What food or food-related Christmas gifts this year?

Food related are the two cookbooks I mentioned in an earlier post and not so food related is a Nikon D5000 camera with an extra lens. I always complain about my food photos, and while I prefer taking close-ups of birds, flowers, leaves, and also landscapes, I do like to photograph my food at times. Maybe I will be inspired to come up with ideas for better presentations.

Each year my husband gives me money to spend on myself for Christmas. Of course, that always translates into something for the kitchen that will benefit him as well. Earlier this year I got a curry pot from Emile Henry (seconds) . It quickly became my favorite toy. This week I will purchase two more pieces from this Flame Top Collection-- the braiser and the 2.6 qt round dutch oven. The pots are amazing and a complete dream to cook with. I'm still using the first set of "good" stainless steel pots I purchased for myself in 1984. And, while they still do the job, I've been looking for something else to augment and replace certain pieces that are suited to the type of cooking I do today. I think I've found it with these pieces. I absolutely love them.

I truly lucked out this year. Perhaps because I am always berating Israel for being a country in which it is impossible to find good pastrami, a friend in New York send me an entire brisket of beef that had gone through the remarkable transition from being merely beef to being fine kosher pastrami. Also included in the package, a large jar of Deli Mustard and two other jars, one of plump kosher pickles and one of sauerkraut. As might be said: God's in her heaven and all's well in the Rogov kitchen.

Best
Rogov

Interesting point of syntax. Did you know that in the UK (and therefore here in Australia as well), the expression "lucked out" means the exact opposite of what it does in the US? Over here, "lucked out" means you were out of luck, or unlucky. It took me a while to figure out that Rogov meant the reverse..

Celia

"Separated only by a common language".

"Separated only by a common language".

Like "You've got two chances. Fat and slim".

At long last, a real zester.

We sent a mixed pack of Wolferman's to the in-laws.

Santa brought kurbiskerne pesto (pumpkin seed) and hazelnut bark from Austria for my partner, and a whole lotta chocolate-covered orange peel (Jacques Torres, Teuscher) for me. Oh, and he brought Hanukkah gelt!

Among the non-edibles, for me, is a Hungarian cookbook, "The Shameless Carnivore", and a copy of "Chef on Fire". (Hi, Chef!)

Hi, Jeff! (Don't use the index!).

I forgot to mention that I also got a couple of minor items: a shredder and a set of splatter screens. The splatter screen that I currently use dates from the early '70s, believe it or not, and it has seen better days (goodbye, old friend...). I remember paying about $4 for it back then. And now you can get them for $1 in today's money at a dollar store.

As usual, my best Christmas presents are from myself

I ordered a care package of Rancho Gordo beans. It's my first time with them, can't wait to try them. I got inspiration after trying some dried cannellinis from the farmer's market (fabulous). Included in my Rancho Gordo beans are 2 pounds of flageolets. It's just about cassoulet time.

I received an immersion circulator for sous vide preparations. The best thing I have made with it so far is butter poached lobster. Flavorful with excellent texture.