sTuff on stuff on stuff

my love language may not be gift giving (it's acts of service!) but it doesn't mean i can't have opinions!

A great gift for little kiddos: books about food.

When Loosha gets really into one of her books, the themes show up in her play, in her imagination games, and also her eating habits. Books about cooking, eating, and growing food perk her interest in food just like books about dragons or space!

A book about a cat named Yoko who eats Japanese food prepared by her mother is why Loosha adores salmon rolls and udon. A story about a family meeting for dim sum every Sunday means that when we go for dumplings, especially those served from carts, is real life jumping straight out of the pages of her books! She’s also tried cooking recipes from books and then has adamantly refused to eat any of it! The point is: she’s interested, and sometimes that interest leads to more openness, and even trying something new once in a while.

Or you could make something cool: like a sock puppet kit.

Shoebox, socks, buttons, beads, charms, any crap in your junk drawer. Maybe include some glue and googley eyes? If you have a kid yourself you could have them color the cardboard box and decorate it with stickers. It’s called two birds, one stone parenting.

Great stuff for the grown ups🤟

MouthBrain Gift Cards, sorry/not sorry for the shameless plug!

Do you know someone in LA who loves food? Are you stuck in a cooking rut? Craving the experience of real human connection? Good news! MouthBrain sessions are now in gift card form and are perfect for everyone you know. Buying a gift card saves you 10% off the ticket price and 100% satisfaction guaranteed by mwah.

Or you could give them something beautiful: cute planters!

We have a ton of special plants in our home but not enough special planters. This one from Rooted is now my favorite little buddy. And I’ve decided to keep my buddy in my kitchen because it brings me joy. This company really wants everyone to indulge in their plant parenthood potential (see what I did there?), and even offers monthly plant subscriptions! ZOEFOOD15 for 15% off your order through 12/25! *fyi, if you want it by christmas they said to order by monday 12/16.

Or you could support a local restaurant that you love so taht someone else gets to love it, too.

Or you could channel some good energy into a thoughtful homemade lil’ gift, like celery salt.

Great for bloody marys, popcorn, and even tuna fish sandwiches! Take a handful of DRY celery leaves and stick them in one layer without overlapping on a baking sheet in a 350 F degree oven for 5-8 minutes. After they have cooled a little they will get even more crispy and you can just turn them to dust by crumbling between your fingers and add to roughly equal parts salt of your choosing. Repurpose a cute little jar or throw it in a deli container from the last time you ordered take out. Grab some blue tape and sharpie, like a chef, and label it for them.

Or you could make something in a loaf pan. Loaf pans literally scream holiday gift, almost no matter what is inside.

Like this super easy beer bread that makes a stellar gift because it tastes even better after being sliced and toasted the next day.

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OR this addictive apple cake with cinnamon crackle

that I’ve shared before, although it’s not in a loaf pan, you could certainly halve that recipe and call it a day.

Or my jammy persimmon bread which really is a seasonal delight.

Just make that whatever you decide to make you let those little loaves cool so you can wrap them up in a piece of parchment paper with a little string or tape or whatever and it will be so freaking cute. Happy holidays you filthy animals!