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A Christmas shopping wish list

November 30, 2020 7 Comments Filed Under: Books, Christmas, Christmas Presents, Gardens, Kitchen equipment, Lifestyle, Shopping, Travel

We can go back to the shops next week, here, in Tier Two London. Hopefully some businesses will be saved. This year has been a cruel one for anybody running any shop other than a food shop. The high street was dying anyway and Covid is just an acceleration of a recent trend.

Last year I did all my Christmas shopping online I’m afraid, even before the pandemic. I can’t justify it, but is there any point in bucking the trend? This year much of the UK will shop online, swelling the coffers of Amazon, and I’m one of them. What do I do if I want to buy something? I look on Amazon, Etsy, eBay, Facebook marketplace or Google shopping.

Here are a few gift ideas.

For Cooks

Enamel butter dish

I love anything enamel, and this blue and white enamel butter dish with a cute but useful beech cutting board (buttering board?) cover is attractive, unbreakable, cool and vintage. Fits a classic 250g block of butter.

I’m really into Scandi style wooden butter knives too (as seen above). They don’t tear the bread and are a pleasure to use.

 

I have quite a collection of glasses because of my supper club. I’m looking for wine and water glasses that don’t break easily and have a vintage vibe.  These highball style glasses from Bormioli Rocco (6 for £27) are strong and pretty. They have a wine version too (*puts into basket*). I have, in the past, driven all the way to the Vosges in France, to La Rochere glass works to buy vintage style glasses. They had a section for seconds which were a lot cheaper. See also these pressed glass tumblers are great for Portuguese style ‘galao’ milky coffee. I collect Babycham glasses and antique glasses whenever I spot some that are reasonably priced.

Souschef are stocking American Mosser glassware such as this jade green cake stand. ♥♥♥ Gorge isn’t it? This 6 inch one is only £37.50.


I love the eye of By Alice. We are both slightly obsessed with scalloped edges, shown here on this lust-worthy ceramic plate (from £35). I also adore this splattered pink Italian plate. Check out her site, it’s swoon-worthy (and pricey).

A Dymo labeller

I’ve always loved labelling things and have had hours of fun re-labelling my spice jars and marking up leftovers for the fridge. Get this Dymo (£20 for the machine) with either plastic or paper tape. I’ve recently discovered you can change the font and add borders by going into the menu.

Food and Drink

I’ve got a whole collection of chilli sauces. One of my favourites is this green Jalapeño chilli sauce El Yucateco from Mexgrocer. Tasty, fruity but not ridiculously hot. If you want more heat try the habanero version. 

I also like the Tabasco green chilli sauce, which is sold here in a larger bottle than usual.

This is my favourite herbal tea, Les Saveurs Du Soir, liquorice and mint. It’s naturally sweet (liquorice is the sweetest natural substance on the planet). When I visit France I always bring back a few. Having run out (this is the longest period I haven’t travelled for), I ordered some online. Very expensive. Any French residents that want to send me a couple of packets?

Adopt an olive tree. I’ve been getting these quarterly deliveries from Pomora, (3 tins, 4 times a year for £36 a quarter)for a few years now. With olive oil, the fresher the better, and the extra virgin is sublime as a dressing (too good to be used in cooking). I like the flavoured oils too, except for the peperoncino one which is too spicy for me. I used the lemon flavour on pasta and the rosemary on home-made focaccia. I went to visit their Sicilian grower Carmelo Scalia a few years ago.


Souschef.co.uk is an incredible resource for buying ingredients and kitchen equipment online. They’ve just started a monthly subscription box, the Chef’s selection (£27.50 a month) in which you get products chosen by them. I think it’s a brilliant idea and I might get a 3 month one for my parents for Christmas (I’d get the yearly one if I could afford it- £330).

Cheese tasting zoom session

I did this a month ago and it was really fun. I was sent a cheese tasting pack(£9.50), along with dozens of other participants, from an artisanal British cheese maker and we could talk to them and ask questions over zoom. This is all part of Francis Gimblett’s Campaign for Artisan British Cheese, a worthy and tasty cause. Farmers and cheesemakers of all kinds have also suffered this year with the downtown in hospitality and travel. This is a great interactive opportunity to find out more about cheese and support the industry.

For Gardeners

Pruning saw

I borrowed my gardener friend’s silky gomboy, a small sharp pruning saw that folds. It was sweet, making a day in the garden, hacking down thick ivy stems from the walls, a pleasure rather than a chore.

Secateurs

Once again, a Japanese blade is the best- Niwaki Sentei Secateurs,  approximately £40.

Copper Tags for plants


Copper repels slugs, is ruled by Venus, is antibacterial, and is beautiful. I like to use copper plant tags in the garden. On the left are simple tie-on tags (60 for a tenner) and on the right some slightly more designery copper markers (25 for £15)

Garden cloches for plants

I found these bamboo cloches (5 for £44) on amazon. The squirrels are out of control this year, possibly because their normal sources of food-restaurants-have been closed. The little bastards have eaten my squash, my figs, ALL my nuts despite me sprinkling the entire tree with chilli powder, and now my pansies. These cloches might help. I do love a Victorian style cloche.

These parasols in William Morris fabric from the East London Parasol Company are to die for. But SOOO expensive. Ah well, I can dream. They do have smaller Balinese style parasols which are lovely too and a bit cheaper.

For the home

I love my crockery but every so often I break a beloved dish. I haven’t had a go yet but I’m going to try repairing them with this Kintsugi repair kit. It’s a Japanese art, in which you repair the cracks with gold, celebrating the beauty of imperfection. I’ll keep you updated on how it works out. Hey, this lockdown is going to carry on until at least Spring 2021, you might as well take up a few hobbies.


During my lockdown home makeover this summer, I discovered Andy Thornton’s website, a business located in North Yorkshire, which provides lighting and antiques for the restaurant industry. I like this recycled metal pendant (£38) and this glass jar with a metal ‘ajoure’ trim (£19). They have a sale on right now. When the pandemic is over, I’m going to drive up to visit their warehouse.

coloured glass hand blown vases

These are beautiful hand-blown recycled coloured glass vases. £23 each. Nice to get more than one, but in different colours. From Etsy.

For travellers and nature lovers

Britain’s Pilgrim Places. Last year I did part of the Camino to Santiago de Compostella. Now the UK is dusting off our ancient pilgrim routes. It’s going to take a few years for the British Pilgrimage Trust to develop the tourism around it such as signage, accommodation from budget to posh, and pilgrim menus, but I can’t wait to discover more about my own country. This is a fantastic and detailed illustrated guide to some of our tracks.

During my lockdown walks, I’ve fallen ever deeper in love with trees. Tree geek Paul Wood (great name eh?) has published a map ‘Great Trees of London’ with Blue Crow Publishing. A nice little stocking filler.

 

 

My links to amazon are affiliate. So I might earn a few pennies if you click on them. Which would be nice for me to be honest. This year has been a killer.

 

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Margo

    November 30, 2020 at 11:27 am

    Very useful post thank you.

    Reply
  2. Anita

    November 30, 2020 at 12:57 pm

    What a fantastic post! Brilliant, so many great ideas, thank you Kirstin.

    Reply
  3. Lisa Sheehy

    November 30, 2020 at 1:04 pm

    I can bring you some tea Kerstin 💋

    Reply
    • msmarmitelover

      November 30, 2020 at 1:04 pm

      Oh that’d be wonderful. Email me and I’ll send you my address etc xx

      Reply
  4. Christina

    November 30, 2020 at 2:45 pm

    Thanks, Kerstin. Some great ideas here too –

    Reply
  5. Liza

    January 11, 2021 at 8:01 am

    The green cake stand is to die for! Great choice of items, all great ideas. A girl after my own heart…gardening,baking,eating!

    Reply
    • msmarmitelover

      January 11, 2021 at 1:10 pm

      I know it’s gorgeous isn’t it?

      Reply

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MsMarmiteLover aka Kerstin Rodgers.

Chef, photographer, author, journalist, blogger. Pioneer of the supperclub movement.

This is my food and travel blog, with recipes, reviews and travel stories. I also stray into politics, feminism, gardening.

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msmarmitelover

Kerstin Rodgers/MsMarmiteLover
Got the sewing machine out last night and hemmed t Got the sewing machine out last night and hemmed the top of these toile de jouey curtains in my summer house shed. The days are lengthening a little which brightens up my mood. Self care= trying to get up and washed. Trying to leave the house once a day. Keeping my hands busy. Finding small ways to be creative. #coronaloner #sewingmachine #curtains #shedsofinstagram #sheshed #springiscoming #supperclub #stayingsane #selfcare #lockdown3
Pasta aglio olio. I’m turning into a vampire. I Pasta aglio olio. I’m turning into a vampire. I get up later and later every day. I’m living in a twilight world- dim skies, getting nothing done. Next week it’s my birthday and every year I’m at my lowest ebb just before my birthday. Lockdown on your own is tough. My motivation, my mojo has disappeared. #lockdown3 #coronaloner #pastadinner #nofilter #january2021 #januarychallenge #selfemployedwomen #single #aquarius #0degrees
On the heath on Sunday. Must. Walk. More. #coronal On the heath on Sunday. Must. Walk. More. #coronaloner
Tonight’s lockdown dinner with my bubble. Proper Tonight’s lockdown dinner with my bubble. Proper pesto alla genovese with trofie, small boiled salad potatoes, steamed green beans (good tip: steam the beans in a colander plopped on top of the potatoes or pasta), good quality pesto sauce ( mine from local microbakery @seansloaf ), good olive oil (@pomoragoodfood), torn fresh basil, a few pine nuts. This turns this student dish into a balanced meal of carbs, veg and a little protein.  It’s cold outside, I’ve lit the fire. Covid rages in Kilburn high road in north west london. The rate is 1 in 30 london wide but I feel it’s higher in this poor inner london area. We have a high BAME population who are particularly vulnerable. It’s a little bit anarchic on my high street: cars perched on kerbs waiting for hijabi women, braving pound shops and Aldi . We are all covered up now. In winter masks keep your face warm, but you have a choice between safety and being able to see. I’ve not managed to prevent the inevitable steaming up of my glasses when wearing a mask. Nothing works.  #january #londonwinter #pestopasta #pestoallagenovese #vegetarian #pasta #trofie #supperclub #covid_19 #lockdownlife #lockdown3 #bubblegang
Galette des Rois, made yesterday in 12th night. Mi Galette des Rois, made yesterday in 12th night. Minus Crown and king as I cannot find either. This one is made with Tonka bean. Plus homemade puff pastry (well worth the effort). According to ike delorenzo at The Atlantic:  The tonka bean, a flat, wrinkled legume from South America with an outsize flavor that the US government has declared illegal. Nonetheless, it proliferates on elite American menus. The tiniest shavings erupt in a Broceliande of transporting, mystical aromas.
The taste of the tonka bean is linked strongly to its scent. "Scents," I should say, as the tonka bean has many at once. I register the aromas of vanilla, cherry, almond, and something spicy—a bit like cinnamon. When served cold—say, in tonka bean ice cream—the taste is like a vanilla caramel with dark honey. When warm, perhaps shaved over scallops, it moves toward spiced vanilla. Additionally, the aroma of the tonka bean shavings (it's almost always shaved) is so affecting that it seems like an actual taste in the way that opium, which has no taste in the traditional sense, "tastes" like its rich, flowery smoke.  Here is the recipe: 

Tonka bean galette des rois

Serves 8
Ingredients
* 140 g caster sugar
* 125 g salted butter, softened
* 100 g ground almonds
* 2 eggs, medium
* 1 tonka bean, grated
* 2 packs ready made butter puff pastry on a roll
* 1 yolk for brushing the pastry
Instructions
* Preheat your oven to 200c.

* Blend the butter with the sugar then add the almonds. Make sure it’s well mixed. Add in the 2 eggs one at a time, then add the tonka bean.

* If using a block: divide the puff pastry into two and roll out to 5mm thick. 
* Make two circles about 15 cm’s each in diameter. Lay one circle on a silicone mat/parchment paper on a baking tray and fill with the almond cream leaving a 3 cm border around the edge. 
* Paint the border with the egg yolk. Then lay the other circle on top, sealing the edges with a fork. 
* You could then carve designs into the top. Make a little slit in the middle to let steam escape then brush the top with the egg yolk
Mapo tofu is probably my favourite Sichuan dish. T Mapo tofu is probably my favourite Sichuan dish. This is a vegan version. ***

Ingredients:
- 400 g box of soft tofu not silken
- 5 soaked dried shiitake mushrooms, diced, keep water
- 1 red bell pepper, finely sliced
- 400 g fresh shiitake mushroom, sliced thinly
- 400 ml vegetable stock
- 1 thumb fresh ginger, minced
- 3 cloves garlic, crushed
- 4 tbsps groundnut or vegetable oil
- 3 tbsp fermented bean paste
- 1 or 2 small red chillies, minced or a spoonful of Chinese chilli paste
- 1 tsp heaped sichuan peppercorns, finely ground
- 2 tbsps soy or tamari sauce
- 2 tbsp cornflour in 3 tbsps water, mixed into a slurry
- 4 spring onions, finely sliced
- large pinch fresh coriander leaves

Prepare the tofu by cutting it into one inch cubes and soaking it in hot but not boiling salted water. Drain after 15 minutes.
Soak the dried shiitake mushrooms, covering them in boiling water. Leave until soft, then dice the mushrooms. Retain the mushroom soaking water and add to the vegetable stock water.
Prepare the other ingredients so they are ready to stir-fry: red bell pepper, fresh mushrooms, ginger, garlic.

Using a wok or deep frying pan, add the oil and heat to frying temperature. Add the bell peppers,fry for a couple of minutes, then add fermented bean paste, chilli paste or chillies, ginger, garlic, soy sauce, sichuan pepper.
Add the mushroom/vegetable broth and simmer on high for a couple of minutes.
Carefully add the cubes of tofu, taking care not to break them too much.
Add the cornflour slurry, stirring for a couple of minutes.
Serve with rice or noodles, garnishing with spring onions or chives and or coriander leaves.  #veganuary #mapotofu #sichuanfood #tofu  #shitakemushrooms #supperclub #londonchef #msmarmitelover #ham&highcolumn #eatplants #lockdown3 #selfisolation #coronaloner #cooking #recipe #cookingfromscratch
Macaroni cheese with odds and sods from the Christ Macaroni cheese with odds and sods from the Christmas leftover cheese board. I’ve used @paxtonscheese truffled brillat-savarin and a mystery hard cheese that’s lost its label. Plus cream and topped it with samphire fried in butter. Haven’t bothered with making a roux- this is the lockdown lazy version.  #lockdownlazy #lockdown3 #supperclub #macandcheese #macaronicheese #truffledcheese #leftovers #leftovercheeseboard #londonlockdown #breakfast #coronaloner
Another thing the Japanese are brilliant at is san Another thing the Japanese are brilliant at is sandwiches. They use the softest, whitest, fluffiest bread. Their mayonnaise kewpie is gorgeous I don’t know why. Perhaps someone here can explain? Here I’ve used sourdough as it’s what I have; kosho which is a Yuzu citrus and green chilli condiment and the aforesaid kewpie Mayo to make an egg 🥚 sandwich.  I’m not a big egg fan but I suddenly had the urge. Also I’ve noticed when I eat eggs it satiates my hunger for hours. All that protein.  #sandwich #sandwiches #japanesesandwich #kewpiemayo #kosho #eggsandwich #sourdough #supperclub #cookingforone #solo #londonlife #lockdownlondon #recipe #snack #sundaysnack #sando
Agedashi tofu for New Year’s Day. With a vegan d Agedashi tofu for New Year’s Day. With a vegan dashi stock, it’s perfect for veganuary. How to make dashi: put a piece of kombu seaweed in water. Soak for half an hour then simmer for half an hour (don’t let it boil). Then mix 2 cups of dashi with 2 tbsps of mirin and 2 of soy sauce.  For the tofu: press soft tofu with weights for half an hour, then cut into cubes. Dust all over with cornflour.  Then deep fry the tofu cubes in 180C veg oil until they float. Set aside to drain, then place say 3 cubes in small bowl. Pour the sauce around and top with spring onion and daikon and togarashi 7 spice.  #easypeasyvegan #veganuary #agedashitofu #tofu #japaneseveganrecipe #newyearsday #freshstart #supperclub #londonsupperclub #msmarmitelover #visforvegan #recipe
Writing about tofu which I think has an unfair rep Writing about tofu which I think has an unfair reputation in this country. It’s so flexible and is a brilliant flavour sponge. Here I’m preparing my soft tofu for a Japanese dish: agedashi tofu. I first pressed it in a clean tea towel with a weight on top to firm it up a bit but not too much. Then I dusted it with cornflour and I will deep fry it in oil. Then I will serve it in a broth of dashi/mirin and tamari sauce, sprinkled with finely chopped spring onions and togarashi pepper from Japan. I would usually add some finely mandolined daikon radish but couldn’t find any. It’s a subtle dish of texture: soft yet crispy. After Christmas I’m desperate for light zingy fresh flavoured food. #supperclub #tofu #vegan #vegetarian #agedashitofu #newyearsday #cookingagain #lunch #asian #japanesefood
Happy new year from my bubble to yours! Keep holdi Happy new year from my bubble to yours! Keep holding on...
#happynewyear #happynewyear2021 #supperclub #hootenanny
Some of my Christmas food 🥘 lots of veg includi Some of my Christmas food 🥘 lots of veg including mashed swede with cheese and butter. I put pomegranate seeds with my sprouts, and cooked my carrots in marmalade ( worked v well), the mushroom wreath fell apart as I was transferring it to a tray 😤, roast potatoes and parsnips, then a cheese spread with fruit nuts, quince cheese (homemade), Chocs @lindtuk 😍 @guylian_uk @disaronno_official @baileysofficial @taylorsportwine and Brazil nuts. Plus a pavlova wreath ready to be topped with whipped cream and persimmons. 
#christmasdinner #vegetarianchristmas #vegetarianchristmasdinner #supperclub #londonchristmas #liqueurs #christmasspread #grazing #cheeseboard #port #pavlova
Christmas has started! Home-cured smoked beetroot Christmas has started!  Home-cured smoked beetroot and aquavit salmon with homemade blinis, creme fraiche, dill, Prosecco.  The fire is lit 🔥, the tree is up, 🎄the presents 🎁 are wrapped, we have a #brexit deal- a Christmas miracle. Peace and harmony. #christmas #christmasinengland #homemade #christmaseve #blinis #smokedsalmon #prosecco🍾 #londonchristmas
Done some doorscaping, the latest trend in Christm Done some doorscaping, the latest trend in Christmas decorating. It might also cheer up passersby. #christmas #christmasdecor #doorscaping #doorsofinstagram #londonchristmas #doorwreath #doordecor #doorsoftheworld #doordecoration #exteriors #london #supperclub #covidchristmas
Look at my gorgeous Nordic pine Christmas tree 🎄 from @pinesandneedles with some family ornaments and beautiful foodie ornaments from @gisela_graham  it’s 7 foot high and no drop. My parents brought over the candle lights. I’ve also used paper ornaments (apples and pears cut from maps) from @dionne_leonard which I first commissioned for a supper club.  #christmas #christmastree #christmasdecor #foodiedecorations #glassbaubles #supperclub #christmasinlondon
More #fbmarketplacefinds I find meeting the seller More #fbmarketplacefinds I find meeting the sellers interesting. It’s often about moving on whether through death, a change of circumstances, moving country, loss of a job. Today I visited a gorgeously renovated Edwardian house where the owners, an antique dealer & a master decorator had died with 18 months of each other of cancer.  The sister was there emptying the house, an incredibly painful experience. The husband who died was an expert in putting up lincrusta wallpaper which I’ve pictured here. All that craftsmanship and knowledge lost now.  The piece I got on Sunday, the teal chinoiserie cabinet, was from a Spanish guy returning to Spain. He’d lost his job as a hotel manager, the hotel, a big one, has now closed. The marble coffee table and arepas grill was from a Spanish couple who’d had a restaurant here for 40 years. They are now returning to Spain. Other slides: green Edwardian fireplace tiles, William Morris wallpaper, 2 small scalloped coffee tables, a knife and fork cutlery hook set.  A fireplace for my bedroom if I can find someone to put it in. #lockdownstories #covidstories #movingon #decor #interiors #bargains #secondhandstyle #edwardianstyle #williammorris #tiles #wallpaper #scallopededge #teal #chinoiserie #whitemarble #vintage #kitchenalia #supperclubrefurb #london #lincrustawallpaper
Another #fbmarketplace find £30. I can’t afford Another #fbmarketplace find £30. I can’t afford proper chinoiserie so I make do with fakes. The gradual doing up of my flat proceeds apace. Need to start on main bedroom. Looking for a storage ottoman (velvet?) bench to turn into a horizontal filing cabinet.  Any ideas? Above is a map of london based on the A to Z map which a minicab office was tossing out. Remember when we all carried mini A to Z books in our handbags? Before google maps? #nocrushedvelvet #chinoiserie #supperclubrefurb #londonapartment #londonflat #norfweezy #decor #organising #storage #interiors
My new/old rise and fall light over the dining tab My new/old rise and fall light over the dining table. Found for £50 on #fbmarketplace  but originally from @thefrenchhouse.net_ one of my favourite shops. Every day, a little more progress. #supperclubrefurb #supperclub #londonflat #interiors #lighting #riseandfalllights #lightingisimportant #frenchstyle #vintagestyle #rusticstyle #turquoise #diningtabledecor
Two vegetarian meal kits, laksa and ramen, from @k Two vegetarian meal kits, laksa and ramen, from @kit.eats.uk. Took only a couple of minutes to cook(see stories) and very good. I’m trying a few meal kits of late to see how hospitality has adapted to the great reset. As a cook I’ve always thought why would I need these but now I get it: it’s like going to a restaurant- the pleasure of food prepared by someone else. Getting jolted off of your normal repertoire, so it’s teaching cooking too.  #mealkits #vegetarian #homecooked #hospitality #covid #takeawayfood #foodpackaging #laksa #ramen #supperclubchef
Still working on my glass cupboard. I’ve hung up Still working on my glass cupboard. I’ve hung up all my wine bottle openers and cork screws. My favourite is the zigzag bottom left. If you find them at a flea market in France, if you are lucky you may get it for around 35 euros.  #supperclub #londonflat #londoninteriors #corkscrews #frenchkitchenalia #zigzag #tirebouchon #oakcupboard #diy #diyprojects
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