Mara Ginsberg - HER LIFE Magazine

what he knows. For the more subdued wine drinker, give thema DVD of a foreign film packed with scenes from wine countryor splurge on a double pack DVD of the movie Sideways.Supper SuppliesMany foodies like to do their own cooking and baking, andif they are serious about food they probably have numerousutensils to use to create their masterpieces. But if you look inthe right direction, you can find unique and one-of-a-kind giftsthat they can use to transform their home hobby into exquisiteculinary creations. Everything from strawberry hullers, applecorers and vegetable peelers can cut cutting time in half whilelooking festive in bright hues and unique styles. Develop yourown basket of baking bits and pieces; add a few colorful kitchentowels and a bottle of good olive oil and you have a container ofcooking supplies that won’t soon be forgotten.Budget Friendly IdeasDollar and 99 Cent stores are popular for a reason andit isn’t because they don’t have a wide variety of choices ateasy-on-the-wallet prices. If you are on a tight budget, theseconvenient bargain shops make it easy to pull together athemed food basket or cooking container.Buy a large, colorful container or box and fill it with atheme of goodies. For a “Relaxing Tea Time” theme, fill yourcontainer with a few cute teacups and saucers, flavorful teas,a small teapot or tea towels. Finish the gift with some soothingbubble bath, soft socks and a mix CD of calming tunes.Check out department store buyout businesses. Thesebudget conscious stores buy famous name department storestuff when the big guys can’t sell it or carry too much inventory.Often, gourmet candies and treats, hard-to-find health foodsand drinks can be found at businesses like Big Lots or online atwww.Overstock.com.The Gift of “You”If you can cook, why not give a coupon of cooking? Offerto whip up a meal for your foodie friend complete with wine,appetizers and a daring dessert. If your kitchen skills aren’tquite as aggressive, bake a batch of your favorite cookies andenclose a card written with your secret recipe.Gift CardsCash comes in many forms these days and the nearestthing to the green stuff is a card that lets the receiver spendit as they wish. Travel only as far as your laptop will take you,and shop the web for gift cards from a myriad of restaurants,gourmet food shops or even the local grocery store. Muchappreciated and nearly always consumed quickly, gift cardsfor foodies say “thoughtful” without getting too complicated ortime-consuming.There are a myriad of gift choices for food lovers lining theshelves this time of year, but anyone can present a blah blenderor lackluster ladle. Start early, get creative and research youroptions. This year, be the bearer of an exciting gift that a foodiewon’t soon forget. Happy Shopping!Information for this article was found at www.foodbuzz.com and www.susanshealthygourmet.com. In the Capital/Adirondack region check out www.spoonandwhisk.com.HERLIFEnewyork.com 25