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!

Favorite Finds: Aprons

 For Friendsgiving, I invited some of my closest girlfriends over for a delicious meal. As everyone was sitting down to eat, I had a few things left in the kitchen to do (carve the turkey, heat up the gravy).

 Since I was wearing one of my favorite outfits (a black silk tank top with a lace covered pencil skirt), I pulled out an old terry cloth robe and threw it on over my outfit. I didn't want to get my outfit dirty, and I (embarrassingly) didn't own an apron. 

Needless to say, my friends made so much fun of me. I had a house full of people, I'm wearing a fancy outfit, and I threw on a bright fuchsia bathrobe to protect myself. I looked really silly. 

This year for my birthday, my best friend Viv put together an incredibly thoughtful gift for me. She works at Zazzle, which makes customizable products, and she made a Hilary Stone Soup apron for me, complete with the Hilary Stone Soup logo!

It was too cute not to share, and for those of you who need an apron yourself, below are two of my favorite picks.

I incidentally bought this Parisian printed apron ($17) the day before Vivian gave me the Hilary Stone Soup apron!

I love love love Hedley & Bennet aprons, and so do many famous chefs! This striped apron ($85) with a tie in the front is great for both sexes. 

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: 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}

Gourmet Mother's Day Gifts

(1) Coeur a la creme molds that are beautiful enough to double as a tray from knick knacks

(2) David Lebovitz's newest cookbook will have your Francophile mom feeling as if she is in Paris

(3) A gorgeous  hydrangea and peony bay wreath for the hostess

(4) Graeter's ultimate ice cream gift for any mom who loves chocolate chunks in her ice cream

(5) Let your mom drink as if she's in the Big Easy with Blue Bottle's New Orleans iced coffee kit

(6) If your mom dreams of having tea with Kate, send her tea from the Queen's favorite places, Fortnum and Mason

(7) Every mom needs a personal stash of chocolate...

(8) Make her Mother's Day brunch extra special with kouing amans from Les Madelines