Tuesday Megalinks: Back in Black

Thanks, everyone, for your good wishes these past few days. I really appreciate them, and couldn't ask for a greater group of readers.

Apartment Therapy Chicago: 10 Cheap Parties to Host This Winter
Do you like theme parties? I know you do. Especially you, P. Diddy. (You can't fool me. I know you read frugality blogs.)

Bon Appetit: Blog Envy Slideshow
Commence drooling ... now: it's 22 of your favorite cooking blogs, with their best holiday fare highlighted in tummy-tempting photos. Does it get better than Butternut Squash and Sweet Potato Gratin With Manchego Cheese? I think not.

Casual Kitchen: 15 Creative Tips to Avoid Holiday Overeating
Dan journeys far, far outside the box, and comes back with creative, never-before-seen ideas for staving off the Tight Pants O’Christmas.

Culinate: Not-too-spendy kitchen gifts
God, I love this blog. Practical presents for real-life cooks abound.

Elastic Waist: We Can’t Stop Talking About Oprah
Oprah’s back up to 200 pounds, and everybody has an opinion. EW’s thread makes this one pretty interesting.

EV Grieve: There Are More Than 20 Empty Storefronts Along Avenue B
Alphabet City (now with 85% less heroin!) was my ‘hood for a few years, and it’s nearly-to-mostly shocking how many stores have closed on a 12-block stretch.

The F Word: The Biggest Loser or the Cash Cow?
As it turns out, some Biggest Loser contestants use unorthodox, harmful methods to keep their poundage down for the weigh-ins. According to the F Word, a lot of folks end up gaining it all back, too. Time Magazine has their say, as well, plus an interview with Season 1 winner/current fat guy Ryan Benson

Get Fit Slowly: My Mother's Pantry - Danger Lurks Within
With the possible exception of Friendly’s Hunka Chunka PB ice cream (which I sadly discovered this weekend), there is no greater obstacle to dieting than going home to Ma’s house. Keeping away from the woman’s baking stash is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do IN MY LIFE. (Um … slight exaggeration, but you get the picture.)

The Kitchn: Easy Make-Them-Yourself Cheese Accompaniments
For the cheese lover in your life. (P.S. If you actually know a cheese lover, this T-shirt from Murray’s could be the perfect gift. Just sayin’.)

The Kitchn: Weekend Project: Stocking the Spice Cupboard
Odds are, your January-bought cumin’s lost all of its pungency by now. But what else needs replacing? (P.S. Take a long look at the picture here – especially at the spice in the lower left corner. What do you put THAT in?)

The Kitchn: Urban Homesteading – What Does That Mean to You?
City dwellers, how far do you go in your canning/jarring/growing/storing exploits?

The Kitchn: Weeknight Meal Tip - Ways to Doctor Jarred Tomato Sauce to Add More Flavor
Tip #9: Add beer. It won’t taste good, but by the time you’re done, you won’t remember it anyway.

LA Times: 50 Ways to Make Your Holiday Gifts Homemade
Holy moly. It’s the mac daddy grand chairman of all food gift articles. Read it, write it down, and bask in its glory.

Mental Floss: How Cereal Transformed American Culture
Apparently, cereal is responsible for everything from advertising mascots to color television to the Hadron Particle Collider. Who knew? (Thanks to Hops for the link.)

New York Times: From Dining Out to Cold Turkey
Hey everybody, get this: since the economy is bottoming out worse than the 2008 Detroit Lions, people are eating at home more! Thanks for the up-to-the-minute news bulletin, New York Times! But I can’t stay mad atcha, mostly because…

New York Times: So Your Kitchen is Tiny. So What?
…you rebounded with this awesome Mark Bittman article, in which he defends microscopic apartment galleys. (Hear hear!) Batals to sum it up thusly: “Only bad cooks blame the equipment. I can make almost every dish in my restaurants on four crummy electric burners with a regular oven — as can just about anyone else who cares to.”

San Francisco Chronicle: 10 techniques every cook should know
From dicing onions to searing a piece of meat, the SFC has published 10 step-by-step breakdowns of valuable, universally applicable kitchen practices. (Thanks to The Kitchn for the link.)

Serious Eats: Is a Small Kitchen an Excuse for Bad Cooking or Not Cooking at All?
SE readers respond to Bittman’s NY Times article. GREAT, long thread, so go and have your say.

Time Out New York: 100 Best – Best Food & Drink 2008
For RotFB (Residents of the Five Boroughs) only: a year-end Best of List for New York foodies. Not included: Jacques Torres’ chocolate chip cookies, which the world NEEDS TO KNOW ABOUT RIGHT NOW.

(Photos courtesy of US Weekly, Murray's, and Interior-design-it-yourself.com.)

Back Tuesday

Hey folks,

Sorry about the lack of posting. A much-loved family member passed away yesterday, and we're regrouping at home. CHG will resume when services are finished, probably Tuesday. Thanks for understanding.

Kris

Winner of the Veganomicon Giveaway

Thanks to everybody who entered CHG's 2nd Cookbook Giveaway! The jokes were plentiful and generally pretty sweet. Alas, there can only be one winner, and according to Random.org it is ...

Buddy!

Buddy's joke was:
Q: What's the difference between a guitarist and a CD?
A: The CD matures.

Buddy, if you could mail your address to cheaphealthygood@gmail.com, I can get the book out to you on Monday.

Veggie Might: Mulling Spice and Other Gifts to Give Unless You Eat Them First - DIY Holidays Part One

Written by the fabulous Leigh, Veggie Might is a regular Thursday feature about all things Vegetarian.

As Jaime pointed out in her terrific article last Wednesday, those who are making such a big deal about the official recession have apparently never pinched a penny in their lives.

Change is hard, so I guess I should give folks a break. But the lean living tips making headlines have been a way of life for me since I can remember. My family has always drawn names with the extended family for Christmas gifts, and my mom has been known to implement themes like Thrift Store Christmas, Homemade Christmas, and No Presents Christmas (that one didn’t go over so well).

For the last seven or eight years, I’ve been giving handmade gifts to my friends as well. For almost everything. Whether they like it or not. (I hope they like it.) But eventually the hand-knit hat and scarf well runs dry, or it’s just not appropriate. Nothing says awkward like an overdone gift from someone you barely know (plus there’s that pesky carpal tunnel syndrome). Sometimes I need to get otherwise crafty.

Giving the gift of food is nothing new, but it no longer needs to be the dried out fruitcake and stollen of the past. (Though if I ever made a stollen for my mother, she’d be the happiest clam in the sea.) There are plenty of ways to show your love, or like, or “hey, you exist in my orbit,” that doesn’t involve candied fruit baked in spice cake. If that’s your thing, I mean no offense; fruitcake is an easy target. I just prefer my spiced fruit either cooked in a pie or in liquid form.

To help us all make it through this recession with wallet and dignity intact, here is a list of some awesome food gifts you’ll be proud to give and want to keep for yourself.

Spice Blends
As we've discussed, making your own spice blends is the way to inexpensive, flavorful meals. Spice up your Secret Santa exchange with a decorative shaker of Cajun seasoning or Jamaican curry you mixed yourself.

Infused Oils
You can spend a fortune on specialty food stuffs at fancy boutiques that are easily made at home. Infused oil is just one of those stuffs. Try one of these recipes (or your own), decant it in a cute bottle with a cork stopper, and you have the perfect gift for the foodie on your list. Don’t forget to make enough to keep for yourself.

Tea Blends
You can make your own tea blends in much the same way as spice blends. Combine spices, herbs, flowers, and fruits like cinnamon, citrus zest, lemongrass, mint, or rosehips with your favorite tea or just experiment with herbals for a refreshing noncaffeinated beverage.

Baking Mixes
A couple of years ago, for Homemade Christmas, my sister gave me a spice cake mix in a hand-sewn pouch. The recipe was clipped on with a red clothspin. It was so cute, and the cake was delicious. Baking mixes are a great holiday gift. The giver just mixes up the dry ingredients of their favorite recipe, and the receiver gets a delicious time saver. Here are some excellent tips to get you started.

Cookies
What says love more than cookies? (Confidential to my future husband, engagement snickerdoodles are sweeter than diamonds.) A tasty stack of cookies in a fun box with a cookie cutter tied to the top would make a thoughtful, delicious gift.

Candy
My Grandma J made mints with her cookie shooter for every food-centric holiday and sometimes just because. This amazing-looking recipe for peppermint patties looks like it would make fantastic replacement, and requires no confectionary violence. It’s going on my to-do list, along with the recommended packaging. Speaking of…

Presentation
Here’s where you can really get crafty and have fun. Get out the paint, glitter, stencils, glue, ribbon, paper, pens, scissors, stickers, and go crazy. Paper bags, boxes, jars, and cellophane make for delightful packaging. Keep in mind your style and that of your recipient.

I love little jars, especially ones I can repurpose. Reusable glass jars store all of the beans, grains, nuts, teas, and herbs in my pantry. Seven years ago, a friend of mine gave me two huge bags full of baby food jars that I’ve used over the years to store and distribute anything and everything. Just this summer, I used the last one.

This year, I’m giving mulling spices and a variation on my masala chai recipe. I found some cup-sized jars at my local dollar store that are just perfect. They have a plain brushed metal lid and mason-esque styling. I tarted them up by gluing mylar confetti to the lid and tying the handwritten label to the neck with hemp string.

The whole thing cost me about $3. Of course, I bought my spices in bulk, and as I mentioned the jars were a buck a piece. Then I just used what craft supplies I had on hand. I think they came out super cute. I hope my intended recipients don’t mind that I spent so little. I know Mom will be proud.

Mulling Spice
Yields 1 cup

1/2 oz whole allspice
1/2 oz clove
1/2 oz star anise
5 whole nutmegs (crushed coarsely)
6–8 cinnamon sticks (crushed coarsely)
dried orange peel, yield from 1/2 orange

To dry orange peel
1) Peel off just colored part of rind.

2) Cut into thin strips and place on cookie sheet.

3) Bake at 250 for 1 hour or until dried.

To make spice mix
1) Combine all spices in a bowl.

2) Add dried orange peel.

3) Put into container of choice.

To prepare (Maybe include these directions on your gift tag.)
1) Place 1 tbsp of mulling spice onto a 4” square of cheesecloth. Tie tightly with string to make sachet. You can also use a tea ball, or go the commando route by skipping the cheesecloth/tea ball altogether and using a strainer on the service end.

2) In a sauce pan, bring 1 quart of apple cider (or whatever beverage you plan to mull) to a boil.

3) Add sachet/tea ball to cider and allow spices to boil for 10 minutes.

4) Reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes. Notice how good your house smells.

5) Serve (strain into mug) and enjoy.

(Additional photo courtesy of Flickr member celestefrittata.)

CHG Favorites of the Week

Hey folks! The Veganomicon Giveaway jokes have been stellar so far (Calidaho, the potato one is quite awesome), but the contest has another 24 hours to go. Get your funnies in now!

Food Blog of the Week
Eater’s Top Chef recaps
The Eater team enlisted NYC standup Max Silvestri (of VH1’s Best Week Ever fame) to write the weekly rundowns, and they’re pretty dang funny. My favorite quote of this week: “It eventually comes down to Hosea and Stefan, and Hosea takes it on vegetable oil. Bald people are great at cooking! See: Tom.”

Food Comedy of the Week
This is How I Make Bread
Is this Ghost/Dirty Dancing/breadmaking video genius … or insanity? You be the judge. (Thanks to reader Rachel B. for the link.)



Food Organization of the Week
Food Lifeline
Seattleites, listen up! “Each year Food Lifeline rescues and distributes nearly 22 million pounds of food to its network of food banks, meal programs and shelters in 17 counties of Western Washington, feeding nearly 600,000 hungry people.” Donations (financial, canned, and otherwise) can be done here.

Food Quote of the Week
Lots of great jokes from the Veganomicon Giveaway:

From One Frugal Girl:
A blonde walks into a library and says, "Can I have a burger and fries?" The librarian says, "I'm sorry, this is a library." So, the blonde whispers, "Can I have a burger and fries?"

From Ann:
Ok, so a guy sits down at the bar and orders a drink. He hears a little voice say, "Nice tie.” He looks around and there's no one there. He thinks it must be his imagination so he continues drinking, he hears the voice again say, "Nice shirt.” He looks around again- no one's there. He's starting to get a little worried, thinking where is this voice coming from? He calls the bartender over and asks, "I keep hearing this voice it said ‘nice tie’ and ‘nice shirt.’ What's going on?" And the bartender says, "Oh it's the peanuts, they’re complementary.”

From Rachel:
First muffin: "Boy, it sure is hot in here."
Second muffin: "Wow, a talking muffin!"

From Michelle:
A peanut butter and jelly sandwich walks into a bar. The bartender shakes his head and says, "I'm sorry, but we don't serve food here."

Food Video of the Week
“Master of the House” from Les Miserables
Andrew Lloyd Webber musicals were (one of) my junior high obsessions, and this daffy Inn-themed number is part of the reason why. Mme Thernadier in particular is corrupt, grotesque, and totally hilarious.



Unrelated Extra Special Bonus of the Week
The Ghosts of Antarctica: Abandoned Stations and Huts from Dark Roasted Blend
Dozens of haunting, gorgeous photos of the harshest landscape on Earth, where hundreds of the world’s hardiest (maybe foolhardiest?) explorers attempted to set up some semblance of civilization, only to meet their inevitable doom. (Thanks, S!)

The Practical Guide to Christmas Gifts for Foodies

As we saunter ever closer to the holiday season, more and more Gift Guide posts are popping up all over the internets. Generally, I dig these things, because

1. I need present ideas. Badly.
2. This year, most of the suggestions seem to be under $25. (Thanks, economy!)
3. Who knew the Buttered Toast Wallet even existed?

Sometimes, though … sometimes the suggestions can seem a tad impractical. Don’t get me wrong – adorable novelty items have their time and place. But if you’re looking to purchase a useful, pragmatic gift, $12.99 swizzle sticks may not be the way to go.

Instead of offering specific options, we at CHG present these utilitarian-but-still-tremendously-exciting guidelines. Readers, if you’d like to add or dispute anything, fire away in the comments! I’d love to hear your advice.

DON’T

…buy a piece of kitchen equipment with only one use. Chestnutters are cool-looking, no doubt, but they perform exactly two functions: 1) they slit chestnuts, and 2) they take up space in your kitchen. Instead of choosing an appliance someone will use once a year for ten minutes, consider a multi-purpose tool like a silicone cutting board, a decent pairing knife, or the all-important spatula. You can jazz ‘em up in different colors for fun, and your friend/mom/boss will still appreciate the sentiment.

…procure ANYTHING larger without consulting reviews first. From Target to Macys and beyond, most shopping websites offer consumer soundboards now. And it’s a good bet that if a product doesn’t score at least an 85% approval, it’s not worth a second look. This year, be on special lookout for ratings distributions, which are popping up all over the place on sites like Yelp and Amazon. Statistically, a cookbook with 149 five-star and 30 four-star ratings will probably yield better results than one with 89 five-star and 90 four-star ratings.

…grab something just because it’s on sale. Next time you get the chance, take a gander at the discount rack at Barnes & Noble. I guarantee at least one whole shelving unit will be comprised of poorly-selling cookbooks. While this may be tempting, remember: they’re usually discounted for a reason (i.e. they suck and/or are fairly useless). This goes double for larger appliances and space-sucking utensils. Sure, champagne pliers are a nice idea, and a bargain at 33% of their original cost, but … champagne pliers? WHAT?

…attempt holiday-themed kitchen equipment, unless someone is really, REALLY into the season. My friend the elementary school teacher has more reindeer mugs than anyone else on Earth, with the exception of her fellow elementary school teachers. (Side note: she’s a soda drinker.) If your Grandma’s goal in life is to own every Christmas platter ever made, be my guest and add to her collection. Otherwise, see DON’T #1.

…purchase foods that will derail a dieter. The stomach is a cruel master, and no one knows that better than the perpetual Weight Watcher. If your loved one is making an earnest effort to bring his/her poundage down, avoid adding to her woes with Godiva care packages. Fruit, popcorn, and jams are good alternatives.

…forget space restrictions. I’m speaking for all the apartment dwellers out there when I say, “Aunt Alice, I love you very much. But my kitchen is 8x8, and I can’t possibly fit any more breadmakers, waffle irons, or copies of Larousse Gastronomique without knocking down my neighbor’s wall. Please, THINK OF THE CHILDREN.”

…buy anything you can make yourself for 1/5th of the cost.
Citrus salt from an online gourmet: $6.29.
Citrus salt made in your kitchen: waaaaaaaaay less.

…purchase crap. Crap is like porn: it’s hard to describe, but you know it when you see it. Sure, inflatable toast might seem like a glorious flash of inspiration at the time, but ten seconds after its unwrapping, the hilarity is over. Then, all that’s left … is inflatable toast.

DO

…give to food-focused charities. In case your Roth IRA hasn’t told you (and HOLY COW mine has), the fiscal outlook hasn’t been too spiffy lately. Philanthropies need financial assistance more than ever, so why not make a donation in a family member’s name? Charity Navigator is a fantastic resource, as is CHG – we’ve been featuring food charities in our Thursday posts for more than a year now. (Search for “Organization of the Week,” quotes included).

…consider gently-used items. Extraordinarily frugal and much easier on the environment, already-owned appliances make excellent Christmas gifts. (In fact, it just took me ten seconds to find a $125 KitchenAid Stand Mixer on Craigslist, which is a $70 savings off the cheapest model’s sticker price.) Of course, if you’re uncomfortable with idea, purchasing refurbished kitchen equipment is a solid (albeit pricier) alternative.

…buy food the whole family can eat. Wine and chocolates are fun, but what’s five-year-old Sarah Jane gonna eat while mom and dad are dining on adult delectables? If you’re providing for a family, consider the kids. Again, fruit and popcorn are stellar edibles, but a little imagination can go a long, long way.

…try gift certificates to someone’s favorite restaurant or cooking school. Not only will you sate a loved one, but you’ll get them engaged in an activity. DOING stuff is always way better than HAVING stuff, and gift certificates can go a long way toward creating fun memories.

…make dinner. Instead of all the partaking in the all the kerfuffle surrounding Christmas, why not just cook a meal? Invite some friends, turn Band Aid up to 11, crack a few bottles of Sauvignon Blanc, and you’re good to go for the year. It’s all about the memories, man.

For more fabulously practical tips, check out any one of these fine CHG articles (writer-tested, reader-approved):

• Desert Island Gadgets
• The Do’s and Don’ts of Buying a Cookbook
• Finding Quality Kitchen Equipment on the Cheap
• Frugal Storage Solutions for the Small Kitchen
• Pantry of the Gods
• The Ultimate Guide to Kitchen Equipment

Readers – suggestions? Ideas? Questions? Comments? I’d love to hear.

(Photos courtesy of Cooperative Living, Oriental Trading, and Men's Health.)

CHG Cookbook Giveaway Part DEUX!

A new copy of Veganomicon by Isa Chandra Moskowitz and Terry Hope Romero fell into my lap yesterday, so I’m giving it away to one lucky CHG reader.

To enter, just:

1. Post your favorite joke in the comment section. Please keep it rated G, PG, or PG-13. Sexist and/or racist jokes will be deleted immediately.
2. Make sure no one else has told the same joke already.
3. Sign your name.
4. That’s it.

Like last week’s giveaway, the winner will be chosen FRIDAY AT NOON using the Random.org integer generator.

In the meantime – today’s article is still to come, so stay tuned!

P.S. One entry per person, please.