Tasteful Living

Effie’s Homemade Crackers are savory with Mediterranean flavors

The ladies at Effie’s Homemade have recently rolled out a fantastic line of rustic crackers that have a unique combination of flavors. Made with Turkish coarse semolina, the fine semolina used to make pasta, the coarser wheat gives the crisps their grainy texture. “They’re like a Sardinian flatbread,’’ says Joan MacIsaac, co-founder of the company. She and partner, Irene Costello, got the idea from an old southern Italian recipe. Effie’s Homemade Semolina Crackers, made with olive oil, come in roasted garlic and coriander, sunflower and sesame, and sea salt with lavender. All are dusted with coarse salt and are a delicious accompaniment to cheeses, spreads and dips or eaten alone as a nutritious snack.

At Effie’s Homemade, there are many savory recipes full of flavor and unusual combinations of ingredients. This recipe for Moroccan Dip is delectable with any of the Seminola Crackers.

Moroccan Dip

Ingredients:

• 1 # Carrots, peeled and cut in 2 in. pieces
• 2 sm. Garlic cloves
• ½ c. walnuts, toasted
• 3 T. xv olive oil
• 1 star anise
• 2 t. ginger chopped
• 2 t. Serrano chilis chopped
• 1 t. toasted ground coriander
• ¼ t. smoked paprika (or paprika)
• 3 T. chopped cilantro
• 2 T. chopped green onions
• Lime wedges for garnish

 

Directions:

Place the carrots and garlic cloves in a medium saucepan. Cover with water and bring to a boil.

Reduce the heat to medium and cook the carrots for 15 – 20 minutes until soft and tender.

Strain, reserve ¼ c. carrot juice and cool the carrots before adding the fresh ingredients.

Rough chop the toasted walnuts and set aside.

In a small sauté pan heat the olive oil with the star anise on low-medium heat for 2 minutes. Add the ginger, chilis, coriander and paprika and stir to combine. Cook for 2-3 minutes until softened.

Place the cooled carrots and garlic in a food processor and puree until smooth. Add as much reserved carrot juice as needed to make the carrot puree smooth.

Transfer the carrot puree to a bowl and add the sautéed aromatics. Add the cilantro and green onions and evenly combine. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

This dip pairs fabulously with Effie’s Sunflower and Sesame Seed Crackers.

Effie’s Oatcakes are based on an old family recipe of MacIsaac’s mother, Effie MacLelland.  At the 38^th  annual sofi™ (Specialty Outstanding Food Innovation) award ceremony held during the Summer Fancy Food Show in New York City, the specialty food trade, which recognizes the best of the best in the specialty food industry,  recognized Effie’s Homemade Oatcakes as the Outstanding Cookie of 2010

“Simple” is the word MacIsaac uses to describe her product. Introduced in 2008, Effie’s Oatcakes are made with wheat flour, rolled oats, butter and uses no artificial flavorings or preservatives. Falling somewhere between a cracker and a cookie, the oatcakes satisfy both sweet and salty cravings and can be served with just about anything from cheese and jams to teas, wine or whiskey. The nutty flavor and crispy texture make them delicious, while the local and all-natural ingredients make them healthful. The company also uses eco-friendly and recyclable packaging. 

MacIsaac founded Effie’s Homemade with friend, Irene Costello, inspired by her mother’s farmhouse recipes from Nova Scotia. MacIsaac also draws on her own experience in the catering business. The resulting oatcakes confirm the company’s success in bringing old-fashioned back into fashion.

For the latest food and restaurant news and seasonal recipes, visit me at Shore Region Restaurant Examiner and Shore Region Restaurant Examiner.

 

 

Be mom's hero on Mother's Day

Armstrong Cabinets, a leader in the manufacture and distribution of residential kitchen and bath cabinets, is celebrating Mother’s Day the entire month of May by giving away a $10,000 kitchen cabinet makeover to a deserving mom. In an April 2012 survey commissioned by Armstrong, it learned that 60 percent of respondents believe they would be mom's hero if they paid for her kitchen remodel. Compare that statistic to buying mom a new car (29%) or a diamond ring (11%) and it may seem worthwhile to upload one picture and engage a social network.

While only one mom can win, children over the age of 18 will need to enlist the help of their friends and their mom's social friends to garner votes via Facebook. Armstrong Cabinet's Facebook page will become like a very public Mother's Day card all month long, according to Mel Heintz, product marketing manager for Armstrong Cabinets. He explained that Armstrong wants to engage its customers on a very personal level and it doesn't get much more personal than your mom. Recent social media research shows moms of every age are incredibly active in the social media world so it should be easy for them to solicit votes.

The April online survey, administered by Research Now, also found that 96 percent of respondents believe moms to be the primary cabinet decision-makers in the household. The Armstrong Cabinets team looks forward to seeing how decisive and powerful their social network will be when it comes to helping them win a new kitchen look.

To enter, participants must "like" Armstrong's Facebook page and upload a photo of their mom's kitchen. The photo/mom with the most votes and demonstrates the greatest need for a kitchen makeover will win$10,000 in Armstrong cabinets and counters. This promotion, which started May 1, will run through midnight, May 31, 2012. Take the jump here to read the official rules for entering the contest. Jump here for Armstrong’s Designer Showroom and dealer locations in New Jersey.

For the latest food and restaurant news and seasonal recipes, visit Shore Region Food and Drink Examiner and Shore Region Restaurant Examiner.

 

National Painting Week is April 16-23

Spring brings many new beginnings, especially around the home, as people look to freshen up their living spaces this season. Painting tops almost everyone’s spring home improvement wish list, so it’s time to pick up the brushes and rollers.

In fact, seven out of 10 homeowners are planning home improvement projects, with nearly half (49 percent) citing painting as the most-desired need, followed by landscaping at 47 percent and remodeling a room at 29 percent, according to the 2012 Spring Home Improvement Survey conducted by the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) and Sherwin-Williams.

To help consumers jump start their spring endeavors with low-cost project ideas and tips, NARI and Sherwin-Williams are launching National Painting Week, April 16-23, 2012.

"Painting can add energy and liven up any home — whether it is revamping the bedroom, giving new life to an old piece of furniture or staining the deck," said Jackie Jordan, director of color marketing, Sherwin-Williams.

The Spring Home Improvement Survey also showed that seven out of 10 homeowners believe a room or area of their home is currently in need of painting. The top vote for a new coat of paint goes to bedrooms and bathrooms (both at 29 percent), and living or family rooms are next in line (28 percent).

For daily tips, design ideas and one-of-a-kind painting projects, visit Sherwin-Williams this week. Sherwin-Williams has created a range of color selection tools to give people more confidence in their color choices, from its color visualizer, where you can digitally repaint your space, to the newly launched Chip It! which turns any online image into a Sherwin-Williams color palette.  For more information on Sherwin-Williams digital color tools, visit www.sherwin-williams.com/homeowners/color.

 Photograph is the "Room of the Week" from Coco+Kelley.

Redecorate your home by creating custom scents and inviting ambiance

Candles and reed diffusers are an ingenious and creative idea for decorating and setting the mood in any room in your home. Home scents are frequently overlooked when creating a personal environment. This month Pier 1 Imports®has introduced a new fragrance Signature Collection. The Signature Collection features six exclusive new scents expertly blended by master perfumers that offer a higher concentration of precious perfume oils to fill a home with a refined, luxurious fragrance.

The six new scents offered in a variety of hand-poured candles and reed diffusers include: Caribbean Blossoms - a fresh floral scent; Maui Sunset - a sparkling fruit scent; Bombay Saffron - a spiced wood scent; Tibetan Ginger - an energized spice scent; Patisserie Spice - a spicy gourmand scent; Mexican Vanilla - a sensual gourmand scent. While each scent alone adds a new dimension of individuality to the home, the scents can also be combined to create a new, custom fragrance within the home. 

 

Each scent is crafted to create a pleasing environment on its own. Here are some creative mood-setting tips for decorating with candles and reed diffuser scents.  
Living room – How to create your own woody, earthy fruit aromas:
1. Place a Maui Sunset Reed Diffuser at one end of the room and a Patchouli Reed Diffuser at the opposite end - more may be needed for larger rooms.
2. Keep Patchouli and Ginger Peach candles lit. Complete the ambience with a beautiful mosaic bowl filled with Ginger Peach Potpourri and refresh the space occasionally with Patchouli Room Spray.

Kitchen – How to create your personal zesty, crisp citrus oasis
1. Keep a Citrus Cilantro Reed Diffuser on the kitchen counter and the warmth from the kitchen will intensify the fragrance power.
2. Burn Maui Sunset Candle in a large glass hurricane on the kitchen island for a fresh, fruity effervescence.
3. Refresh the room with Crisp Bamboo Room Spray periodically to mask cooking odors.

“Pier 1 Imports has a long history of leading innovation in fragrance products,” said Cathy David, Executive Vice President of Merchandising for Pier 1 Imports. “The new Signature Collection will inspire a new way of thinking about how fragrance can be used to enhance any living environment.”

 “Smell is our most evocative sense, and yet, it is most often the last sense that we think about pampering,” said Mark David Boberick, Managing Editor for The Perfume Magazine.com.  “Your home should be your sanctuary, filled with not only the décor that brings you joy, but also the scents that stir your emotions and take your environment to the next level.”

Boberick has created a set of home fragrance recipes exclusively for Pier 1 customers to try, with different fragrances matched to various rooms and areas in the home.  For example, Boberick suggests for the dining room a “Delicious and Decadent” scent that is created by a combination of a Patisserie Spice Reed Diffuser, Ember Potpourri, a Bombay Saffron Candle and Vanilla Crème Room Spray. 

To learn more about the new fragrance Signature Collection and get fragrance recipes ideas for your home, visit Pier 1 to see the exclusive collection of candles and fragrance-related items.

For the latest tips on decorating, interior design trends and news, please visit Shore Region Interior Design Examiner. And for food and restaurant news and seasonal recipes, visit me at Shore Region Food and Drink Examiner, Shore Region Restaurant Examiner 

 

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day savoring traditional Irish dishes

Did you know that there are 34.7 million U.S. residents with Irish ancestry - more than seven times the population of Ireland itself?  This Saturday, March 17, Irish Americans, Irish immigrants and those who may claim to have a wee bit of Irish heritage or just want to be Irish for a day will be celebrating while downing Guinness Stout and dining on traditional Irish fare, the most popular being Corned Beef and Cabbage.

Though cabbage has long been an Irish food, corned beef only began to be associated with St. Patrick's Day at the turn of the century. Bacon and Cabbage was the original Irish dish that eventually evolved into corned beef and cabbage. In Ireland on Saint Patrick’s Day, which falls during the Christian season of Lent, Irish families would traditionally attend church in the morning and celebrate in the afternoon. Lenten prohibitions against the consumption of meat were waived and people would dance, drink and feast on the traditional meal of Irish bacon and cabbage. Irish immigrants living on New York City’s Lower East Side substituted corned beef for their traditional dish of Irish bacon to save money. They learned about the cheaper alternative from their Jewish neighbors.

In addition to Corned Beef and Cabbage, traditional Irish dishes include Irish Soda Bread, Colcannon (potatoes, cabbage and wild garlic), Irish Brown Bread, Champ (mashed potatoes with chopped scallions), Shepherd’s Pie and Boxty, a type of potato pancake. For a modern interpretation of the traditional Irish Stew try this recipe for Beef and Guinness Stew.

While seafood has always been consumed by Irish people, shellfish dishes have increased in popularity in recent times, especially due to the high quality of shellfish available from Ireland's coastline, e.g. Dublin Bay Prawns and oysters, which are often served with Guinness, as well as other crustaceans. A good example of an Irish dish for shellfish is Dublin Lawyer - lobster cooked in whiskey and cream. Fish most commonly consumed are salmon and cod.

When raising your glass on St. Patrick’s Day with Sláinte, you might say this toast to your family and friends - “May you live to be a hundred years, with one extra year to repent.”

And, remember this old Irish recipe for longevity:
Leave the table hungry.
Leave the bed sleepy.
Leave the bar thirsty.

Enjoy this article? For food news, recipes and an inside look at great restaurants and events, visit Shore Region Food Examiner and Shore Region Restaurant Examiner.

 

Enjoy luscious libations on St. Patrick's Day

St. Patrick’s Day is only six days away and has already been celebrated on the Jersey Shore by a huge Irish population (the state’s biggest St. Patrick’s parade in Belmar was last Sunday) that claims the town of Spring Lake is known as the “Irish Riviera.”

Whether you are looking for your lucky shamrock, hunting for that pot of gold, lusting for an Irish stout or planning a go green party, may the luck of the Irish be with you. To celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, here are a couple of luscious libations to raise a glass with a toast: May your heart be light and your day be bright!

Or maybe with an old Irish blessing: May you be in Heaven a half hour before the Devil knows you're dead!

Exclusiv Vodka offers this delicious touch o’ green cocktail for celebrating the day.

Exclusiv Saint Pat’s-tini  

Ingredients:

• 2 oz Exclusiv Vodka
• 1/2 oz Crême de Cocoa
• 1 oz Bailey's Irish Cream
• 1/2 oz green Crême de Menthe

Directions:

1. Shake first three ingredients
2. Pour into a chilled martini glass and then sink Green Crême de Menthe
3. Garnish with a mint leaf and chocolate shavings

With a St. Patrick’s Day dinner party or any party, there is no more perfect and soothing after-dinner libation than an Irish Coffee. Although different variations of coffee cocktails pre-dates the now classic Irish Coffee with at least 100 years, the original Irish coffee was, according to sources, invented and named by Joe Sheridan, a head chef at the air terminal at Foynes, County Limerick (Foynes' port of entry was the precursor to Shannon International Airport.) The coffee was conceived after a group of American passengers disembarked from a Pan Am flying boat on a miserable winter evening in the 1943. Joe added whiskey to the coffee to warm the passengers. After the passengers asked if they were being served Brazilian coffee, Joe told them it was Irish coffee.

  Irish Coffee

Directions for the perfect mug of Irish java:
Black coffee is poured into a glass mug.
Whiskey and at least one level teaspoon of sugar is stirred in until fully dissolved.*
The sugar is essential for floating cream on top. Thick softly whipped heavy cream is carefully poured over the back of a spoon initially held just above the surface of the coffee and gradually raised a little.
The layer of cream will float on the coffee without mixing. The coffee is drunk through the layer of cream.
*Alternative is to stir whiskey and sugar together to dissolve sugar and taste for sweetness before pouring in the coffee.

Enjoy this article? Please click on the “Subscribe” button above to receive e-mail alerts when new articles are posted with current food news, recipes and an inside look at great restaurants and events, visit Shore Region Food Examiner and Shore Region Restaurant Examiner.

 

 

Pantone has revealed its Color of the Year 2012, vivacious Tangerine Tango

Pantone LLC, Carlstadt, New Jersey (an X-Rite company), has designated Tangerine Tango the 2012 color of the year. It is a spirited reddish orange that provides the spark we need to recharge and move forward in 2012. While Honeysuckle, the 2011 color of the year, encouraged us to face everyday troubles with energy and vigor, Tangerine Tango (Pantone 17-1463), as the color of the year for 2012, is a vivacious, enticing hue. Tangerine Tango marries the verve and adrenalin rush of red with the friendliness and warmth of yellow to form a high-visibility, magnetic hue that emanates heat and energy.

“Sophisticated but at the same time dramatic and seductive, Tangerine Tango is an orange with a lot of depth to it,” said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®. “Reminiscent of the radiant shadings of a sunset, Tangerine Tango marries the vivaciousness and adrenaline rush of red with the friendliness and warmth of yellow, to form a high-visibility, magnetic hue that emanates heat and energy.” Pantone LLC, Carlstadt, New Jersey (an X-Rite company), is the global authority on color and provider of professional color standards for the design industries.

Over the past several years, orange has grown in popularity and acceptance among designers and consumers alike. A provocative attention-getter, Tangerine Tango is especially appealing in men’s and women’s fashion as is being shown in this year’s New York Spring Fashion Week. Fashion designers featured in the PANTONE Fashion Color Report Spring 2012, include Tommy Hilfiger, Nanette Lepore, Cynthia Steffe by Shaun Kearney, Elie Tahari and Adrienne Vittadini, who are incorporating this attractive orange into their spring collections. A fun, lively take on a traditional autumnal hue, Tangerine Tango will surely carry through to fall fashion as well.

In interior design, Tangerine Tango brings energy to interior spaces with patterned home accessories. Pillows, bedspreads and tabletop accessories in this high-impact hue add spice to any room. Or for an accent color, you can incorporate Tangerine Tango appliances and personal electronics as an unexpected pop of color. Looking for an inexpensive way to perk up your home? Paint a wall in Tangerine Tango for a dynamic burst of energy in the kitchen, entryway or hallway.

Tangerine Tango products are also available from Chronicle Books (publisher of “Pantone: The Twentieth Century in Color” and creator of Pantone paperback journals), MyColor inspired by Pantone (a spirited new collection of grab-and-go paints) and PANTONE PAINTS (Pantone’s line of superior-quality, eco-friendly paint.
PANTONE 17-1463 Tangerine Tango can also be cross-referenced to all other.

If you are wondering how Pantone comes up with the color of the year, the company says the color selection is a very thoughtful process. To arrive at the selection, Pantone quite literally combs the world looking for color influences. This can include the entertainment industry and films that are in production, traveling art collections, hot new artists, popular travel destinations and other socio-economic conditions. Influences may also stem from technology, availability of new textures and effects that impact color, and even upcoming sports events that capture worldwide attention.

For more than a decade, Pantone’s Color of the Year has influenced product development and purchasing decisions in multiple industries, including fashion, home and industrial design, as well as product packaging and graphic design. For more information about Tangerine Tango or how to dress up your home this season with color, visit Pantone’s very informative website here.

For the latest interior design news, visit Shore Region Interior Design Examiner.  Interested in the latest food and restaurant news and seasonal recipes, visit me at Shore Region Food and Drink Examiner and Shore Region Restaurant Examiner.

Tempting foods for seductive Valentine's Day gifts

If staying cozy at home is your passion, Sickles Market, Little Silver, has created some sumptuous Valentine gifts guaranteed to spark a fire in your love’s heart. And, there is nothing like a little heat to make the heart grow fonder. The Spice up Valentine’s Day gift is a gourmet collection from around the world that includes: Chocolate and Cinnamon, Chocolate Chili Biscuits, Pepper Honey and Midnight Spaghetti ($50). For a soothing and sensuous dessert, try the Everything Chocolate Valentine box with Chocolate Truffle Hot Chocolate, Belgian Chocolate Fondue and a Red Dark Chocolate bar ($25). Or maybe a beautiful, fragrant bouquet of red roses will be the perfect present. Order online at shop.sicklesmarket.com or call 732-741-9563. Sickles Market is at 1 Harrison Avenue, Little Silver.

Does you honey have a sweet tooth or a yearning for cupcakes and cookies? At Sugarush you can create you own special Valentine’s cupcake at the Cupcake Bar or maybe create a bouquet of sugary cake pops covered in mini hearts. The options to personalize your Valentine are endless. Sugarush is at 37 East Front Street, Red Bank, 732-414-9044.

Traditionally, chocolates are a “given” on Valentine’s Day. Nothing says “Happy Valentine’s Day” better than a heart-shaped box filled with delicious home made and hand-crafted chocolates. The Red Bank Chocolate Shoppe is showcasing a beautiful assortment of handmade chocolates, chocolate-covered pretzels and oreos, and truffles.
Red Bank Chocolate Shoppe is located at 17 White Street, Red Bank. Call 732-219-0822 or order online at redbankchocolateshoppe.

If sweet chocolate is not your pleasure, give your sweetheart a trio of Dark Chocolate, Champagne and Strawberry Balsamic Vinegars from Carter & Cavero Old World Olive Oil Company. These savory vinegars are perfect to drizzle over lush strawberries for a tasty dessert.The vinegars are on sale through Valentine’s Day - $10.95 for a 200 ml bottle and $18.95 for a 500 ml bottle. Carter & Cavero has stores in Long Branch, Red Bank, Princeton and Summit, New Jersey or you can order online.

If you prefer to stay at home on Valentine’s Day, Delicious Orchards has the perfect solution. Order a Valentine’s Breakfast in Bed. Wake up to the aroma of freshly brewed coffee or tea along with traditional Buckwheat Pancakes and pure Vermont Maple Syrup. Finish the meal with Delicious Orchards’ own Swiss Butter Cookies topped with milk chocolate and sprinkles, $37.99. To order, call 732-462-1989 or visit deliciousorchardsonline.com. Delicious Orchards is on Route 34 South, Colts Neck.

For the latest food and restaurant news and seasonal recipes, visit me at Shore Region Restaurant Examiner and Shore Region Food Examiner.

 

Exclusiv Vodka contest kicks off Super Bowl party plans for Giants’ fans

Super Bowl Sunday is rapidly approaching and Giants’ fans are planning festive parties for giant gatherings to snack and cheer their team on to a big win. And, having a little libation during the game always takes the edge off the intensity of competition.

In celebrating this momentous event, Exclusiv Vodka is holding The Big Game Cocktail Contest in search of the most fun and festive football-inspired cocktail. Contestants (who must be 21 or over) are asked to create a cocktail using their wildest imagination – perhaps a blue Giant-tini cocktail or Giants blue Jello Shots. Here are a few recipe ideas to stir up from the National Cocktails Examiner.

The winner of the contest will receive a prize package featuring Exclusiv Vodka's Rosé Moscato wine, every flavor of vodka - raspberry, orange and the original - and hip fleece jackets! The winner can use the prize package’s contents for his/her Super Bowl party.

Participants can enter by clicking "like" on Exclusiv Vodka's Facebook page and then post their recipe (with or without photo) on the page, along with a comment about Exclusiv Vodka's taste and/or comparison to other vodkas. The deadline for entering is February 7, 2012.  Contestants must be 21 or over and must develop a cocktail using Exclusiv Vodka that celebrates their favorite football team – the Giants, of course.  The most creative and fun cocktail will be chosen the next day and the winner will be contacted through Facebook about receiving the prize pack featuring every flavor of Exclusiv Vodka's vodka, Exclusiv Vodka's Rosé Moscato wine, and the fleece jackets. All of the contest entrants must have a valid address in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, or South Carolina.

This month, The Beverage Tasting Institute rated Exclusiv Vodka from Moldova “excellent” awarding the distinct Vodka a 91-point rating in the International Review of Spirits on Tastings.com, the website of The Beverage Tasting Institute. 

For information about where to purchase Exclusiv Vodka in your area, jump here.

For the latest food and restaurant news and seasonal recipes, visit me at Shore Region Restaurant Examiner and Shore Region Food Examiner.

 

Betty Crocker Creates Celebration Cake for America's “Golden Girl,” Betty White’s 90th Birthday

Two legendary American icons are celebrating their 90^th birthdays this year – first lady of food, Betty Crocker, and first lady of theatrical stardom, Betty White. In a tribute to Betty White’s 90^th birthday, Betty Crocker has created a show-stopping birthday cake, a vibrant Triple Chocolate Celebration Cake inspired by the legendary star, which will be presented to White at a special program aired on NBC-TV, Monday, January 16 at 8 p.m. ET. Betty Crocker will also provide each celebrity guest of the NBC special with one of several hundred individual cakes that replicate the look of the Celebration Cake’s top tier.

According to Kristen Olson, food editor with Betty Crocker, Betty White is one of the most popular actresses of our time, and Betty Crocker is honored to create this one-of-a-kind birthday cake for her. It is Betty Crocker’s gift to Betty White in celebration of her ninety amazing years and reflects her personality and the many things America love about her.

The three-tiered Triple Chocolate Celebration Cake, flown by private plane from Betty Crocker’s Minneapolis home to Los Angeles for Betty White’s birthday, is a decadent chocolate cake layered with sumptuous chocolate mousse and rich chocolate ganache. Marrying classic and modern elements, the red, orange and magenta cake is decorated with dozens of fondant roses, shimmery edible pearls and golden candles – and hidden among the roses – a small replica of Betty’s beloved dog Pontiac.

The original first lady of food, Betty Crocker has kept up with the times and continues to serve as a resource for the modern cook. Betty Crocker is celebrating 90 successful years of bringing together family and friends by releasing a brand new edition of the Betty Crocker Cookbook, “Big Red.” With more than 65 million copies sold since its first edition was published in 1950, the new version allows readers for the first time ever to have exclusive access to an online cookbook destination (bettycrocker.com/BCcookbook).

In celebrating White's 90th birthday, the NBC 90-minute special will honor one of the world's most beloved entertainers. The star-studded event will be taped live at the Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles. Some of Hollywood's biggest stars, including many of White's co-stars, will be on hand to deliver their birthday wishes. The evening will include special musical performances, surprise appearances and comedy, featuring the irreverent tone, spirit and energy that are the hallmark of White's six-decade career in show business.

Enjoy this article? For more food news, recipes and an inside look at great restaurants and events, please visit me at Shore Region Restaurant Examiner and Shore Region Food Examiner

 

 

 

Tasteful last minute gifts for the holidays and the hostess

With Christmas and Hanukkah only a week away, last minute shoppers may result to panic as to what to give that special person. One of the most loved and appreciated gifts any friend or family member is happy to receive if the gift of specialty or gourmet foods that one would normally not indulge in. Here are a few suggestions from some very special gourmet shops and artisans on the Jersey Shore. And, if you hurry, many of these items can be ordered online in time for your holiday celebration.

At Sickles Market, Little Silver, there is a wealth of gourmet and goodie food products from which to select. The award-winning Bequet Gourmet Caramels, hand-crafted by a master caramel chef are guaranteed to please everyone’s sweet tooth. Flavors include CelticSea Salt Vanilla Butter Caramel, classic Vanilla Butter Caramel and Salt-Dark Chocolate Butter Caramel - all natural with no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. Bequet Caramels are $8.99 and available online at shop.sicklesmarket.com.

For cheese lovers, there is Sickles' Cheese of the Month Club, described as "a party in a box." Each month gourmet cheese experts pair three complementary cheeses or charcuterie, accompaniments like jams, honey, and nuts, product descriptions, tasting notes, and suggestions for enjoying them. Available in 3, 6, and 12-month subscriptions, prices start at $125.00 for 3 Months and can be ordered online at shopsicklesmarket.com

Are you preparing to throw a party? Try Sickles Spicy Hot Cocktail Collection. Warm up with friends or make your party hot, hot, hotter than ever with Sickles' Hot Cocktails Gift Set. This essential collection spices up your favorite libations with Mazi Piri Piri authentic Portuguese-style hot sauce, McClure's Bloody Mary Mix, Sable & Rosenfeld Tipsy Cocktail Stirrers, and includes spicy snacks like MV's Best Jalapeno Peanuts and McClure's Spicy Spears Pickles. Some like it hot; this gift is for them. $55.00 (Also available online).

Celebrate Jersey Pride with a Jersey Gift Basket. It’s made to eat local or remind someone of home with a collection of gourmet goodies from the Garden State. These gourmet gift sets and baskets celebrate classics like Jersey Tomatoes and Jersey Diners, as well as introducing new favorites like Mazi Piri Piri authentic Portuguese style hot sauce, made in Asbury Park, and Jersey Girl chocolates as sweet and fabulous as a Jersey Girl, herself. $45.00, $100, or $200. All gift items areavailable online at shop.sicklesmarket.com. Sickles Market, 1 Harrison Avenue, Little Silver, 732.741,9563.

At Carter & Cavero Old World Oil Company (stores are in Summit, Princeton, Long Branch and Red Bank), gifts will transport you to the Mediterranean with exotic flavors of Spain in the specially created olive oils and vinegars, hand-crafted dinner ware in olive oil wood, terra cotta cookware and hand-painted pottery by Spanish artist, Tito. For the gourmet-loving family, there is the Holiday Gift Basket that includes Spanish Hojiblanca Extra-Virgin Olive Oil and Basil Olive Oil, Traditional and Fig Italian Balsamic Vinegars, a tin bread dipping spices, a package of Sugar "Crack" Almonds from Puglia, Italy, a box of Picos de Aceite (traditional Spanish tapas crackers), sun dried tomato spread, jars of hummus, Spanish green olive tapenade and Spanish black olive tapenade and a four-inch cazuela (traditional terra cotta dipping dish from Spain), $99.95.

For the gourmand who loves exotic seasonings, the Truffle Lover’s Basket is the ideal gift. The basket includes Truffle Egg Pasta, Carter & Cavero Truffle Salt and a bottle of Carter & Cavero Truffle Olive Oil, $55.95. And for the perfectionist hostess, the Hostess Gift Basket is sure to please her. To tingle her tastebuds, the basket includes a specially selected pair of olive oil and Italian balsamic vinegar, which can inspire her creativity for making marinades and vinaigrettes and comes in a small cazuela, the traditional terra cotta dipping dish from Spain. Order online at Carter & Cavero Old World Olive Oil Company, or call 877.281.4713.

For chocoholics, the Red Bank Chocolate Shoppe has holiday gift ideas in every chocolate flavors from chocolate covered pretzels to crispy chocolate covered bacon. The Holiday Mini Gift Tower is a tower of elegant, beribboned boxes holding a treasure trove of treats: a special one pound Holiday assortment of “Homemade Chocolate Goodness” in milk and dark chocolates, one pound Holiday pretzel assortment and a 1/2 pound Holiday non-pareils, $57.95. The Holiday Gift Basket will please any age with its two pound assortment of chocolates - Peppermint Bark, Holiday Non-Pareils, Mini White Street Pretzels and Sea Salt Caramels cover in rich Dark Chocolate, $49.95. And for the perfect after-dinner mint, treat your guests to Peppermint Bark a blend of dark chocolate, white chocolate and crisp bites of minty candy canes, $13.95. No time to shop, order online at redbankchocolateshoppe.com. Red Bank Chocolate Shoppe, 17 White Street, Red Bank, 732.219.0822.

Not everyone’s sweet tooth craves candy or chocolate. Sugarush, Red Bank, let’s you create your own gift idea from freshly baked cookies to custom cakes and customizable cupcakes to cake pops, sodas – and candy. Sugarush truly is a sweet experience where the customer becomes the creator whose imagination can run wild in making a confectionary fantasy come to life. Specials on Holiday Cake Pop-ups start on Wednesday, December 21 at Sugarush shop only, $2.50 to $5. And, the Cupcakes Cash is terrific for teachers, your favorite salon stylist or personal trainer. Sugarush, 37 East Front Street, Red Bank, 732.414.9044.

Now is the time to finally finish your holiday gift shopping without the stress and hassle of fighting madness at the malls while supporting your small local businesses at the same time.

For the latest food and restaurant news and seasonal recipes, visit me at Shore Region Food Examiner and Shore Region Restaurant Examiner.