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Christmas present suggestions

December 12, 2022 Leave a Comment Filed Under: Books, Christmas, Christmas Gifts, Christmas Presents, Food, Gardens, Interiors, Shopping, Travel

Homeware:

Tala food tins

Tala started in 1899, producing Victorian kitchenware. These tins boast classic food packaging designs. I love them. Flour £7, Self-raising flour £8.95, Caster sugar £7.58, Icing sugar £6.99, Cocoa powder shaker £7.91. Or a set.


Label printer

I like to make lists and I like to make labels. Here is a beautiful label maker, the Niimbot B21 (Dymo you need to up your game) by Jingchen. You download an app and create your labels, which are then printed out on this sage green retro style machine.

Keep your glasses handy

Found this brand of glasses chain at the airport. I’m at that age where I don’t need glasses all the time but am short-sighted and need them for driving and er, properly seeing stuff. They are strong and vibrant. £20 from Cotivision.


Copper water jugs

You can buy these Ayurvedic pure copper jugs £20.18 (they become ‘charged’ with the properties of copper) or even cheaper from Indian shops in the Alperton or Wembley areas in London. They age nicely too.

Peugeot salt and pepper grinders

This brand known for cars applies similar technology to kitchenware. I’ve often lusted after the classic chrome pepper and salt grinders but these lacquered versions are a delight.

Forest Green pepper grinder £27.99

Saffron Yellow salt grinder £27.99

Striped plates

Pic Kerstin Rodgers

Slightly obsessed with all things striped right now. I found this yellow striped plate on the left in Minori, Italy this summer. Dragged it all the way back to blighty then discovered it was produced by a British firm Summerill and Bishop. So cute for food styling.

21cm avocado green striped side plate £52

28cm lemon yellow striped dinner plate £58

Travel


Oh how I lust after these stripey vintage look suitcases. Admittedly not cheap but not as expensive as the ones from Globe-Trotter. From Hey Chesto £395

Books

Cooking with Trees by Kerstin Rodgers

Books on Trees:

I’m crowdfunding my own tree book – full of recipes using tree derived ingredients, so very much food focussed. It’s called ‘Cooking with Trees’ and will be published by Unbound. You can pledge to buy a book to help get it published, from £35 for a signed hardback book. Pledge here. (Thank you so much).

Other books on trees I recommend that are already published include Trees by Paul Smith and Tree-Spotting by Ros and Nell Bennett. The first is a large coffee-table book that is beautifully designed showing intricate bark and leaf patterns, timber houses, the science, the eco-systems and the diversity. The second is a smaller, handier volume, but nonetheless equally beautiful, written by a (botanist)mother and (designer)daughter team, a guide to British trees.

Gardening:


Plants from Mitzi and Maud such as this Calamondine citrus plant which produces tons of fruit. Right now they are selling kumquats £60

Brilliant and readable book by Adam Alexander on the heritage and history behind certain vegetables, The Seed Detective.

Food gifts


Fruit Cheeses:

You could do worse than buy one of my home-made fruit cheese made in vintage moulds (mould not included). They come in different sizes from small, medium or large. Most are apple/clove flavour but I have a couple of quince membrillo ones too. They take ages to make and dry out hence the price. Perfect for a decorative Christmas cheese board. They last forever too.

Small £5 (email me)

Medium £20

Large £50


Maldon Sea Salt 

The best sea salt. Use for finishing only, not in cooking water unless you are very rich. Crumble over salads, pasta, fruit, vegetables, bread, olive oil, anything. Cameron Diaz says this was the best present she ever got.

Large tub £18.86

Barry’s Tea

The best tea from Ireland. Red-orange hued, bright, tannin but not overpoweringly so, clean flavour. Six boxes should last you a bit.

6 packs of 80 teabags. £36.64

Foodie fashion


 

I love Kate Spade‘s style and the label has many food-themed accessories. I just wish I could afford them! These are in the sale right now.

Tomato coin purse £59 and Tomato canvas tote £209!

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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.

msmarmitelover

Can’t wait to delve into this by one of my favou Can’t wait to delve into this by one of my favourite food writers @kitchenbee it’s got everything: kitchenalia, divorce and food. Did you know that what we call heartache is actually stomach ache? It’s now recognised that rejection actually causes physical as well as psychological pain. A study shows that pain relief medications such as paracetamol can alleviate heartache. Some of our emotional pain is autonomic: it’s referred to as polyvagal theory. #heartbreak #foodwriting #lovehurts #takotsubo #dopaminewithdrawal
Midsummer supper club 21st June. The theme is frag Midsummer supper club 21st June. The theme is fragrance and scent. Tickets are £45  and you can bring your own drink. Starts 7.30pm and the nearest tube is Kilburn on the jubilee. Parking is free outside. Exact address given on booking. https://msmarmitelover.com/product/midsummer-supper-club-2025-scent-and-fragrance #london #supperclub
Oil portraits of me painted at Burning Van festiva Oil portraits of me painted at Burning Van festival by artists @cristina_vercesi (left) and YouTube sensation and Royal Portrait gallery exhibiter @alex_tzavaras. It was an utter privilege to sit for these wonderful artists- a real highlight. I’m taking them home and framing them. It was easy to sit still for 90 minutes with the amazing DJ set @leonidas_lovetoparty More deets later. #portraiture #festivals #oilpainting
Went with influencers to @standrewslakes in Kent w Went with influencers to @standrewslakes in Kent with @ourfinland @lakelandfinland @pcagency to experience Finnish food such as Karelian pies with egg butter, cinnamon buns, blueberry pies, and pea soup which they have with mustard and sour cream. We did zip lining, kayaking, saunas, whipped ourselves with birch sticks, ate in a gorgeous wooden bbq shed @arctic_cabins at the end of all this activity we were all tired but happy. @miramakeup @holidaywiththeheathers @amie_jane__ @onehungryasian @iamtimchung @travellingtuesdays @helimendetravels @charlotteemilyprice #presstrip
@camille.osullivan @camilleosullivanpics and @grah @camille.osullivan @camilleosullivanpics and @grahnort @wiltonsmusichall god this woman is talented. She did a solo show of The Rape of Lucrece. Her voice! #theatre #shakespeare #london
My latest article on Hungarian cuisine, a unique m My latest article on Hungarian cuisine, a unique meeting of east and west, for @ckbk It's a blend of Ottoman, Eastern and middle European, Austro-Hungarian empire and cowboy food. #food&travel #foodanthropology #hungary
Made Fermented Cucumber dill pickles from @nickvad Made Fermented Cucumber dill pickles from @nickvadasz book The Pickle Jar. At @katzsdeli in New York they sell half sours and full sours. I reckon these are 3/4 sour. The white mould is fine btw. These are delicious #pickleperson #fermentation #guthealthy
London in bloom: wisteria, cherry blossom, lilac, London in bloom: wisteria, cherry blossom, lilac, plum blossom, 🌸 you don’t need to go to Japan for the Sakura season- it’s all here- london at its most beautiful. #london
Bluebell walk on Wanstead flats. The scent is incr Bluebell walk on Wanstead flats. The scent is incredible: similar to lily of the valley. These are actual English bluebells - a deeper colour & more delicate than Spanish bluebells which are rather invasive. #london #walks #april #bluebells
Snapshots from portobello rd market. Portuguese fo Snapshots from portobello rd market. Portuguese folar de pascua bread from Lisboa patisserie,  a gorgeous mosaic table from Fez, my favourite antique shop @muirshindurkin, Alice’s shop, an Easter hat, the best wisteria I wrote a substack on portobello road: https://open.substack.com/pub/kerstinrodgers/p/where-to-go-in-portobello-road-the?r=3873k&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true #london
I visited @tokyobagellondon with my granddaughter I visited @tokyobagellondon with my granddaughter yesterday to try one of their viral wobbly bunnies. We also tried the multi layer Oreo pancake cakes, the onigiri shaped croissant. My sister had the black sesame latte and I had yuzu tea. I spent £35 in a short space of time as each dessert was £5 but it was a fun experience. Ophelia said ‘lovely flowers’ which shows a degree of sophistication for a 2 year old. I preferred the strawberry to the coconut flavour . #londondaysout #grandmacore #easter
A quick high protein lunch of ratatouille with smo A quick high protein lunch of ratatouille with smoked tofu.  @pomoragoodfood olive oil then an aubergine cut into thick slices then quartered. Fry till translucent then add the chunks of red pepper. 2 fat garlic cloves sliced thinly, a block of smoked tofu in chunks, 2 bay leaves, a small handful of maldon salt. A courgette cut into thick half lengthways- then sliced into half moons. I might chuck in a handful of pantelleria capers in vinegar to give some acidity. Serve hot or cold. #sololunch #protein #vegetables
Inspired by @nickvadasz book The pickle Jar I used Inspired by @nickvadasz book The pickle Jar I used his dill pickles to make one of my favourite recipes for lunch - a potato, sour cream & pickle soup. Recipe on the blog. #soup #pickles
One of my favourite ways to eat mushrooms. Cook wh One of my favourite ways to eat mushrooms. Cook whole button mushrooms in olive oil, lemon juice, a little white wine vinegar, salt, bay leaves, whole coriander seeds, thyme, and white wine if you have it to hand. I used @pomoragoodfood olive oil. You can eat it straight away or leave it to marinate longer and eat the next day. #vegetarian #vegan #mushroomrecipe
Table side Caesar salad @maisonfrancois for @sienn Table side Caesar salad @maisonfrancois for @siennamarla birthday 🎂 #london #restaurants #caesarsalad
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Made brussel sprouts with pistachio pesto. The pis Made brussel sprouts with pistachio pesto. The pistachios came from Brontë in Sicily- they are the best pistachios in the world. You can make pesto with any nut: it’s usually with pine nuts but I’ve used hazelnuts, almonds (trapani), walnuts. #vegetarian #pesto #bronte
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Unstyled food photos no.4: butternut squash soup. Unstyled food photos no.4: butternut squash soup. Peel and cut up the butternut squash. Discard the seeds. Roast with olive oil, salt, smoked paprika in the oven for 30 minutes. Soften 2 brown onions in a deep pan with olive oil, add 3 cloves garlic minced, 3 bay leaves. Then add the veg stock powder and 1.5 litres hot water to the pan. Stir. Pour in the roast butternut squash. Cook for 10 minutes. Then remove the bay leaves and blend. Add 3 large scoops of natural yoghurt or skyr. Season to taste. Transfer back to the deep pan and serve with grated cheese, pumpkin seeds, chilli. 🌶️ #vitamix #soup #winterfood #agacooking
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