A flip is a classic drink that consists of liquor, sugar and an egg. The first bar book to mention the flip is Jerry Thomas’ the Bon Vivant’s Companion. Often considered the grand daddy of american mixology, I think Jerry would be proud. Simple ingredients – Jost Port, Courvoisier V.S. Cognac, superfine sugar, and egg – come together to produce a rich and creamy cocktail much like eggnog minus the cream. Whether your cozying up by the fire or hosting friends over the holidays, it’s the perfect drink to get you through the cold, dark days of Winter. 

Cheers.

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I’d wager many of you already have squash on your holiday table. Lucky dogs. I love everything about squash and rarely leave the market without one. While simply slicing up that squash and roasting it with some olive oil, salt and pepper will do the trick, you could also mash it up with a whole slew of ingredients. There is certainly nothing revolutionary about what I did. I simply recreated the flavours of squash ravioli without all the work of, you know, squash ravioli. Creamy roasted squash with but a touch of nutmeg and maple syrup gets all cozy with decadent sage brown butter, walnuts and goat cheese. That sweet potato casserole bordering on dessert just met it’s match.

A huge bonus is that this is easily prepared a day in advance. Simply throw it in the oven before dinner, say 15 min, then take it straight to the table, garnished with the nuts, goat cheese, and sage. I imagine it’d be great with pecans or hazelnuts as well as pretty much any cheese. Well perhaps not mozzarella or cheddar, more like ricotta, gouda, parmesan, pecorino or I bet even blue.  

Squash, welcome to the table. 

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In its third year, The GFBCS isn’t just about spreading the holiday cheer to fellow bloggers. Participating bloggers raised $13, 778.40 for Cookies for Kids’ Cancer, a non-profit organization raising funds for paediatric cancer research. It’s amazing how cookies can come to mean something so much more. This is exactly why I joined. Well, that and the three dozen cookies coming my way. 

Each time a new package arrived, I was elated. Besides the fact that I never receive packages, it was always such a surprise what cookie would be found inside. Big thanks go out to Kristy from Gastronomical Sovereignty for her Momma’s Glazed Sugar Cookies, Megan & Susan of Savour Sisters for Cardamom Spice Stars, and Peanut Butter and Onion for Browned Butter Cardamom Sugar Cookies. 

With loads of cookies in the holiday rotation, I really wanted to try something new. Hazelnuts meet amaretti, the crispy on the outside, melt in your mouth traditional Italian almond cookies. Simply a meringue made with ground nuts, these are ridiculously easy but every bit as delicious as those cookies that took you two days to make.  Though they’re great on their own, you really don’t have a choice but to add some dark chocolate to those hazelnuts. Happy baking.

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Breakfasts in camp were epic events. On the daily we’d dish out hash browns, eggs of every variety sometimes even made to order, good ol’ bacon or sausage, and warm freshly baked goods like cinnamon rolls, muffins, crisps, loaves, coffeecake, or scones. Something different every day. I’m not sure when it made it’s debut on the breakfast table but one season the planters awoke to this warm loaf served up alongside a random snowfall in June. 

Studded with local dried cranberries, dark chocolate and orange, this is what Christmas cake should taste like.  If tart is more to your taste, add in fresh local cranberries instead. Though perfect as is, it could handle any glaze – lemon, orange, even chocolate – you could throw at it.

Your holiday table will never be the same. 

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Chocolate/Candy

Let’s start with the obvious. Everyone gets chocolate for Christmas, am I right? If I were you, I’d head straight to Sugah! in Bishop’s Landing. With everything from holiday wreaths full of pistachios, almonds, NS blueberries and cranberries to wine-paired chocolates to wild bar concoctions like dark chocolate with lemon zest and pepper, they’ve got something for every palate. I’m quite partial to the 54% dark chocolate sea salt bar but honestly I’d be thrilled with any of it. Otherwise, check out Cocoa and Honey at the Historic Brewery Market for organic and fair trade chocolates hand made right here in Halifax. They’re as delicious as they are stunning. 

If candy is more your thing, fill those stockings with some nostalgia instead of the usual chocolate suspects. Hit up Freak Lunchbox or Sweet Jane’s in Halifax or Dartmouth’s Sugar Shock for all your candy needs. Most stock some pretty impressive pop culture items as well so you’ll never know what cool stocking stuffers you’ll find.

Booze

After my recent Nova Scotia Wine Guide, it’s no surprise a bottle of local wine is high on my shopping list. Surprise them with a white or bubbly that’ll make them rethink everything they thought they knew about NS wine. Better yet, sign them up for a wine club offered at a few of the wineries. You could also put them right in the action by giving them a Grape Escapes gift certificate for a tour of the gorgeous Annapolis Valley wine country by the talented Susan Downey. If there is one thing to make them fall in love with Nova Scotia wine, that’s it. 

With so many amazing craft beers from one end of the province to the other, gifting a variety pack of local craft beer would please any beer lover on your list. There’s a ridiculous amount to choose from: Bridge Brewing, Propeller, Garrison, Granite, Boxing Rock, Hell Bay, Rare Bird, Sea Level, Big Spruce, and Uncle Leo’s. Oh, and cider. With all the apples we grow, it’s no wonder we have awesome ciders. Stutz, Tideview, Shipbuilders, and Bulwark will all fit the bill. 

More personal than the NSLC, the place for all your boozy needs is Bishop’s Cellar. Whether it’s local wine or beer or a nice bottle of bourbon, they can hook you up. 

Coffee/Tea

We all have a coffee obsessed friend. Hell I’m one of ‘em. Personalizing a kit for those coffee geeks on your list couldn’t be easier. Hit up Anchored or your favourite cafe for some locally roasted beans then grab all the gear to get that perfect cup. Java Blend stocks tons of gear including Baratza Encore grinders, V60s, Clever drippers, Hario hand grinders, and Chemex wood necks. Sounds like gibberish but they’ll know what you mean. For the tea drinkers on your list, I hear The World Tea House has you covered.

Homemade

I can’t think of a gift that says “I love You” more than a homemade one. I truly believe that. Generally budget friendly, putting the time and love into a gift means more than you can imagine. If baking is your thing, a nicely wrapped loaf or box of cookies speaks volumes. Not much of a baker? Throw together the ingredients for a meal along with a hand printed recipe card. Homemade edible gift ideas are endless. Think spiced nuts, fudge, caramels, hot chocolate mix, cookie in a jar, simple syrups, infused alcohol, party mix, biscotti. You get the idea. If you’re looking for inspiration, The Kitchn ‘s 40 Homemade Gifts is a good place to start.

Gift Basket

If you ain’t got time to spend in the kitchen, you could put together a basket of local goodies made with love by someone else. If you need help with ideas, try a themed basket. I can’t think of anything better than charcuterie from Ratinaud, That Dutchman’s Old Growler gouda, Boulangerie La Vendéenne bread, a nice cutting board,  and a nice mustard. Get the Queen Mary Creamy Crunchy available at Ratinaud cuz it’s the best mustard ever. In fact, Ratinaud has put together two pretty epic basket themselves. Need more help? Simply take a walk around one of our markets – Halifax Seaport Market, Historic Farmers’ Market, Alderney or one of the many around the province - and fill a basket with loads of homemade jams, chutneys, pickles, crackers, cookies, marshmallows, truffles, cheese, meat, cupcakes, produce, even prepared meals like those from the awesome Little Red Kitch’n. The sky’s the limit. You’ll even find everything you need for those vegans or gluten free folks on your list. On the other hand, let the folks at Taste of Nova Scotia do all the work for you. Whatever your budget, you’ll score an incredible basket of NS love.

I also can’t forget a shout out to Made With Local. Throw a couple of local granola bars in those stockings or go big with a monthly subscription to Team MWL for anyone into supporting local while eating some wholesome bars or oats on the regular.

Dinner

Gifting a restaurant gift certificate may seem impersonal but sharing the love for your favourite local restaurtant is damn cool in my books. Have friends or family with a new baby? A date night to a local restaurant is pretty much the best gift you could give them.  I say go for the best with a gift certificate to Brooklyn Warehouse, 2 Doors Down, Chives, Agricola Street Brasserie, Morris East or Edna to name but a few. You could also spring for a gift certificate to a pop up dinner at Front and Central. Not only do you get five courses from not one but two incredible local chefs, but you also get to enjoy a night out in the beautiful Wolfville. Best gift ever maybe.

Another clear winner is the Local Tasting Tour special holiday gift package that includes a downtown tasting tour for 2 plus a box of Sugah! chocolates. What better gift is there than a walking tour of some incredible local restaurants and shops with some Halifax history thrown in? Exactly. 

Cookbooks

While there are a million cookbooks to choose from out there, why not gift a local one. Head to Able Sense Publishing for Jason Lynch’s Straight from the Line, a collection of locally inspired recipes for the beginner to the novice, as well as the recently released Cooking with Kindness by Chantal Coolen for the vegan and gluten free gang. For the bakers on your list, TIBS Guide to Desserts brings their beloved baked goods right into your kitchen. You can even stop by TIBS from Dec 14 right up until Xmas Eve for a wrapped copy and a chance at a $20 gift card, a sort of golden ticket if you will. They couldn’t have made it easier. 

Kitchen/Bar Supplies

Two words, Cucina Moderna. Go there. 

Cooking Class

Many local chefs and restaurants offer cooking classes but if you’re looking to personalize an in-home class, message me. I’ll get you back in that kitchen. 

Other

Though not food related, there are so many amazing local products out there that I just had to share some of my favourites. Some items I gift on the regular include: anything at Inkwell Boutique, a custom t or hoodie from Lost Cod, a print from my girl Kelly Neil, rad shirts or prints from Dartmouth Clothing Company, sweet threads from Biscuit General Store, J&R Grimsmo, or Sweet Pea, eco-friendly goods at P’Lovers, everything for the wee ones at Nurtured or Fiddleheads, and anything from our incredible local artists who produce more handmade jewelry, art, photography, woodwork, pottery, knitting and sculpture than you can shake a stick at. Though many craft markets have come and gone, check out the Halifax Crafters Society for a listing or hit up many at the weekend markets.  

Happy Holidays. 

The post LOVE | The Holiday Gift Guide appeared first on eathalifax.

Time to make the lists, plan the parties, and get ready for the big holiday feast. But most of all, it’s time to ditch that canned cranberry sauce for good. No food should look like that much like a can or make that disgusting schloop sound when poured into a bowl. I know, I know. It makes you all nostalgic and shit. Listen, I get it. I’ve been working on Brent for years. He prefers the gelatinous, mad sweet canned crap to my homemade cranberry sauce. Somehow we’re still together. 

Slowly, with every holiday that passes, I get him closer to the real thing. It helps that I repeatedly conveniently “forget’ to buy the canned stuff. Real cranberry sauce is not only only ridiculous easy, it can be seasoned a million different ways. This version that graced a Sunday dinner recently was full of cardamom and orange goodness. Other times I hit it with some ginger and lemon then sometimes I go old school and let the cranberries shine all on their own. With local cranberries in full bloom here in Nova Scotia, there’s no reason not to. Do yourself a favour this holiday season and whip up the real thing.  Your guests will thank you. 

Stay tuned all month long for locally inspired recipes to help make your holiday table shine. 

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