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If you're like me, you probably cringed the day after Halloween when all the stores and malls quickly transitioned into Christmas-mode. Unfortunately, with only a few weeks left until Christmas it's hard to avoid at this point. This is why I'm here to help.
The guide below contains products I either use and totally love or have on my own Christmas wish list this year.
Cookbooks:
From Afrim Pristine, the internationally-renowned maître fromager of the Cheese Boutique, comes a cookbook and all-encompassing cheese guide featuring everyone's favorite ingredient. Afrim Pristine may possess the most distinguished professional title a cheesemonger could ask for--maître fromager--but if you ask him what business he's in, he'll tell you he sells happiness. That's because cheese is inextricably linked to wonderful memories and celebrations for so many of us. No matter the occasion, cheese and cheesy dishes are always greeted with a smile. In his first cookbook, Afrim is here to teach you the basics of more than 55 cheeses. You'll learn about the best ways to buy and store cheese, how to pair different cheeses with different beverages and how to create the cheese board of your dreams. And with his signature sense of humor and warmth, Afrim offers 60 easy and enticing recipes for every mealtime, including a bonus chapter called Low Risk, High Reward, for those moments when you're looking to simply eat cheese with the perfect accompaniment. Alongside Afrim's best dishes are 20 masterpieces from the world's top chefs--everyone from Daniel Boulud, Claudio Aprile, Anthony Walsh, and Rob Gentile to Chuck Hughes, Anna and Michael Olson, Bob Blumer and more. With personal anecdotes and helpful information, creative and delicious recipes, and beautiful photography, For the Love of Cheese is sure to bring joy to your kitchen and your heart.
For lazy days off or mid-week cravings, Brunch Life brings that bigger-than-brunch restaurant experience home with mouth-watering recipes that will ensure every day gets off to a great start. Leisurely weekend brunches have become the most anticipated meal of the week, and no two people know that better than Matt Basile and Kyla Zanardi. With their token humour, Matt and Kyla share their passion for this midday spread and showcase indulgent and creative takes on their favourite dishes. Sometimes, brunch is a comforting routine, where simple ingredients are whipped into fuss-free OG Buttermilk Pancakes, a Mascarpone Soft Scramble, or Good ol' Hash Browns. Then there are irresistible dishes taken to a whole new level, like Coconut Fried Chicken and Pineapple Waffles, S'mores Pancakes, and Family-Style Chimichurri Steak and Egg Tacos. Incredibly satisfying, easy to prepare, and perfect to share, these recipes will be dished out and devoured by friends and family.
Whether you're hankering for a nostalgic bite--think Western Omelette Grilled Cheese--or looking for something on the lighter side, like Hearty Granola with Grilled Peaches, or you need a boozy drink to cap it all off (perhaps an Aperol Spritz Mimosa), Brunch Life has something for everyone. More than just food, brunch is also a culture. Featured throughout, Matt and Kyla share their travel adventures in six cities across North America--San Francisco, New York, Nashville, Seattle, Vancouver, and Toronto--and explore how this epic meal is enjoyed far and wide. Brimming with over 70 delectable recipes and gorgeous photography, it's time to serve up a fresh take on this favourite weekend tradition that will inspire you to gather around your table any chance you get.
Matty Matheson, star of Viceland’s It’s Suppertime and Dead Set On Life, reveals his favorite recipes and stories in a cookbook that his devoted fans have been waiting for.
Matty Matheson is known as much for his amazing food as his love for life, positive mental attitude, and epic Instagram account. This debut cookbook is about Matty’s memories of the foods that have defined who he is. With a drive to share his zest for life, he creates dishes within these pages that reinterpret the flavors of his youth in Canada, as well as the restaurant fare for which he has become so well-known. Interpretations of classics like Seafood Chowder, Scumbo: Dad’s Gumbo, and Rappie Pie appear alongside restaurant recipes like Bavette, Pigtail Tacos, and his infamous P&L Burger. This is a very personal cookbook, full of essays and headnotes that share Matty’s life—from growing up in Fort Erie, exploring the wonders of Prince Edward Island, struggling and learning as a young chef in Toronto, and, eventually, his rise to popularity as one of the world’s most recognizable food personalities. His no-nonsense approach to food makes these recipes practical enough for all, while his creativity will entice seasoned cooks. This book is like cooking alongside Matty, sharing stories that are equal parts heartwarming and inappropriate while helping you cook dishes that are full of love. Matty Matheson: A Cookbook is a new collection of recipes from one of today’s most beloved chefs.
It's the end of the world as we know it. Or not. Either way, you want Joe Beef: Surviving the Apocalypse in your bunker and/or kitchen.In their much-loved first cookbook, Frederic Morin, David MacMillan, and Meredith Erickson introduced readers to the art of living the Joe Beef way. Now they're back with another deeply personal, refreshingly unpretentious collection of 150 new recipes, some taken directly from the menus of Fred and Dave's acclaimed Montreal restaurants, others from summers spent on Laurentian lakes and Sunday dinners at home. Think Watercress soup with Trout Quenelles, Artichokes Bravas, and Deer Beer Belly--alongside Smoked Meat Croquettes, a Tater Tot Galette, and Squash Sticky Buns.Also included are instructions for making your own soap and cough drops and guidance on stocking a cellar with apocalyptic essentials--Canned Bread, Pickled Pork Butt, and Smoked Apple Cider Vinegar--for throwing the most sought-after in-bunker dinner party.In this book filled with recipes, reflections, and ramblings, you'll find chapters devoted to the Quebecois tradition of celebrating Christmas in July, the magic of puvlic television, and Fred and Dave's unique take on barbecue (Brunt-Enf Bourguignon, Cassoulet Rapide), as well as ruminations on natural wine and gluten-free cooking, and advice on why French cuisine rocks at a dinner party.Whether you're holing up for a zombie holocaust or just cooking at home, Joe Beef is a book about doing it yourself, about making it your own, and about living--or at least surviving--in style.
Kitchen Appliances:
Introducing a healthier way to fry, and so much more! The Cuisinart® AirFryer Convection Oven is a premium full-size toaster oven with a built-in air fryer. That means it not only bakes, broils, and toasts, it also lets you air-fry right inside the oven. Best of all, a large, 4-pound chicken requires only about a teaspoon of oil to fry! Air frying, which uses powerful ultra-hot air, is a healthier way to prepare delicious fried favourites, from wings to fritters to fries to shrimp. And since toaster ovens stay on the countertop, this fryer doesn’t have to move back and forth, from cupboard to counter. Enjoy the crunch without the calories and messy cleanup, with the Air Fryer Convection Oven from Cuisinart®!
The Coffee Center™ features a fully automatic 12 cup coffeemaker on one side and a single-serve brewer on the other. Sipping solo or serving a crowd, it’s easy to enjoy the gourmet taste you expect from a Cuisinart coffeemaker. Get the best of both worlds in one appliance!
This Food Processor is designed to perform just about any food prep task a recipe calls for. It’s big enough to chop ingredients for a party-sized portion of salsa, and powerful enough to turn a full work bowl of veggies into healthy puréed soups in seconds. Rubberized touch pad controls, and reversible shredding and slicing discs make this food processor a favourite of creative home cooks!
The Crystal Titan Silver Sparkling Water Maker takes your tap water from flat to fizzed in seconds with a stylish and sleek dishwasher-safe glass carafe that you'll want to display. Pinkies up, this sparkling water maker is our best in glass.
Other cool ideas for the foodies in your life:
Welcome to the exclusive club for discerning carnivores. Carnivore Club is the world's first artisan meat of the month club and the ultimate subscription box club for discerning foodies who love enjoying dry cured meats.
Each month members receive an impressive faux-wood box filled with 4-6 handrafted cured meats from top artisans. Each month's box is themed around one particular style of cured meats like French Charcuterie, Italian Salumi, Spanish Chorizo, South African Biltong and Artisanal Jerky.
Canadasgiftbaskets.ca provides over 850 contemporary custom stylish gift baskets, with FREE delivery across Canada. They offer a wide variety of gifts from Chocolate, Gourmet, Cheese, Wine, Baby Gift Baskets and more! Their experienced & creative team will provide you with a Guaranteed Premium Quality Service.
MasterClass wants it to be possible for anyone in the world to learn from the very best and are creating online classes taught by instructors famous for their craft - Gordon Ramsay, Aaron Sorkin, Shonda Rhimes, Steve Martin and many more to come. Classes combine great video content, interactive assignments, and social interaction with the MasterClass community. All classes are available On Demand for just $90 USD. The excitement doesn't stop at just 1 class - you can also purchase an All-Access Pass for $180, which allows access to ALL MasterClass content for 1 year.
Stocking Stuffers:
Let Kikkerland's sturdy beech wood and stainless steel screw magically open your wine.
The perfect gift for that friend that loves fast food, offer up a selection from the healthier side of the menu with this cheeky lip gloss duo. Filled withnourishing and moisturizing ingredients, there's no need to have a chapped pucker this winter when this comfort food around. Set of 2. 3.5 x 2.
The pineapple has long been recognized as a symbol of hospitality and warm welcome. Welcome others to your home bar with this pair of 2 oz.
Materials: Plated Metal.
Woodrift and Co Owl West Coasters are modern yet natural, with their stackable live-edge profiles and incredibly smooth surfaces. These coasters are made using scavenged driftwood from beaches all over Vancouver Island; they never cut down a single tree. Each log is different, transformed by natural processes to reveal spalting, stunning natural colours and wood grain textures. A combination of natural mineral oil and beeswax coats and protects the coasters from stains and damage without any toxic chemicals.The coasters come in sets of four, stacked in their original log profile and packaged with natural rubber bands instead of plastic for minimal environmental impact.Feel good about this sustainable, natural and chic addition to any home.Features:Great for beer, coffee, wine, cocktails and other beverages. Laser engraved West Coasters featuring a cute owl graphic.
Dimensions:
Diameter: 10-13 cm Thickness: 4-6 cm
Please note that due to the nature of the materials used, the sizes and colouring of some products may vary.
Colibri's Reusable Snack Bags are eco-friendly, practical and fun! Featuring a water resistant nylon liner, our snack bags are bpa free, and FDA approved as food safe. Zippers are lead and nickel free and CPSIA tested.
Product Care: machine wash cold, dry on low or hand wash.
This size is great for sandwiches, bagels, muffins etc.
Step right up, take a shot, and let skill (and maybe a little luck) decide who drinks next with this exciting spin on traditional carnival game. The Hammer Shot drinking game comes with one glass shot glass (2 oz./60ml), one stainless steel hammer along with Hammer Shot base. Hand-wash.
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