Holiday Gift Guide 2015: Crispy Za'atar Chickpeas

Z knows better than anyone else that I love presents. For me, presents aren't just things, but rather highlight the time and effort someone took into finding you that perfect gift.

Presents don't have to be silk pajamas, jewelry, or a new scarf (though I won't say no to those either). I love small tokens of affection, like little packages in the mail filled with delicious treats, that always seem to arrive come the holiday season. And while you can spend quite a pretty penny at Dean and Deluca, you can easily create delicious food gifts at home on a realistic budget.

These crispy chickpeas are simply delicious, and one of the best food gifts to give and receive! Everyone can eat them (no worrying about dairy, gluten, nuts), and they are just the right amount of salty, crunchy, and addictive. Pour some into a cellophane bag, tie with a cute ribbon, and start mailing them to friends and family across the country. 

These chickpeas are so easy to make that I am also going to whip up a triple batch for Z's and my annual Channukah party. Finding a dairy-free, gluten-free, and vegetarian snack option can be difficult, and these will be a great addition to any holiday party. 

Crispy Za'atar Chickpeas

From NYTimes

2 cups cooked chickpeas, rinsed if canned

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

2 tablespoons Za'atar

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

Spread chickpeas out on a paper towel. Pat dry, then let dry for an hour at room temperature. 

Heat oven to 400 degrees. Line a heavy rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Spread chickpeas evenly on the pan, and bake for ~ 30 minutes, stirring and rotating every 10 minutes. Chickpeas should be crunchy. 

Place chickpeas in a bowl and drizzle with olive oil, Za'atar, and salt. Toss, then enjoy!

Holiday Gift Guide 2015: San Francisco Foodie Treats for Under $20

During the holidays, I love to send family and friends some of my favorite treats from here in San Francisco as gifts. While not all of my family members are bonafide foodies, they do love a delicious meal and a fun treat. It's a great way to share part of my favorite city with loved ones. There's no better way to explore a city than through its food, and San Francisco has plenty to offer.

The best thing about food gifts is that you can find a high quality gift at a great price. All of these presents are under $20!

Passionfruit and olive oil curd sounds delightful on pavlovas, ice cream, and more. $12 from Craftsman and Wolves.

The most beautiful and delicious sweet-and-salty chocolate bars for your sister. $7.95 each from Charles Chocolates.

Bring some Tex-Mex flair to your parents' holiday table with a delicious braising sauce from Tacolicious. $10.99 from Williams Sonoma.

Fill your sister's house with the spicy and sweet smell of masala chai. $17 from Samovar Tea.

Sightglass Coffee is taking the world by storm, and your younger brother will love their fresh beans. $16.75 from Sightglass Coffee.

Father's Day Gift Guide

If you're anything like me, you probably haven't picked out a Father's Day present yet...oops! Thank goodness for Amazon Prime. They always have great things that will get delivered quickly and just in time for Sunday's celebrations. Check out some of my favorite Amazon picks below!

I recently purchased this iPhone charger and it's wonderful! Dad will never have to worry about his phone dying when out at a baseball game ever again. 

Your dad deserves a great cup of coffee. With 425 reviews and a 5 star rating, this wonderful French Press coffee maker will delight dad this Father's Day.

Dad's desk needs something new, and it's not a picture of you at age 5. This moss terrarium is impossible to kill, even if your father doesn't have a green thumb.

Your dad keeps wanting to go on a craft brewery tour, so why not bring the craft brewery home? This beer kit will help him make his own IPA. 

Favorite Finds: Graduation Gifts

Graduation season is in full force, which means graduation gift-giving is as well! Zach's sister and cousin both graduated from college this year, so the topic has been on my mind lately.

Here are my favorite kitchen items for new grads. Whether the graduate in your life is a bonafide chef or just learning how to make pasta, you'll find a gift here!

Nutribullet, $105: This easy to clean blender is perfect for on-the-go smoothies before work. 

Mark Bittman's How to Cook Everything, $20: This cookbook staple really does have a recipe for everything, and it features simple, classic recipes.

Ina Garten's Barefoot Contessa: Back to Basics, $26: Ina's simple instructions ensures a perfect meal every time, and the recipes are perfect for new cooks. 

Cast Iron Skillet, $23: Cast iron skillets work on the stovetop and in the oven, plus they are easy to clean. They are perfect for one-pan meals!

Egg Tea Towel, $24: LEIF makes great home accessories, and this biology poster inspired tea towel will liven up any boring kitchen apartment. 

Valentine's Day Gift Guide: Food Gifts

These are the cutest gifts you'll find out there! They are deliciously sweet and filled with cheer--sure to make even the gloomiest person feeling the love on February 14th.

1) Microwaveable chocolate fondue. Need I say more? Bonus points if you also bring marshmallows, strawberries, and pound cake. {link}

2) These spunky chocolate covered pretzels are sure to delight your valentine. These are the gifts I would give to all of my girlfriends! They're basically a party in a box. {link}

3) Mouth.com continues to crush it in the gift department. This Valentine's Day collection comes in two sizes (XO and XOXO) and features some of the best chocolate and sweet treats in the country. {link}

4) Top-notch coffee and Jeni's ice cream. The key to my heart is now available for $52. {link}

5) These cups fit perfectly on a mug and come in the cutest colors. Bring a whole bunch in to the office to spread the Valentine's Day spirit! {link}

Valentine's Day Gift Guide: For Her

Happy Tuesday! All this week, I'll be bringing you some Valentine's Day gift guides. You'll find the perfect present for the lovely lady or man in your life.

Today's gift guide is for your favorite lady--be it your mom, sister, girlfriend, or wife. Celebrate the love with everyone in your life!

1. Liberty has the greatest prints, and I love that you can find so many bright and fun home goods through them. Any baker would love to have this beautiful cake stand on her kitchen counter. It makes any cake (be it from a box or from scratch) look more delicious.

{link}

2. Every lady needs some Oscar de la Renta in her closet. These earrings, in a festive red, don't break the bank! Give them to her before dinner, so she can wear them out! {link}

3. The blush ombre silk robe of my dreams. Give her this silk robe and then make her breakfast in bed! {link}

4. Fulfill her Downton Abbey fantasies by gifting her an antique tea cup. This Etsy site has some great finds. Bonus points if you give her this tea as well.

5. Roses are overrated. Beautiful bud vases--with a fresh flower or two--are the cool floral gifts this year. {link}

Holiday Gift Guide: Cookie Lover

For the cookie monster in your life, bring them delicious treats all year long with these great cookie-themed gifts!

1) Send them crazy cool ice cream sandwiches thanks to CoolHaus {link}

2) Holiday cookie plates the cookie monster who could use a break from baking {link}

3) I'm obsessed with Milkbar cookies, and now you can make them at home too! {link}


4) Who wouldn't love a set of these adorable tea party inspired cookie cutters? {link}

5) The ultimate decorating tool for beautiful sugar cookies {link}

Holiday Gift Guide 2014: San Francisco Favorites

For those of you wanting to support your local Bay Area companies during the holiday season, this gift guide is for you! There are so many wonderful companies here in San Francisco making high-quality food products, serveware, and other fun gifts. These are the perfect presents for your Bay Area friends...

1) Heath Ceramics makes the most amazing serveware that both your friends in Pac Heights and the Mission can agree on {$129, link}

2) Tacolicious is one of my favorite local restaurants, and you can buy their sauces through Williams Sonoma {$13, link}

3) Help your friend recreate recipes from Bar Tartine, the restaurant from the famed Tartine Bakery family {$29, link}

4) Single origin chocolate from a company based in the Mission. You can even stop in on Valencia St if you want to sample in person {$20, link}

5) This Oakland-based chocolate company makes all of these beautiful truffles by hand {$35, link}

6) Sport your favorite Bay Area coffee brand while picking up groceries at the Farmer's Market {$25, link}

Holiday Gift Guide 2014: Giving Back

Every holiday season, I reminded of all the things that I have--a stable job, a place to live, clean water, food to eat, and of course, a wonderful support network of family and friends. It's important to remember that so many of us in this world are not nearly as lucky. 

All of these holiday presents give something back to the community!

1) This FEED bag is perfect for groceries and provides two school children with food for a year {$100, link}

2) Brown Water Coffee brings you freshly roasted coffee (they roast it the day before it is shipped!) and the company helps provide clean drinking water {$16, link}

3) Half of the profits for this sparkling wine goes to charity:water {$44, link}

4) Each tin of these cookies from Karlie Kloss and Christina Tosi provide 60 meals to children in need {$22, link}

5) Benefits for the beautiful chocolate set go to Relief International in Darfur {$30, link}

Holiday Gift Guide 2014: Coffee Lover

This is for the person in your life who doesn't think twice about spending $3 on a cup of coffee, who walks the extra 10 minutes to go to the best coffee shop around, always has a selection of freshly roasted coffee at home...

These are the perfect holiday gifts for the coffee lover in your life!

1) The automated coffee machine of my dreams {$280, link}

2) So she never has to be without good coffee, even when on a work trip in the middle of nowhere {$179, link}

3) A classic for a reason, this Chemex will brew perfect coffee every time {$88, link}

4) The most stylish French Press for a lazy weekend brunch {$80, link}

5) This Kickstarter cult favorite will make it easier for her to enjoy her favorite iced coffee {$75, link}

6) Coffee tastes better in prettier mugs, and anyone would be lucky to have these beauties {$48, link}

7) The cutest creamer that adds some personality to the table {$16, link}

Holiday Gift Guide 2014: Cocktail Connoisseur

For the guy in your life who barely knows how to cook, but he makes a mean Manhattan...These are the perfect gifts to give the mixologist for Christmas and Chanukah!

1) How could you pass up an opportunity to buy someone chocolate whiskey? {$23, link}

2) A true gentleman needs cocktail picks to match {$137, link}

3) Handcrafted bitters to improve his at-home bartending game {$26, link}

4) Nothing seems more luxurious than a monogrammed cocktail shaker {$32, link}

5) Everything he needs (except the alcohol) to make an Old Fashioned on the plane ride home {$24, link}

6) Top-notch cocktails require top-notch ice cubes as well {$399, link}

7) Stainless-steel coasters so cocktail hour doesn't lead to ruined furniture {$60, link}

8) Science-driven cocktail book will guarantee you an invitation to his next cocktail party {$22, link}

Holiday Gift Guide 2014: The Francophile

Now that is is full holiday mode, I am sharing a few things that I, and anyone on your list, would love to receive! I'll be featuring holiday guides all week.

This morning's gift guide is for that person in your life who dreams of escaping the States for Paris. Her French is impeccable, she always has that perfect messy hair, and she knows how to make a great French Onion Soup.

1) The ultimate gift: LeCreuset cookware in hot orange {$280, link}

2) What better tray than this one for croissants in the morning? {$110, link}

3) She can finally master the perfect elegant yet simple dessert dish, thanks to Dorie Greenspan {$23, link}

4) A baking dish that will make her feel as if she is cooking in Provence {$36, link}

5) The cutest tin of Parisian fruit candies {$16, link}

6) Because she never has enough fleur de sel {$15, link}