So we supposedly had an extra weekend this year to prepare for Christmas since Thanksgiving was earlier than usual. But why is it that I'm still frantically searching for last-minute gift items, baking and wrapping like there's no tomorrow (Mayans calendar #epicfail)?  

(Image credit: America's Test Kitchen)

There's only four days until Christmas. Or six days left of Hanukkah. Gulp. And there's one or two people (or more if you're really behind) you still need to shop for. Here are my top last-minute holiday gifts for the foodie family on your list:



Subscription to ChopChop Magazine: My boys and I are huge fans of ChopChop Magazine - a quarterly food magazine for kids. It is full of great kid-tested recipes, tips for parents, colorful photos and fun games. Both kids and parents will be inspired to cook as a family.



Subscription to Cooks Illustrated: A must-have for any serious foodie. Each recipe is tested to perfection. Line drawings, scientific rationale and exhaustive testing tells you they're not fooling around when it comes to food.




How to Cook Everything App: From New York Times Food Journalist and legend Mark Bittman, this app is the first full cookbook adapted for an app. Besides the ginormous recipe collection, you get recipe timers, shopping lists, Bittman's voiceover and ability to make notes (for iPad). How cool is that?



CSA share: For the green-minded foodie family, a membership to a Community Supported Agriculture program is a gift that keeps on giving. Members receive anywhere between a few pounds to 15-20 pounds of local produce on a regular basis. It's all about Farm-to-Table.

The greatest gift of all... a gift certificate to a couples' favorite restaurant and free babysitting for the night. Need I say more?

Off to check my list twice and figure out some last-minute gifts of my own. Wishing you the happiest of holidays!

If you're like me (world-class procrastinator), you may still be looking for some holiday gift ideas so you can start checking off everyone on your "nice" list. Here are some of my favorites - proven by the dirty, well-worn pages with crumbs caught between pages.


For busy families: Everyday Food: Great Food Fast This is our go-to cookbook for weeknight meals. Organized by season, this cookbook has a recipe for everyone. Simple and delicious meals - 250 to be exact.


For the baker: Flour: Spectacular Recipes from Boston's Flour Bakery + Cafe I have always been timid when it came to baking. But Joanne Chang has changed that with these amazing - or spectacular - recipes. The photographs are drool-worthy. Best Christmas gift I bought for myself last year.


For anyone who hates doing the dishes: Simply Ming One-Pot Meals Every recipe we've tried so far has been a winner with the whole family. Organized by cooking technique, Ming's Asian-inspired recipes are easy to follow, including quick tips and wine pairings that this mom really appreciates. The fact that all of these can be made in one cooking vessel is a bonus.



For the anyone that likes to entertain but without all the fuss: Barefoot Contessa Back to Basics This cookbook has a crowd-pleasing dish on every page. What I really love about this cookbook is how Ina is able to breakdown a dish to be truly simple yet still be sophisticated to make you look like you slaved in the kitchen all day.


For the adventurous home cook: Spice: Flavors of the Eastern Mediterranean Organized by spice, this cookbook is a master class in Eastern Mediterranean cuisine. This has to be the most beautifully designed cookbook in my collection. A must-have for any cookbook lover on your list.

Stay tuned for Pt 2 of "My Top 5 Cookbooks for the Foodie Family" - all new cookbooks I currently covet (and have conveniently left room for on my bookshelf (hint, hint Santa)).

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I am not much of a baker. I will be the first to raise my glass (no spiked egg nog for me - hot cocoa with some kahlua please) to anyone that engages in a baking marathon of Christmas cookie after Christmas cookie. Especially when I am the lucky recipient of such tasty, hard work!  It's no wonder I am drawn to no-bake, home-baked gifts.

White Christmas was first introduced to me by my mother-in-law. An addictive combo of sweet and salty, it has become our standby home "baked" gift for family and friends during the holidays. At first glance, it may not seem like much. But once you try it, you are hooked. Seriously. Alton Brown has a version (which he calls White Trash) in which he warns his readers to "Dole this stuff out carefully. It is highly habit forming."

So as my Christmas gift to anyone reading this, here is our recipe for White Christmas. Enjoy!




White Christmas


INGREDIENTS:
4 cups Cheerios
4 cups Golden Grahams
2 cups peanuts
2 8 oz. bags white chocolate chips


DIRECTIONS:
1. Mix Cheerios, Golden Grahams and peanuts in a large bowl.
2. Melt white chocolate and pour over ingredients. Fold until mixture is well-coated.
3. Spread mixture on parchment paper and cool.
5. Break into pieces and place in air-tight container.