The Five Things I Ate Holiday Gift Guide 🎁

Really it’s four gifts and a recipe.

Hello and welcome back to Five Things I Ate! This week, we’ve put together a little gift guide! Check out past posts here, and please follow my Instagram @fivethingsiate. 

Chocolate rugelach at Breads Bakery

You can order from the Breads Bakery website.

When I got sick from COVID last year my friend Claire sent me rugelach from Breads Bakery. Although I shortly lost my sense of smell afterwards, it was such a wonderful treat in an otherwise awful time that this year when she got sick, I sent a bunch of rugelach right back at her. Hopefully, this ceases to be a tradition any longer because we will both stop contracting COVID, and instead it can just be sent as a nice holiday gift. My default New York Christmas gifts to bring to people are either 1) chocolate babka (also from Breads, sorry Zabars) or 2) these rugelach, although I might also squeeze on 3) the mini black and whites from Orowasher’s Bakery, to be reviewed at another time. These are extremely gift worthy rugelach, much more on the refined end of things rather than rustic and homemade. Each cookie is soft and flaky at the same time, almost like a chocolate layered croissant.

Bodum Brazil French Press Coffee and Tea Maker, 12 oz, Black

On sale on the Bodum website (Half the price of Amazon!) 

A French press? Sophie, aren’t you a diehard pour over coffee fan? The answer is: Yes, and yes. So, why did I include a French press on this gift list if I don’t love French press coffee? Well, for one, this little single-serving coffee maker is incredibly cute. A pour over cone just doesn’t have the same squee factor. Secondly, just because I’m not personally into French press coffee (I like light, bright, acidic and zero “mouthfeel” in my cup) doesn’t mean your gift recipient isn’t. And I could probably make it work with a better technique. But, the real reason is that a French press coffee maker is secretly the best at-home milk frother you could own. It’s better than an electric wand whisk, and it’s even better than any electric appliance that you can buy (I’ve spent a pretty penny on stuff that takes up way too much counter space). Just heat up the milk, froth, and pour – it already comes with a spout! The results can be silky smooth, with a little finessing.

If you’re going homemade: Peppermint Mocha Syrup

Based on Bravetart’s Homemade "Hershey's" Syrup.

A Five Things I Ate gift guide isn’t complete without at least one homemade food gift. This year, I’ve been really enjoying this homemade Hershey’s Syrup recipe from Stella Parks. So much so that I have yet to give it to anyone, but you might. The recipe is probably Google-able if you try hard enough, but I would encourage you to buy the book, because it’s a wonderful resource (and also makes another great gift)! It calls for hot, strongly brewed coffee* as the base which gives the cocoa a depth of flavor that makes it taste a bit more adult. You can’t really taste the coffee flavor, but it reminded me of my favorite holiday coffee beverage, the peppermint mocha, so I added a half teaspoon of peppermint extract to it. This chocolate syrup makes excellent hot cocoa with no fuss and just one step: Stir a spoonful into a steamy mug of milk, and it makes even better chocolate milk. 

* Because I’m extra, I made a cup of James Hoffman “the Ultimate French Press” coffee, using the Bodum French press. 

Bonus recipe: Peppermint Mocha Egg Cream at home

Inspired by Serious Eats. 

I know milk and seltzer may be a hard sell but an egg cream is really just a light and fizzy chocolate milk. In my opinion most cold beverages are better with carbonation and this is no exception to the rule. I used my homemade peppermint mocha syrup (above) to make an egg cream and it reminded me of my favorite La Colombe Mocha Peppermint Draft Latte minus the dosage of caffeine. A fun and fizzy treat for festive times!

Soundcore by Anker Life Q30 Noise Canceling Headphones, Sakura Pink

Here’s the model. 

This gift option is not food related at all, but I had to include it as my noise canceling pink headphones are my favorite possession of all time. (I don’t really think you can truly possess a cat, otherwise, of course Mimi would be my favorite possession of all time.) As a person with both hearing problems and sensory processing issues, I think my entire mental sanity has hinged on these comfy headphones multiple times this year. I work in an open office full of reporters (aka constant phone calls) and my second gig as a circus artist means that I am often in spaces I would otherwise not be caught within a 100 foot radius of (aka loud performance venues). These headphones literally allow me to do my job(s) without feeling like my brain is being blitzed in a blender. Best of all, they’re under a hundred bucks, come in an aesthetic pink color which is SUPER important to me, and do not irritate my ears at all (I both wear glasses and have surgery scars behind my ear, so that’s very rare!).

Unfortunately, I’ve yet to find an equally good earbud version, which is essential for situations like warming up in loud spaces, dealing with noise in loud bars and restaurants inconspicuously, etc. I currently have Studio Beats, but find them meh. I’ve been eyeing AirPods pros for a while, but haven’t had the courage to shell out another 200 plus bucks. So if you have suggestions – or want to send me your extra pair of AirPods – let me know!

Merry December,

Soph

P.S. The holidays are coming up! Why not gift a subscription to a friend? Or, give me the gift of signing up for your own subscription.