A Very Webby Christmas
Many holiday traditions are born in the kitchen. The heavenly scent of ham (or goose) wafting through the house tells you it's Christmas. Did your great-aunt invent the Miraculous Edible Fruitcake recipe? Or was pannetone your grandmama's specialty? Whatever brings back the memories for you, we found someone making it and selling it online. It's nice to know that your tradition is shared and a whole lot easier than deciphering that recipe from Great Aunt Flo.
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Order great baskets like
this one from Harry and David.
Infinitely more than a fruit-of-the-month club, this site takes gifting seriously. If the entire clan is coming, spring for the Family Feast Basket ($99.95) of pears, apples, smoked salmon, cheese, baklava, and other tasty treats.
Traditional and comforting, like most of this company's products, the two-pound golden fruitcake ($19.99), in a decorative tin, makes a great hostess gift and has none of those "funny green bits" that the kids won't touch.
The best of everything for your kitchen from bakeware to cook's tools (great stocking stuffers) to gourmet delights. Fresh from Sonoma, the free-range turkey ($66-$93, 14-22lbs.) is fed only natural grains and vegetable protein for an authentic turkey flavor. Ensure a tasty bird-add the Turkey Roasting Essentials kit ($25) to your order, complete with thermometer, metal lacers, twine, cheesecloth, frills, recipes and instructions.
From salmon to sweets, the delectable treats here are as lovely as the clothing, gifts and home products from this Oregon retailer. Guests need to nibble so give them something they can sink their teeth into like the crispy, cheesy Prestige Savoury Biscuits ($14.50) from a family-owned bakery in Holland or the pleasantly spiked Tipsy Olives ($10), onions ($10) or cherries ($8).
Famous for their smoked meats since 1873, Harrington's offers a luscious selection of gourmet foods and Vermont specialties. On Christmas morning treat your guests to Grandpa's Favorite Breakfast ($29.95) -- sure to please early risers and sleepyheads alike with its bacon, Canadian bacon, maple syrup, honey and buttermilk pancake mix.
Try some Arkansas smoked meats from a company that has been delivering their smokehouse specialties since 1946. Don't count on leftovers when you serve the whole hickory-smoked turkey ($59 for 9 to 11 lbs.)
Dean & Deluca's ham.
When it comes to family, nothing but the best will do, and Dean & Deluca delivers the best food and kitchenware. Boneless for easy slicing, the traditional smoked ham ($50 for 5.5 pounds) would make even green eggs look good.
These folks have 80 years of experience making hard candies, such as handmade small candy canes ($1.25 each, minimum of 12) and the decadent chocolate-dipped variety ($3 each, minimum of three). These are the most beautiful candy canes we've seen.
Known for their meats and seafood, they also carry caviar, salmon, cheese straws and other delectables. Expecting a crowd? Order the filet/lobster combo ($261.95)) and get half-pound filet mignons and eight-ounce lobster tails for 10.
Here's a real country store, from the penny candy to the flannel nighties. Where else can you find handmade sugar plums ($14.95 for 8), scrumptious plum compote enrobed in rich, dark chocolate? Sweet dreams!
Since 1944, the folks at Figi's have brought us baked goods, chocolates, nuts and more. Why stuff all the treats in the stockings when you can decorate your tree with the Christmas Classics ($19.99), a collection of 12 Victorian-inspired box ornaments containing candy or chocolate and even a tiny Teddy bear.
Browsing here is like wandering around your favorite gourmet food store full of select cheeses, meats, seafood, coffees, teas, desserts and other quality goodies. Expecting a crowd? Save your energy for entertaining and order the party assortment-cocktail party for 25 ($139.95), a mouthwatering array of fine cheeses, sausages, smoked salmon, capers, Rubschlager cocktail bread and much more, that works equally well as an appetizer course.
Wherever you are from in the good ole USA, you are sure to find a familiar flavor here. There's a pie for every palate in the Dessert Party from Mississippi (Fudge, Plantation, Lemon, Chess, Macaroon and Praline, $40 for 6 pie mixes)-just add eggs and butter and bake!
Be a hit at any holiday party this season when you present the host with a pound of rich, ready-to-brew coffee. A pound of Dunkin' Donuts' Original Blend ($6.99) or one of many flavored varieties ($7.99) makes a perfect gift for any java fan. The site also includes gift ideas, such as coffee brewing accessories and gift packs, for other coffee lovers in your life.
Continued on page 2: Divine Decorations
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