Tag: Holidays 2018

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Minnesota Christmas

Christmas time has always been my favorite time of year. From all of the lights, to the snow frosted trees, to the dancing notes of cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, and baked apples, to the love and warmth of being surrounded and sharing in holiday joy with friends and family, the holiday season is unlike any other time of year. The spirit of the season is seemingly alive, finding shelter in nearly all of those whom you come into contact with, which can only be described as an all-encompassing blissful wonderment.

As young children, and even into our late teens and early twenties, my siblings and I would wake up at nearly 3am on Christmas morning and rush downstairs to see what Santa had left for us, carefully tiptoeing past our parents room as to not wake up our mom. As we sat surrounded by stacks of gifts and overflowing stockings, my siblings and I would rifle through the loot in our stockings before trying to guess what each of our wrapped packages contained. My dad, who is the only person that I know who starts his day at 4am, would soon find us downstairs eating candy and eagerly waiting to open our gifts. My dad would put on a movie or TV show for us and we would each find a spot on the couch, and if excitement allowed us, we’d fall back asleep until our mom was awake and ready to document each of us opening up our gifts. I treasure these memories dearly, and I hope to one day create the same magical experiences with my own children.

As per tradition, each Christmas morning before gifts were opened, my mom or I would make cinnamon rolls, pancakes, and scrambled eggs, which, due to anticipation for gift opening, hardly got eaten. Each of my siblings and I would take turns opening gifts, taking turns sitting on a chair positioned in front of the Christmas tree so that my mom could photograph each gift being opened, as my dad sat on the corner of the couch videotaping the madness. This is something we still do to this day, however, as each of my siblings and I get older, the less focused we are on receiving gifts, but we rather appreciate the time spent together so much more. This year, instead of asking for a plethora of material gifts we asked for an experience, so my parents are taking us to the Dominican Republic for a week of fun in the sun!

The older I get, the more and more I love just being present and sharing in love, joy, and laughter with my friends and family, and it’s now my favorite part about Christmas. I love cooking together, sharing in laughter together, eating together, celebrating together, more over, just being together, all encased in the warmth and love of the season. I cherish this time of year dearly.

I hope you all have the chance to experience the magic of the holiday season!

Happy holidays and happy Friday!

Payton

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Hostess Gift Ideas

The holiday season is in full swing, and I’m sure you, like many, are frantically searching for the best gifts to give to those in your life. Finding the perfect gift can be challenging, as it should be thoughtful, personal, and enjoyable. Admittedly, I am not the best gift-giver, never have been, and may in fact never be, but I always try my hardest to be thoughtful of the individual receiving the gift. This year at Julie’s Beet, we’re highlighting experiences paired with delicious culinary gems from our marketplace as gifts to give to the treasured people in your life, but that’s for another post. This post will be focused on giving something sweet and thoughtful to the host of your holiday party…. and if in fact that individual happens to be you, more the reason to treat yourself for a job well done this holiday season.

A host or hostess gift can be large or small, simple or elaborate, and acts as a symbol of thankfulness and gratitude to that individual for hosting you in his or her home or space. It can be something as simple as a bottle of wine, or something more elaborate like a wine decanter, candles, a decorative vase, or dinnerware. Whatever the gift may be, it’s always a nice touch to show the host or hostess that you thought of him or her.

Since we’re all about food, we think the best host or hostess gift should be comprised of something edible or food related. Below, you’ll find some of our favorite products paired together to create the perfect gift for the host or hostess. If you chose to purchase the products together, or instead purchase a single item, we can assure you that the recipient of the gift will be delighted!

First, who doesn’t love chocolate? Barely anyone. Chocolate is a great gift because it is adored, treasured, and craved by many. It also pairs nicely with wine… and no one is ever disappointed with a gift of wine. This year, shower your host or hostess with an assortment of Rococo Chocolates Artisan bars, which are crafted from the finest quality ingredients, are wrapped in beautifully designed packaging, and are a luxury British chocolate. Pair the assortment of bars with Rococo Chocolates Organic Drinking Chocolate and Paul and Pippa Cocoa Chip Biscuits for a host or hostess gift fit for a God or Goddess… (Get it? Because chocolate is said to be the food of the Gods.) This gift of chocolate is sure to please!

Maybe the individual hosting your holiday party is an avid home cook, and if so, help him or her stock their pantry with the essentials. Five Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Five Balsamic Vinegar, Jacobsen Salt Co. Kosher Sea Salt and Oregon Flake Sea Salt are an amazing addition to any cupboard or pantry, and any home cook would be more than delighted to receive them as a gift. Five Olive Oil was created by World Excellence Products in Greece, and they hold their product to a very high standard — which is apparent after first taste, as the taste of Five Olive Oil is unparalleled. Founded in 2011, Jacobsen Salt Co. was the first company to harvest salt in the Pacific Northwest since Lewis & Clark built their salt works in 1805, and is now recognized as America’s leading salt maker. Jacobsen Salt Co. salt boasts a pure taste and beautiful presentation and is treasured by chefs and home cooks alike. If you really love and treasure the host or hostess, add in some beautifully crafted spice blends from La Boîte which are meticulously studied and crafted. These pantry essentials will act as the perfect gift for the chef or aspiring chef in your life.

Next, on to our wine and cheese loving host or hostess. A bottle of wine by itself makes for an amazing host or hostess gift, but pair it with a box of The Matzo Project Matzo Crackers, a jar of Gus and Grey Jam, a bottle of Bee Local Hot Honey, and maybe an assortment of cheeses, and you’ve got yourself a gift that keeps on giving. This is the perfect gift that can be enjoyed as a relaxing ‘treat-your-self’ snack as a means to relax and regroup after hosting a holiday party.

Lastly, why not give the host or hostess of your holiday party the option for a quick and easy breakfast? Cue Lucy’s Granola, a box of Paper and Tea Tea, a jar of Gus and Grey Jam, and loaf of sour dough bread. This gift will bring bring an amazing post-holiday breakfast together in no time flat. This too is a gift that keeps on giving.

This holiday season, in midst of shopping for the perfect gift for those on your  list, be sure to include something special for the individuals hosting your holiday gatherings. As mentioned above, the gift can be small and sweet, or slightly more elaborate, as it’s the gesture and thought that counts — but with the help of our suggestions above, we hope that the thought and gesture is well received and greatly appreciated.

Happy Holidays!

Payton

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Our Shared Table, the Countdown to Thanksgiving

The warm hug of radiating love. The gentle melody of dancing laughter. The glimmer of magic manifested from being surround by those whom you love. These are just a few of the reasons why I love Thanksgiving, moreover the holiday season as a collective. Coming from a large family, the holiday season has always been a magical time for me, as there is something so special about gathering with your family and friends. From the smell of burning wood, cinnamon, and baked apples, to the outward pouring of love and joy, and not to mention the immense spread of food, it’s hard to articulate the exact feeling that the holiday season induces, other than bliss. My wish, now more than ever, is that every being on the planet is able to experience the joy, love, and light of their respective holiday.

My family always seems to go all out when it comes to holiday feasts, as the bounty is truly never ending. Thanksgiving is the one holiday that all of my relatives on my father’s side spend together — roughly 100 of us give or take — all sharing a meal together. From Turkey, ham, meatballs, candied carrots, stuffing and mashed potatoes, to lefsa, rommegrot, krumkake, pumpkin pie, pecan pie and scotcheroos, our thanksgiving table is one of indulgence to say the least, a beautiful holiday spread that everyone not only shares in eating, but also shares in creating. Despite the cold temperatures outside, my family’s Thanksgiving is one of the warmest places you could be, the physical embodiment of love, laughter and joy. Housed at the local legion due to the staggering number of us, our Thanksgiving is a time of reconnection and shared joy, a warmth that I wish everyone had the privilege of experiencing.

In years past, after celebrating with my dad’s side of the family, my immediate family and I always went to my mom’s parent’s farm to spend the afternoon and evening, and of course we’d indulge in more food, only after taking naps by the fire, however. Already stuffed from dinner, we’d all make a cozy bed on either the sofa, recliner, or floor, and rest by the glow of a warm fire for hours, only to awaken and eat more food, usually, but not limited to, pumpkin pie, turkey, snicker bar salad and my grandma’s incredible home made bread, which no one could ever get enough of. I am so thankful for these memories and I will treasure them always.

This year, try spicing up your holiday spread with some incredible products from our marketplace. Take your pumpkin pie to the next level by making the crust with Paul & Pippa Cocoa Biscuits or Lady Carrot Cake Biscuits, either of which would lend a modern twist to the classic favorite. As mentioned in posts past, honey is an amazing addition and compliment to both sweet and savory dishes, so this Thanksgiving, make sure to find a place for Bee Local Honey on your holiday table by using it in a glaze for your holiday ham, a sweetener for your cranberry sauce, a candy coating for your pecans, or as an infusion for your butter to then be used to spread on warm bread and dinner rolls — all of which will definitely pack a delicious holiday punch. If looking for even more invention, try adding some Gus and Grey Pearfection Jam to your your stuffing recipe, as sweet always compliments savory and vice versa, and the flavor of pear and cinnamon are the perfect addition to your holiday feast. Semolina Artisanal Pasta could be a fun addition if you’re looking for something a little less traditional, in which case you could mix cooked pasta with roasted vegetables, cheese, and herbs and toss with a simple lemon and Bee Local Hot Honey vinaigrette for an easy yet sophisticated pasta salad.

The options for holiday food is truly endless, so please check out our recipe box for season inspired recipes and ideas, as well as our Pinterest board. Find the link for both pages below.

We would also love to spread joy and compassion this holiday season, as we are well aware that not everyone is as fortunate as we are, so we’ll be donating a portion of our holiday sales to a New York City based food charity this holiday season. Whether you have a little or a lot to give, please find someway to help those around you this holiday season by either donating food to your local food bank, or volunteering to make meals for those less fortunate, as together, we can help try to make the holiday season a magical time for everyone.

Happy Friday.
-Payton

Recipe box: https://www.juliesbeet.com/pages/recipe-box

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/juliesbeet/thanksgiving-inspiration/