Fruga(lista) Host Gifts for Thanksgiving-and beyond

‘Tis the Season

Holiday gatherings and parties. Besides beautiful outfits, that means gifts for your host.  You wouldn’t bring any addition to the celebration (soup, really?) without knowing what the person wants, needs or loves. Many suggest traditional gifts of wine, candy, and flowers. Even then, you still need to know what they prefer, right?

Anyway, maybe your host/hostess would love something they can see or use later. Something that reminds them of you and the great evening. Besides, the “many” aren’t the boss of us, are they?

Check out these Frugalista Gift ideas for presentations or ideas to make your Thanksgiving hosts remember you and the gathering with a smile long after the occasion. If there’s more than one host, you might want to double up on the selection or choose one that benefits both. 😉 Bonus: Some of these might give up some ideas for future host gifting opportunity or the upcoming holidays.

Where possible, under each gift idea, you’ll find several buying options (both online and brick and mortar)

 

For the Baker or Foodie Lite

A friend told me that people like to give host gifts of sustenance, especially during Thanksgiving. If you do, do make it special, memorable. Preferably something your gift recipient can use after the occasion. Like these:

… in the Middle East (and Morocco) it is the (lemon) rind (versus zest/juice) that is prized. …preserve their lemons, softening the rind and essentially pickling it… You won’t believe the taste when you try the.     Jamie Oliver, Food Network (article here)

Your recipient might have never heard of preserved lemons, let alone  of Preserved Lemons. They will quickly find many uses for this intense flavor on meat, stews, chicken, seafood, couscous. Improves all kinds of dishes. And of course African and Mediterranean dishes. And, even cocktails. Make sure your host knows that the lemons will keep for over a year, although after a few months a harmless lacy, white substance might form and cling to preserved lemons. Rinse it off, then good as new.

 

House Made Preserved Lemons 

$9/lb formaggio.com/ Uses whole organic lemons in the preservation mixture. Sells them whole. This will certainly make an impact, and you can read the details to see if it’s worth it.

 

Mustapha’s Moroccan Preserved Lemons 

$23.50 (includes $10.49 shipping) ChefShop via Amazon.com “The ‘lemonness’ you expect is softened and sour and salty elements combine with a hint of sweetness for an entirely new flavor experience.”   10.7 oz jar

Mustapha’s Preserved Lemon Confit

$12 (including tax & shipping) WorldMarket.com   Uses preserved confit-style Moroccan Beldi lemons–fragrant with just a hint of sweetness. 12.4 oz jar.

Natural Organic Preserved Lemons By Moulin Mahjoub

$9 shop.com These Preserved Lemons arrived from the Mejerda Valley of Tunisia in the Mediterranean. 7 oz Jar.

You might want to give them this link: 11 Recipes That Make Preserved Lemons worth buying

And if you feel daring, there is always DIY Preserved Lemons

(Can you tell I love I was excited to find this product?)

 

Whether baker or cook, the host might enjoy a few bottles of Vanilla. After all, it’s a pantry staple. The paste offers concentrated flavor that’s much

more convenient, but with the same pow for their creations. Still, they might prefer the aesthetics of the whole vanilla bean pods.

$8.72  $5.97 Walmart.com Natural Madagascar Vanilla Bean Paste (Extract $4.95; Bean (2) – $9.93) 

$13 surlatable.com Pure Madagascar Vanilla Bean Paste, 4 oz.

 $10 (Madagascar beans -2) williams-sonoma.com

$16 Lafaza.com Or, really impress and delight the host with LaFaza pure ground powder Vanilla from hand-selected, organic Madagascar Bourbon vanilla beans. This one would work especially great for dry rubs, drinks and dry mixes. 1 ounce size.

 

GIFTS FOR THE OCCASIONAL OR PERPETUAL ENTERTAINER

Your host might kiss you because these come in handy right away. Or, certainly they’ll find use for Tapas Serving Dishes between now and January—and well after. Gift tapas in square, round, flat or raised styles.

These small beauties, like England’s famous Royal Doulton 8-pc Square Trays, look great at any event for all kinds of appetizers, tiny sandwiches, breads and desserts…any small servings.

$49 Domino.com 

 

Or present the colorful, hand-painted 4 piece Certified International Tapas Canapé Plates. Several designs available.
$29 target.com target.com
extra 10% off select home items with code TURKEYDAY  save $5 when you spend $50 today on select items

 

This gift recipient might appreciate the storage stand that comes with this Latin inspired, hand-painted Certified International Tapas 7-pc. Serving Set with Ceramic Stand.  Available online only. Imported.

$75 $37.50 sale  JCPenney.com

 

 

The Simple Syrup bar mixer would work well for the entertainer who loves experimenting with craft cocktails.

$12 surlatable.com In classic and vanilla bean infused natural ingredients. You might want to present them with one of each, since they can also use these handcrafted syrups in non-alcoholic drinks or food recipes. Maybe they’ll invite you back to try a creation.  MADE IN THE USA

$8.99 + $7.49 shipping (8 oz bottle) Liber & Co via amazon.com Real Grenadine  is just one of the simple syrup flavors offered by Liber & Co. for cocktails. It boasts a pure, unadulterated pomegranate flavor from cold-processing. Their ingredients “come from a variety of growers and farmers, from world-renowned Texas grapefruit orchards, to a small, family-run pomegranate farm in California.”  8.5 oz and 17 oz bottles. Liber and company offers gift trios, too.  (By the way their story and backgrounds are fascinating. Read it here if you plan to give a couple of these. Then you’ll have an interesting tale to offer with your gift)  MADE IN USA

$15 – 17 ounce bottle bittermilk.comOr, this gift recipient might love to try Bittermilk’s tonics and syrups. Voted as one of the top ten goodie gifts. Like the Charred Grapefruit Tonic made with  charred peel from fresh grapefruits, lemon & lime juices and bark with just a little local sea salt. Several choice available. MADE IN THE USA

 

FOR THE ACTUAL HOME BARKEEP

 You can easily pair any of these next selections with a bottle…or not.

This is made especially for distant travelers, but walking to the den could be travel, yes? The W&P Moscow Mule, Gin & Tonic, or Old Fashioned Carry-On Cocktail Kits includes everything—except the liquor—for this gift recipient to enjoy craft cocktails anywhere. So whether your host dings the air cabin button, brings the bottle to the den or raids the hotel fridge, this gift recipient will have it their way.

$24 surlatable.com
A wine chiller like the Corkcicle gives your host a chiller and aerator as they pour. Or, just for chilling, try the chilling Sleeve. And, like the gifts above, travels well. Made from BPA-free plastic and non-toxic freeze gel. Easily washes off.

$25 surlatable.com Corkcicle 3-in-1 Wine Chiller

$13 crateandbarrel.com Corkcicle

 

$12 amazon.com Corkcicle Classic Wine Chiller, Cork  Available in several colors or original cork. MADE IN THE USA

 

 After a few, some guests won’t remember if they had the shoe or the top hat. No need to tell them that it was the state if California. Present your host with the ultimate solution to wine glass mix-ups. The Wine Glass Metallic Markers, Set of 3 in holiday colors

$10 williams-sonoma.com Wine Glass Tag Set  

$10 bedbathandbeyond.com Wine Glass Writer® 3-Pack

$10 amazon.com Wine Enthusiast Wine Glass Writer

 

 

 

FOR THE COOKS

Some people carry their iPad everywhere, including into the kitchen for recipe tutorials. Gift them protection of the iPad and iPad mini Protective Sleeves. This would make a great pairing with any of the gifts above. These are moisture-resistant,  high-tech plastic with maximum touch sensitivity. Set of 25. MADE IN THE USA

$19.95 $4 (Sale) williams-sonoma,com 

$10 amazon.com

 

A Cast Iron Skillet might seem an odd gift for your host. But it will be a gift they’ll use the skillet often for perfect food preparation too numerous to list. One that comes with expert backed health benefits and better cooking (e.g. superior heat retention. Lay a package of specialty pancakes and/or package of bacon inside the 6” or 10″ skillet and further gift your host with an easy breakfast the morning after.  Bonus:  If they are campers, they use this one over open flame or to throw at a bear.

$11 – 60 surlatable.com  Lodge Logic Cast Iron 6.5″, 8″, 9″, 10.25″, 12″ and 15.25″ sizes. (had offer of $5 off online purchase.  Don’t still see it, ask for it)

$16 amazon.com Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast-Iron Skillet, 10.25-inch (6.5″ to 17″ – $9, $11, $14, $16 up to $78)

$30 $25 (SALE) kohls.com Bobby Flay™ 10-in., Seasoned Skillet 

 

 

Gift a Chalkboard Menu and your host might use it that night to announce the courses. Later, it could come in handy to allay that pesky, frequent question:  ‘what’s for dinner?’    

 

$30 surtable.com   Antiqued Chalkboard Menu 

$25 kirklands.com Vintage-inspired Chalkboard Easel. Walnut finish.

$16 $12 (sale) walmart.com Chalkboard Menu w/Fromage Poster Print. Printed on Premium Heavy Stock Paper  

Don’t forget the eraser:  $3 Quartet Chalkboard Eraser. 

 

 

 

Or, prettify their kitchen with a gift of the Simple Pleasures rosemary and mint caddy gift set. It organizes and offers the lovely aroma of rosemary and mint. Caddy contains hand soap, hand lotion and dish soap.

$20 $13 (sale) kohls.com (BARGAIN ALERT: $10 at Black Friday, preview beginning Monday, 11-23-15

 

 Happy Host Gift shopping.  May you find the perfect fit here or get great ideas that fit your host(s) perfectly . 

Of course your gift recipient might love wine, flowers or chocolate, so by all means give them what they love! (Just make sure you know what it is)

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