Gift Guide 2011: Think Outside [but also about] the Box!

While some of you race around enjoying the post-Thanksgiving shopping frenzy, I've planted myself in one of my favorite coffeehouses, far from the crowds, but nonetheless gift-minded. I am surrounded by catalogs, tear sheets and web "favorites." And I as I start typing, I’m on my second 16-oz drip. So off we go with some gift ideas!  Theme: Built Unique

 

• For fish people.
• For someone who does not have small children.
• For the “cool factor.”

Fishscape Fish Bowl ($140), available through The Conran Shop:

A run-of-the-mill fish bowl, this is not! Aruliden, maker of the Fishscape, won the 2011 International Design Excellence Award (IDEA) from the Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA) for this innovative design, which combines light and shadow to create an elaborate underwater home for fish, who are not included.
http://www.conranusa.com/159531/FISHSCAPE-FISH-BOWL/Product


 

• For someone who appreciates conversation pieces.
• For the green thumbs.
• Also for the “cool factor.”

Truss Planter by PULL+PUSH ($58), available through Molla Space:

A cement planter designed to represent an abandoned building. Designer Nobuhiro Sato, who is based in Kyoto, hand-makes all his work using concrete as his base material. His products are meant to inspire us, by pulling and pushing new ideas in and out. Works, doesn’t it?!
http://www.mollaspace.com/shop/truss-planter-by-pull-push.html

• For the birder.
• For someone with outdoor space.

The Garden Pavilion Birdhouse ($223), from Home Bazaar:

 

This is just one example of the MANY incredible birdhouses Home Bazaar offers. The Garden Pavilion was inspired by a classic English Conservatory style greenhouse. It features two separate nest boxes, floor-to-ceiling details on all four sides, and a removable base for easy cleaning. This particular model will accommodate wrens, finches, chickadees, nuthatches and titmice. Never heard of the last two; doesn't really matter.
http://www.hbbirdhouse.com/Garden+Pavilion+Birdhouse+-+Large_.a10.htm

• For someone who has kids who don't destroy stuff.
• For someone who has to buy something for a kid, and secretly can't wait to play with it themselves.
• For someone who really likes Mid-Century modern design.

 

The Ultra Modern Doll and Furniture House Set ($198), available through Chiasso:

 

This is one very hip dollhouse! Chiasso's “real estate ad”: "Your move-in-ready, modern dream home—complete with open floor plan, contemporary stairway and the coolest of furniture—20th century master designs in miniature. Windows open."
http://www.chiasso.com/store/item.aspx?ItemId=56612

 

• For the boys who will always be boys.
• For someone with tablespace to spare.

LEGO Fallingwater ($100), from ShopWright

 

This is a LEGO replica of Frank Lloyd Wright’s famed Fallingwater, one of the most unique homes in the world.  Build it like any other LEGO set.  This one, you may not want to de-construct, though. 

http://www.shopwright.org/lego-fallingwater.html

 

• For hobbyists.
• For lovers of On Golden Pond.

Chris Craft 1949 Racing Runabout Kit ($220), available through Garrett Wade:

Honestly, what a gorgeous boat! I'll take a full-size version, thank you!

Until that happens. . . . a beautiful wood-boat kit of moderate complexity. The controls, motor and NICad battery are available separately; yes, it can actually "runabout" the pond.
http://www.garrettwade.com/product.asp?pn=78M01.01

Get gifting.  And remember, Gift Inspired!

 

- E

Some Good Stuff!

 

Classic Bread Stuffing, courtesy of GOOP

 

 

• Note: I used to hate stuffing. You know the "stuff"....the sticky, gloppy stuff that came from a box (or was it a tube?)....yeah, that stuff. Never cared for that stuff and convinced myself I hated stuffing because of it.  
• Note: Now I love "my" stuffing.

• Note: I am a disciple of Gwyneth Paltrow. Specifically, her style, her GOOP, and anything she does involving food.
• Note: "My" stuffing is Gwyneth's stuffing.

 

This is the story of how this all came together:

 

Leading up to Thanksgiving 2009, Gwyneth had written about some of her favorite Thanksgiving dishes in her GOOP Newsletter. It seemed there was nothing extra special about her Classic Bread Stuffing. In fact, the recipe reads incredibly basic. But she did say you could use challah. Love challah! And like I said, I do what Gwyneth does. So Classic Bread Stuffing (using challah) was happening!

 

Thanksgiving Dinner 2009 was held at my tiny studio apartment in New York City. (The picture to the right is a picture of my kitchen. Yes, you can prepare a Thanksgiving feast with just 8 inches of counter space, so long as you don't mind resting pans on the top of your garbage can or on the floor. I do miss that apartment!)

 

The attendees: two of my sisters and me. The menu: Thanksgiving food, as organic and fresh as possible. I combed through my recipe files and put together a rather lovely, veggie-heavy meal. The turkey took a backseat to side dishes that year! The sautéed carrots and Brussels sprouts were nice. I was quite proud of the green bean casserole (no cans of mushroom soup here). But in my humble opinion, the pièce de résistance was the stuffing.

 

I'm a little bummed that I can't describe the taste and texture in mouth-watering detail; I don't remember the specifics. I just remember loving it! And I remember thinking that from then on, if asked to make something for Thanksgiving dinner, this would be my go-to dish. I will never be in charge of turkey. I want nothing to do with yams. My mother's mashed potatoes (with skins left on) are too good to mess with. My aunt's bread wins every time. And my pies will never look as pretty as my sister's pie. But "my" stuffing will follow me wherever I go.

 

So here it is.....this is what all this fuss is about....

 

 

Classic Bread Stuffing

Generous on the onions and fennel seeds, this stuffing is hearty and satisfying but not soggy or heavy as stuffing can sometimes be. Made with good vegetable stock, it’s vegetarian-friendly.

 

Serves: 12, with leftovers

Time: 2 hours, a lot of which is completely unattended

 

Ingredients:

· 15 cups of 1/2˝ bread cubes (challah, wholegrain, or ciabatta)

· 1/4 cup butter + 1 tablespoon cut into small pieces

· 1/4 cup + 1 tablespoon olive oil

· 1 very large onion, very finely diced (roughly 2 1/2 cups)

· 2 stalks celery, very finely diced (roughly 1/2 cup)

· 2 1/2 teaspoons fennel seeds

· 3/4 teaspoon celery seeds

· 2 generous tablespoons finely chopped fresh rosemary

· 2 1/2 teaspoons coarse salt

· 1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

· 2 1/2 tablespoons roughly chopped fresh parsley

· 2 1/2 cups high-quality vegetable stock, divided

 

Preheat the oven to 300º F. Spread the bread cubes out on two cookie sheets and bake for about ten minutes or until a bit dried out, not browned.

Meanwhile, heat the 1/4 cup of butter and olive oil over medium heat in a large sauté pan. Add the onion, celery, fennel and celery seeds, rosemary, salt and pepper and sweat the mixture for 20 minutes, keeping the heat low enough so that the vegetables don’t color – you just want them to get soft and sweet. Turn off the heat, add the parsley and let the mixture cool for about ten minutes in the pan. Add the bread cubes and 2 cups of stock; stir to evenly distribute. Let the mixture sit for about an hour to let the flavors really get into everything (now’s a good time to work on your other Thanksgiving dishes!).

Reserve two cups of the stuffing for the turkey if desired.

Set the oven to 350º F. Put the stuffing into an ovenproof baking dish (you could even leave it in your sauté pan if it doesn’t have plastic handles – one less thing to wash!). Pour over the remaining stock and dot with the remaining tablespoon of butter. Bake for 25 minutes, or until the top is lightly browned.

Feel free to claim it as your own!

To the friends and family I will share Thanksgiving dinner with this year, get ready for the good stuff[ing]!

And Happy Thanksgiving to all!

- E

p.s. This is GOOP: http://www.goop.com/