Hanukkah has already started, Christmas is just around the corner and the New Year is only a few weeks away. No doubt you’re thinking, “How am I going to put on great holiday party without going crazy?”
And preliminary indications on shopping trends for this holiday season are not likely to be helpful. Marketers expect that malls, grocery stores and online services will be busier than ever, making shopping for your foods even more of a hassle.
But there are ways to cut corners without cramping your style. Here’s a sampling of some of my favorite foods designed to make your holiday meals easier, faster and more delicious than you could imagine:
Niman Ranch Breakfast Gift BasketThis gift basket is great for brunch or breakfast solutions every day of the week. It includes applewood-smoked bacon; two varieties of breakfast sausages (original link and maple link), two ham steaks and four thinly sliced New York steaks (perfect for steak and eggs). Just add the eggs and coffee for a luxurious and yummy morning meal ($105).
Oven-Ready Turkey from Jennie-O Turkey StoreThis is a whole turkey that goes straight from your freezer to your oven, already cleaned, seasoned and sealed in a FOOL-PROOF™ cooking bag with pop-up timer. No messy giblets, no handling of the raw bird. Preseasoned in two flavors: Homestyle, and Butter, Garlic and Herb. Available in 11- to 13-pound whole-bird sizes ($61) or 5- to 7-pound half-bird sizes ($46).
Maple Leaf Farms DuckFully cooked products include Roast Half Duck, Rotisserie Half Duck, and Rotisserie Breast. Ready-to-cook items — pre-cut and/or pre-seasoned and ready to simply be placed in the oven, on the grill or in a pan — include Boneless Breast, Premium Leg Quarters, and boneless L’Orange Breast. Maple Leaf Farms also offers the traditional whole duck (raw) for those home cooks who want to create a delicious holiday centerpiece.
Sabra Garden Fresh Frozen HerbsHere’s a way to add fresh herbs to your holiday cooking without a lot of shopping and chopping. The herbs come frozen in a tray with 20 individual cubes of chopped parsley, dill, coriander, basil or garlic. Prices range from $2.19 to $2.59 per tray. Available at major supermarkets, such as Wegman's, Waldbaum's, Stop 'n' Shop, A & P, Trader Joe's and many specialty food stores nationwide.
Ruthie & Gussie's Potato Latke GramThis mail-order kit is for those who would like to send Ruthie and Gussie’s latkes — Jewish potato pancakes — to family members, friends and associates. Packaged in a styrofoam container, each Latke Gram contains a combination of sweet and traditional latke batter, a jar of apple sauce and a container of sour cream with a customized card for next-day delivery. Latke Gram 2-pack, $50; 3-pack, $65.
Pepsi Holiday SpicePepsi has introduced a limited edition of its signature taste with a blend of holiday spices available only during the holiday season.
This is a great flavor for crisp winter mornings around the holidays and is a new permanent addition to their line of flavored coffees. It's available by the pound, either whole bean or ground, at all Dunkin' Donuts shops and online. Two pounds, $10.99 (prices may vary).
He-brew Beer“The Chosen Beer,” from the Shmaltz Brewing Company, is made from eight specialty malts of roasted barley, wheat and oatmeal to produce a rich, deep-red, delicious Kosher brew with 8 percent alcohol content (which is high for beer).
Molten Chocolate Cake BatterNow you can bake warm chocolate cakes at home just like those served in top restaurants. This batter is shipped frozen and ready to bake in several ramekins or a muffin pan. The results are great: a warm and velvety cake with a molten fudge center. Serves 8 to 12, $38.
Phil Lempert is food editor of the “Today” show. He welcomes questions and comments, which can be sent