CHRISTMIX GIFT GIVING, THERMO STYLE 2012
Toasted and drizzled with more honey! Oh honey….
I hate to point this out, but this year is over. I mean practically. All but the shouting…and the partying, and the gift giving…so let me help you out. I did this last year as well, and it was a very popular post. But what to do this year? Lots has changed around here at least, a quick recap of this year’s main events;
- I have become a grandmother for the first time…wow, what an amazing experience. I just love it. She will be wearing high heels by this time next year I’m sure. She is growing so fast.
- I am about to become a mother in law again (in the new year) and that too is exciting and overwhelming a little as the wedding is all ours for the doing. Only daughter, so pretty exciting. I am happy to say I will be sharing some of the amazing things we are having for the wedding in due course. I have some great friends and foodies out there who are more than willing to pitch in and add their incredible creativity to the mix. It is going to be lots of fun. Thank goodness for Pinterest.
- I have become a best selling author with For Food’s Sake hitting the numbers needed for such a feat. I LOVE that you love it. It is very rewarding and I hope you keep spreading the love!! I have also been nominated for a Gourmand International Cook Book Award, which is really a big deal. Keep your fingers crossed for me, as if I get anywhere I shall be off to Paris…tough, but someone has to go! I still have about 80,000 Thermomix owners out there to sell FFS to, so at the tip of the iceberg just now!
- I have an app for both iPhone or iPad and android. Now come on…you gotta admit it, that’s pretty cool!
- I have launched a YouTube channel, if you want to see more, please go and subscribe and leave me feedback of the positive variety!! Lots more planned in that direction.
- I have also just delivered to your inbox (I trust!!) not ONE, but TWO ebooks, and one just in time for Christmas celebrating. Are you with me on that train yet?
- My other love Crio Bru has sold a LOT of brewed chocolate to new fans in the last 12 months. I am so glad to be able to share that with you too. Seriously the best thing that has happened to my health in forever! Please do yourself a flavour and go and read up about it! You will never look back. Guilt free chocolate. Seriously, does life get any better than that?
- I am well on my way to BIG book number two too. Shoot is imminent. (Jenny, I shall be requiring you!)
- I have held numerous advanced TMX classes around the country, thanks to all who attended and wished they could attend. Plans are afoot for more in the new year Australia wide.
- I have met some incredible, supportive Thermo fans and people, I have grown enormously as an individual, I have had mountains to climb and amazing food to eat and am surrounded by loyal loved ones. Life is good.
Briefly, I would like to thank YOU my dear readers for your ongoing, outstanding support.
Thanks as well to my business partner who believes in me for some reason…and keeps me focused. I have a wonderful publisher who supports me with new ideas and sponsors constantly. I have collaborative relationships with photographers, and other artisans who help me creatively and generously whenever needed. I have an amazing family and husband, who as critical as they are of my food, tell me they are keeping me honest! I have a nephew who drops practically everything to get me organised with ebooks…and in almost no time whatsoever. I have a run around mum of one who listens to everything I say and then does precisely what she wants…but it always works. She actually is my boss…just that I pay her! Thank you Melissa for a great year. The best is yet to come. (Like real wages…you can only pay someone so much Crio Bru and vanilla before they need real money!)
SO…a few suggestions for your gifting this season. Of course, top of the list has to be the cookbooks. Not trying to scare you or anything…but For Food’s Sake ran out earlier this year, and it was agony…for us as well. So get in early, we still have plenty of stock, but it is selling really well. (Best sellers do that they tell me!)
There is also Dinner Spinner the book, Spin a Dinner the apps, and of course those amazing ebooks, ‘What’s for Dessert?‘ and
Merry Christmix; A Collection of Festive recipes 2012 (thus implying there may be a new edition in 2013!!)
If you are looking to clean your Thermo, kitchen benches, sinks, cooktop, stove, accessories, bathroom, elbows, heels, etc. THE best pressie is also a find from SuperKitchen Machine, the SuperKitchen Scrubbies and in fact we are giving a few away next week in our Christmix recipe frenzy week, so make sure you check out Facebook for further details. I have to say, not the most glamorous of gifts, but certainly practical and I think you will find that you’ll wish you had lots of them.
(Just quietly we are launching some really fun new products next week, towards the end of the Recipe Frenzy, so make sure you keep checking the store for details. I will also post on Facebook because we are having some giveaways as part of that as well. You may have to work a little for the goodies, but not too hard.)
If you still haven’t found something you fancy, you better head on over to Crio Bru Australia and either order online to have it delivered to your door, or check out their stockist page to see the stockist closest to you. Get organised early with some beautiful roasted and ground chocolate that you brew like a coffee….or some fantastic Heilala vanilla bean paste so that any of my dessert recipes are sorted. Leave no stone unturned, have a good hunt around on the website and you are bound to find something new and exciting. Plans are afoot for introducing new products really soon.
NOW, to the top ten picks of twenty twelve; if they appear already in other posts, you will have to forgive me. There is a big week of Festive Frenzy, new recipes showing up from December 1st with lots of give aways and fun competitions on Facebook…make sure you join us for all that.
Peach and Almond Galette
This does involve a little pre planning, but the end result is to die for. A peach perfect dessert, with the addition of home made marzipan. If you don’t like store bought marzipan, you are not alone, do try and make some. It is a totally different experience. This utilises Pistachio Marzipan straight out of the Merry Christmix ebook, but also has a link to the recipe for easy access.
TWO: CrioMisu
I have always loved Tiramisu and I don’t often make anything twice unless I have to for testing purposes, but this one has shown up many times on our table and it will show up again this Christmix I think…so delish, so easy and so impressive. (And so fattening…but lets move on from that shall we?)
THREE: Iced Cream Cheese Pud
Ice Cream Cheese Christmas Pudding
Well you have to have a pudding don’t you? And if it is 45ºC in the shade, you will not want to be steaming up those little figgy puddings from Merry Christmix…seriously not. This is your back up plan. Our little southern salute to tradition. Easily made well in advance, nothing to do on the big day but to unmould it and plonk a bit of obligatory plastic holly atop! Done and Dusted.
FOUR: CrioBru Cherry Bread
I gotta say, give me a slice of this toasted, slathered in butter, any day of the year, and I’m feeling festive…and as for gifting? Tie this up in one of our soon to be announced products with some Christmas ribbon, and you have the best gift ever. (Some of us have low expectations!)
FIVE: Cheesy Sables
I like nothing better at Christmas time to have a nibble in the late afternoon, on some cheese and crackers. This combines both and in such a great way. You can still serve them with a savoury platter. They are a little bit impressive for guests, (I mean who, really, who makes their own crackers other than a crazy Thermo owner!!)
SIX: Garlic Prawns
How many days in the lead up to Christmas do you wish you could just whip up something amazing to impress without stress? Well this is your answer. Delicious, painless and easy to do while you wrap and sing carols, or decorate, or just get half cut under the tree…up to you! Add the Light Lemon Risotto, and everyone is happy.
Garlic Prawns with Light Lemon Risotto
SEVEN: Power Balls
If I could package these and sell them, I would be giving Richard Branson and run for his money. They are amazing, easy, delicious, good for you, better than s*x, rum balls and Christmas combined. If you are feeling your energy wain in the silly season, mix up a batch of these and you’ll be swinging from the chandeliers with the best of them. (And you may even lose a little weight, as they help suppress your appetite. Now there’s an idea!)
EIGHT: Umami Paste
Umami has now become a stock and standard item in my fridge/freezer and has saved many an ordinary dish. What a great gift to a foodie friend. But most of all, think of what you could be adding with all your entertaining that is bound to be happening. You can add it to butter with parsley and lemon and make an awesome addition to BBQ chicken or steak or fish. You can put a dollop into dips, gravies, sauces, soups, most savoury dishes could benefit. If you are not going through it quickly enough, you are not cooking enough!! BUT, you can store it frozen in ice cubes. Just pop one or two cubes into any dish that takes your fancy. There will be no complaints, just compliments!
NINE: Crio Bru Gelato
I am going to go out on a limb here and say this is THE BEST ICECREAM recipe I have ever made. Bar none. And this will be appearing in my new book…It is just amazing. End. Of. Story. Make. It.
Chocolate Cloaked Figs
I love doing these types of retro posts, as I find gems I had forgotten about and this is one of those moments. YUM! These take no time, wrap them in a box and you have an amazing foodie gift. Make the marzipan yourself and you are really going to impress.
So kids, that brings me to a close. I trust you will all be safe, well and kind to all who cross your path over the next weeks. I look forward to much in 2013 that is new and exciting. (You have no idea!!) Make sure you subscribe to the blog (top of right hand column, easy!) because then you will never miss a post. Stay tuned…be right back!
