Sunday, November 4, 2007

It's already time to start planning for Christmas!?!



Today I will be out and about. I have to work this morning and this evening and in between I am meeting up with some wonderful vegan folks for lunch for the first time. It's always exciting to meet new people, and this is a group I am excited to meet with. I was introduced to Wanda by telephone about a month and a half ago. She is a wonderful woman (I believe she is now in her 70's) who has been a vegan and passionate animal right's activist since the 70's. Longer than I have been alive, folks! She was given a copy of my cookbook as a gift, and called me to invite me to join her and some other like minded folks for a monthly vegan luncheon. My first one is today. We are going to Mother's Market and Cafe in Huntington Beach. I will report back later on which of the delicious offerings made it into my belly.

Edited to add: So, I went to Mother's, and don't get me wrong, I am thankful that they have a restaurant with vegan offerings, and the market is superb, but every time I eat there I leave feeling a bit underwhelmed. The coffee was good, but I ordered the Thai Peanut Tofu with Udon, broccoli, sugar snap peas, peppers and onions. Sounds awesome, right? Meh. In addition to the coffee and lunch at Mother's other things I put into my belly Sunday included, more coffee in the morning with a touch of soy vanilla creamer, a Scarborough fair burger with 2 slices of whole wheat bread for breakfast, a alte afternoon cup of coffee with chocolate added and a Mushroom Zucchini burger with 2 slices of whole wheat bread for a late dinner. I also had a couple of lemon creme cookies (think Oreos, but lemon.)

But, now, I am asking for your help. It is already November, and time to start planning for holiday gift giving. Each year, my business partner and I put together a basket of goodies for all of our current and past clients (I am a Real Estate Agent by day.) We make everything from scratch and bundle it all up in a cute little basket, or tin or bag and hand deliver them to each doorstep. In addition, I also make a bigger and better basket for all of my friends and family. All in all I usually end up putting together about 65 baskets! 2 full weeks of morning to night baking, packaging and delivering.

What are your favorite "giftable" treats? Last year's baskets included Kittee's peanut butter fudge, Orangeluna's soft sugar cookies, pumpkin chocolate chip cookies, Modified VwaV chocolate thumbprints (aka peanut butter fudge bombs), Sarah's Cracker Candy (AKA Skor Bars) and Sneaky's microwave peanut brittle. All of these recipes came from the lovelies over on the ppk forums.

What should I put in this year's baskets?

6 comments:

radioactivegan said...

I always enjoy spreads, like vegan nutella or pumpkin butter. You could include some scones or bread to eat with a fruit butter (yum!).

bazu said...

Joni, your baskets sound wonderful, such a labor of love! My favorite treats would be something I wouldn't normally make for myself, like candy or truffle. Anything is appreciated though, so just make whatever you like best!

As for Mother's... it's one of the things I really miss about living in SoCal! I never ate their prepared foods, but loved shopping at the Irvine location. I look forward to my CA visit this winter, when I can go back to Mother's!

Vegan_Noodle said...

Wow, last year's offerings sound yummy! I like the sparkled ginger cookies from VWAV and I always like to add fudge since that was a christmas tradition growing up in my house. I need to start thinking about what I'll be baking for people this year. Thanks for those great ideas!

kelly (vegan kid's mom!) said...

i'd totally buy a house from you, to get one of those baskets.

<3
kelly

Joni Marie Newman said...

jamie...I love the idea of little jars of spreads and such.

bazu...truffles. love it. and I do love Mother's, I shop there all the time. It's just that when I go to the restaraunt, I get so excited and then am always left unsatisfied.

noodle...fudge! fudge! fudge! and sparkled gingers are very festive indeed.

vegan kid...PLEASE BUY A HOUSE FROM ME! The market down here sucks right now, I would make you the HUGEST basket ever :)

Anonymous said...

I just found your blog and I am really enjoying it--thank you for all of your wonderful posts!

I handed out vegan biscotti last year, and everyone loved it! Maybe some biscotti with tea/coffee for dipping?

Courtney

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All recipes written by me, Joni Marie Newman, unless otherwise noted. Please feel free to refer to or link back to any of my recipes, but please ask for permission, and remember to give credit when reprinting recipes in their entirety. I do provide links to affiliate programs (such as Amazon) in which I receive a small commission for items purchased. I do not provide paid reviews. All reviews done on products or books are of my own unsolicited opinion. On occasion I may receive a book or product to review. I will note when this is the case, but rest assured, it will not affect the authenticity of my review. Thanks!--Joni