet mushrooms from my brother. He knows that I absolutely adore that mushroom.

Rehydrating some for tonight's risotto:


Got anything nice for Christmas in the food/kitchen department?

I received two outstanding kitchen gifts, and a yummy assortment of provisions.

1) A beautiful, beautiful cookbook, Sweet Myrtle & Bitter Honey by Efisio Farris. Interesting recipes and stories from Sardinia, lavishly illustrated with luscious photographs.

2) A professional quality stainless steel mandoline made by a company called MIU. I even altered my menu yesterday so I could immediately play with it! It kicks!! (Yes, I used the guard!) I haven't put it away anywhere because it just looks so cool sitting on my counter.

3) Coffees and teas, including one from a roaster back home courtesy of my daughter, some chocolate dipped biscotti, some Godiva chocolates, and Twinings Chocolate Indulgence drink, which I have yet to try, but it sounds pretty delicious.

It's been a good December for me, too. A set of various gratin dishes made from a rather miraculous terra cotta, some black truffles, fruitcake (RJ is da bomb), smoked red savina pepper (this got me curious after reading Cynthia's mac'n'cheese post- it's fabulous), and a wheel of Humboldt Fog chevre.

I received a gorgeous Nordicware holiday pan (as posted in the Friends and Fun forum). Also a couple of new salad bowls/serving dishes. Pete bought me a funky metal apple peeler/corer/slicer thingamabob :

I received another Le Cruset pan, my third. A friend gave me a small wheel of Gorgonzola Cheese from Italy, and a package of baking soda which includes vanilla. It smells fabulous.....again from Italy. Has anyone tried this product?

Our family observed a moratorium on gift-giving this Christmas, so I didn't receive any good food gifts. But I did encounter a wonderful aged Gouda and a Stilton at The Wine Society--one of the few independent wine shops in the state of New Hampshire. Both cheeses were superlative examples of their type.

-Paul W.

I got a shiitake log. Yep, a log with shiitake spores. I soak in water, and then wait to harvest my mushrooms (I knew someone in college who grew mushrooms, but I don't think they were shiitakes )
I'm pretty psyched.

I got a shiitake log. Yep, a log with shiitake spores. I soak in water, and then wait to harvest my mushrooms (I knew someone in college who grew mushrooms, but I don't think they were shiitakes )
I'm pretty psyched.

Not as psyched as your friend in college who grew the magic mushrooms.

I've never had a shiitake log, but I know friends who had one. You're in for a treat. You can harvest fresh shiitakes for many months, and the log requires almost zero care and upkeep.

-Paul W.

I got a new Kitchen Remodel, due to start the last week in January. Can hardly wait!!!

some black truffles

I can't believe I didn't think to put these on my wish list.

We got the usual Harry and David's Tower, a Wine Country Gift Basket, etc. The best food gift we got was Mexican Wedding Cakes made by my good friend Chris who came over for Christmas dinner. They were her grandmother's recipe. Wonderful. I'm so mad they are gone already, but she did give me the recipe.

She also brought Gluten-free dog treats for my "bubble-boy" lab, so she really rocks in my book.