Holiday lights glimmer on the towering trunks of palm trees. The windows of craftsman houses shine with candles these early-dusk evenings. The stores are full of candy canes and chocolate coins that never taste as good as we remember from childhood, but that still make us smile (especially because we know we can get much tastier treats from local sweets crafters!). We wander through the farmers markets marveling at festively bright persimmons, pomegranates, and citrus on chilly mornings or cloudy afternoons in our neighborhoods.
It is December and most likely you are in the midst of the holiday chaos of work parties, decorating the house (office, car, farm, etc), and crafting and acquiring gifts for friends and family. Need some help on all of those fronts?
Here's a little list of holiday ideas that can not only raise the spirits but help support local artisans and farmers, too!
1. Give party-goers a lighter option: instead of another plate of sugar cookies or pigs in a blanket, bring a basket of local fruit to a holiday party or potluck (or give as a hostess gift). Collect oranges, persimmons, pears, and late apples from your local fruit farmers' booths and pile into a basket or ceramic bowl. Or bring a plate of cut-up fruit with some caramel or cinnamon swirled yogurt in which to dip those tasty bites.
2. Give friends and family a San Diego sampler: locally harvested almonds, small batch jams, flavored olive oils, spicy kimchi, fresh citrus and pomegranates, a loaf of spiced bread... Shop around for the ingredients of a care package that will not only delight the recipient but also support local businesses. How about getting even more specific with a theme like Pasta Night by giving a stock pot or ceramic bowl filled with gluten free spinach pasta, California olive oil, herbed sea salt, fresh or dried mushrooms, and heirloom tomatoes? Or a Breakfast in Bed theme with a tray full of organic tea, farm fresh eggs, a medley of veggies, white chocolate nut butter, and locally made jam?
3. Get crafty in the kitchen: Make up a big batch of Meyer lemon marmalade, spicy tomato salsa, or apple butter to give as gifts. Make them shelf stable by canning. Or put the concoctions in clean jars and tell the recipient to refrigerate and eat as soon as possible (which probably won't be a problem as the result will be amazingly delicious!).
4. Sign your nearest and dearest up for a Farmers Market CSA: What better way to treat friends and family to the joys of healthy eating than by giving them a weekly dose of veggies, fruits, eggs, honey and/or whatever else one may find in the bucket! See the website for details.
5. If you are a chef type, why not give an IOU gift of a special dinner or picnic with all locally grown foods you harvest from the farmers' market? How could you celebrate a dear friend more festively than by making time (and food!) for them?
6. Bake a loaf of bread or cupcakes with local fruits and veggies: Some great recipes include Chocolate Beet Cake (delicious in loaf form!), Chocolate Kale Cake, or Pumpkin Pomegranate Bread (see recipe below).
7. Decorate your house with bowls of fruit, bouquets of leafy greens (try chard and kale with feathery sprigs of fennel in a mason jar), hearty succulents in festive pots, and fresh cut flowers from the farmers' market.
8. Bring a friend to the farmers' market for a holiday spree! Buy them a beautiful Ghanian basket at the Manager's Booth, tell your friend to fill it up with veggies and fruits and you'll pay the tab (or up to a certain amount)!
