It is really hard to forget how many days there are until Christmas. You hear it from the media, your day planner screams at you, and then of course the kids and grandkids–they don’t let you forget!

So what stage are you at? I won’t even try to guess—anywhere from tearing your hair out or sitting there with a glass of egg nog (heavy on the rum). This week I am keeping the column short (can you guess where I’m at) and will give out some ideas for the last minute Christmas shopper. The best part is you can shop here on the Island for most things. Here are some ideas for the foodie person on your list, someone that has everything, an elderly family member or neighbour.

1. My number one present is a cookbook because I consider myself a “cookbook junkie.” I think you can never have too many! Here are my top three for the year;

a) ‘Bake with Anna Olson: More Than 125 Simple, Scrumptious and Sensational Recipes to Make You a Better Baker’ by Anna Olsen 

b) ‘Real Food, Real Good, Eat Well with Over 100 of My Simple, Wholesome Recipes’ by Michael Smith

c) ‘My Pizza’ the easy no-knead way to make spectacular pizza at home by Jim Lahey

2. Kitchen gadgets. Over the years I have tried so many because the advertising will suck you in and then they sit in your drawer or cupboard.

So as follows:

a) My favourite is the garlic press or chopper. I think I have tried them all and the best one yet is a good cutting board used only for onions and garlic (hard to eat pineapple that tastes like garlic) and a really good chef’s knife. Chop, chop, chop-simple to use and clean.

b) A stainless-steel rasp and zester holder, an immersion blender, a blender or Magic Bullet depending on your budget, a crepe pan and a heavy duty stainless steel soup pot. All very exciting and useable to a cook.

3. A gift basket of food items that are healthy and new for someone to try. Whole wheat pasta, a new flour to bake with (try spelt flour from Loon Song), coconut oil (we use lots), coconut sugar, oats from Loon Song (just love’em), meat from a Manitoulin farmer (pork, lamb, beef and chicken and of course, fresh fish from our local commercial fishermen) and the list goes on—use your imagination. You can include your favourite recipe.

4. A gift basket filled with natural cleaning supplies for home (laundry, kitchen) or personal (hair shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste) or make some like I do.

5. Time. Taking time to bake cookies, squares, bread etc. and then giving them wrapped up to a family member or neighbour. Taking time to put together a lasagne or shepherd’s pie then taking it with you for a visit and dinner. Your time in a gift certificate for walking the dog, shovelling the snow, taking down the Christmas decorations—again use your imagination.

6. Simple. Keep it simple so you are not dragged into the commercialism of the season. The biggest gift we can give ourselves and others is our health and to me that means eating healthy by cooking right! Enjoy the festivities.