Scary Treats and Good Eats from GourmetGiftBaskets.com

 These BOOS are Best From GourmetGiftBaskets.com! Trick or Treating a little different this year? Send your favorite kids and loved ones a gift from GourmetGiftBaskets.com! Specialty candy, popcorn, nuts, cookies...even a special Brews Boos for your adult friends with beer, popcorn and candy. 

GourmetGiftBaskets.com, which was honored as a top food site by Newsweek earlier this year, has just unveiled some new offerings for Halloween that are SCARY GOOD. (Sorry, I couldn't resist!).

 

These are the TOP FAVORITES flying off the shelves at this family-owned company already...

 

BRAND NEW: EAT, DRINK & BE SCARY BEER BUCKET, $69.99, SKU 4757 

Hey, given this challenging year, parents sure need something to make them happy this Halloween and THIS GIFT is a step in the right direction. 

Super delicious treats like handcrafted Kettle popcorn, peanut butter cups, and Halloween Junior Mints, the fun & functional black cauldron pail holding everything is loaded with 6 great drinks. 

Most of them have Halloween themes:
Magic Hat #9, Crisp Apple Hard Cider by Angry Orchard, Oktoberfest by Sam Adams, and Pumpkinhead among others. 

 

BRAND NEW: BOO BAKED GOOD GIFT BOX, $29.99, SKU 8980

Nothing feels better during the fall than some fresh baked goods, and do we have some great items in this very affordable gift box. 

This includes delectable, chewy chocolate chip cookies, fudge brownies and Candy Corn crispy rice treats (shaped like Candy Corn). 

You need to see it to be sure your eyes aren't tricking you. Anyone would love this gift for Halloween. 

 

BRAND NEW: GOBLINS GRUB POPCORN TIN --
2 Gallons Of SALTY-SWEET GOODNESS, $59.99, SKU 7240A -- This wonderful tin includes three yummy, small-batch popcorn flavors created by our Popcorn Aficionados: White Chocolate Candy Corn, Worms In The Dirt (chocolate-covered popcorn with gummy worms), and the taste bud-tantalizing Caramel Apple popcorn, only offered during autumn. 

A Cookie to Remember

Instagram sensation and specialty baker extraordinaire Jana Douglass will make you rethink your concept of cookies.

With her inspired ideas, your confections will bring you raves and plenty of party invitations for life.

What sets A Cookie to Celebrate apart is Jana’s detailed instructions for gorgeous special occasion cookies, from birthdays and engagement parties to Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Independence Day and much more.

In A Cookie to Celebrate, Janashares her baking expertise along with foolproof recipes for these delicious desserts.

Each cookie in this collection is guaranteed to stand out and destined to become the most Instagrammed sweet treats you’ve ever made!

Pack the Summer Beach Bag with Gluten-free Snacks

Its summer and time to pack that beach bag with delicious gluten-free snacks!

Gluten-free diets on the rise, reaching out to share an assortment of gluten-free snacks perfect for the whole family to enjoy.

· Munk Pack's ready-to-eat Oatmeal Fruit Squeezes are packed with whole grains, fruit bites and superfoods, making it easy to eat healthy on-the-go. Available in five delicious flavors, including Apple Quinoa Cinnamon, Maple Pear Quinoa, and more, they are gluten-free, non GMO, vegan and high in fiber.

· Munk Pack's Protein Cookies feature 18G of plant-based protein per cookie from nut butters and grains! In flavors like Double Dark Chocolate and Oatmeal Raisin Spice, these vegan, non-GMO and gluten free cookies are soft baked and fueled with 6G of fiber per cookie.

· Go Organically Fruit Snacks are a tasty, gluten-free, USDA-certified organic fruit snack perfect for on-the-go snacking. Made with real fruit and available in three delicious flavors, Go Organically offers an authentic, easy, snack option for both children and adults.

· Welch's Fruit Rolls deliver the same quality consumers love in Welch's Fruit Snacks, in a new, irresistibly fun format. Featuring fruit as its first ingredient, the fruit rolls are gluten-free and come in three mouthwatering flavors: Berry, Tropical Punch, and White Grape Strawberry.

Gluten-free Goodie Girl Cookies Now Available at Starbucks!

Gluten-free Goodie Girl Cookies launched in Starbucks!

Happy Customers

When Shira started this effort in her kitchen 5 years ago, she only thought this could happen to someone else. 

Now they are rolling out their Mint Slim Snack Paks in over 7900 Starbucks nationally over the coming weeks.

We all can't stop smiling! Goodness never tasted so naughty.

Celebrate National Ice Cream Month with Nielsen-Massey's Recipes

Celebrate National Ice Cream Month by hosting an ice cream party using the summer-inspired flavor of Orange Blossom Water from Nielsen-MasseyVanillas. 

Orange Blossom Water captures the crisp essence of an orange grove, a cool complement to any sorbet or gelato on a hot July day. 

For a sophisticated ice cream experience, try pairing everyone’s favorite summer treat with these delicious accompaniments:

For a naturally-sweetened ice cream topping, use Orange Blossom Honey. Simply adding Orange Blossom Water to honey will impart a floral zest that wonderfully enhances any frozen dessert. 

“As a nutritive sweetener, honey adds further compounds like trace minerals, vitamins and antimicrobial properties,” says Sofia Sanchez, RD, LDN for Nielsen-Massey Vanillas.

Mangoes are a favorite summer fruit for many people. Mango Fruit Sauce will complement banana ice creams, sherbets and baked goods. It will also pair well with dairy-free alternatives like coconut and almond-based frozen desserts.

Sweeten the celebration with Red, White & Blue Orange Blossom Cookies. These cookies can be decorated to match any summer party theme. Serve with ice cream and these are sure to be a hit with friends and family.

Red, White & Blue Orange Blossom Cookies

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• ¾ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup superfine sugar (purchase or process granulated sugar for about 20 seconds in a food processor)
• 2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
• 3 ¼ teaspoons Nielsen-Massey Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Extract
• 1 teaspoon Nielsen-Massey Orange Blossom Water
• 2 eggs
• ¼ cup confectioners’ sugar (for dusting work surface)
• ¼ cup all-purpose flour (for dusting work surface)

Position oven rack in center of oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Line two large, heavy light-colored baking sheets with parchment paper; set aside.

In a medium bowl, whisk flour, baking powder and salt until blended; set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, add butter, sugar, cream, vanilla extract and orange blossom water; beat with a handheld mixer on medium speed until fluffy; about 2 minutes, scraping sides of bowl as needed. Reduce speed to medium-low; add eggs one at a time and beat after each addition. Using a rubber spatula, fold in the dry ingredients one half at a time.

Divide dough into two even pieces, press each piece into a disk shape, wrap tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for about 1 hour. Dough should be cool and firm but easy to work with.

In a small bowl, whisk confectioners’ sugar and flour until blended; set aside. Working with one piece of dough at a time, place on a clean, dusted surface. Roll dough about 1/8-inch thickness. Use cookie cutters to cut shapes and transfer with a thin offset metal spatula to prepared cookie sheets. For even baking, do not overcrowd cookies. Gather remaining dough, cover with plastic and chill. Continue with second chilled dough.

For best results, bake one sheet pan at a time until done, about 10 minutes; remove and place cookies on wire racks to cool. Decorate and store in an airtight container.

Orange Blossom Glaze

• 1 ¼ cups confectioners’ sugar
• 1 tablespoon meringue powder
• 2 tablespoons water
• ½ teaspoons water
• ½ teaspoon Nielsen-Massey Orange Blossom Water (may substitute with Nielsen-Massey Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Extract)
• Variety gel food colors

In a small bowl, whisk together sugar and meringue powder. Add water and orange blossom water, stir until smooth. 

Divide glaze into small bowls; add desired gel colors. 

Glaze cookies and set aside to dry.

Makes about 3 Dozen

Gluten-Free Goodie Girl Cookies have Amazing Flavors

Holy chocolate cookie! Looking for the perfect late-night treat without all the guilt? 

Goodie Girl Cookies “Midnight Brownie” fulfills even the deepest, darkest chocolate cravings. Loaded with ZERO hydrogenated fats, preservatives, or even gluten, these bad boys are sweet, salty, crunchy, and with every bite, you get a mouthful of velvety, soft chocolate chips. 

In flavors such as Oatmeal Raisin, Toffee Chaos, Quinoa Chocolate Chunk, Midnight Brownie, and Mint Slims, you can't go wrong with this good cookie. 

Goodie Girl Cookies takes the taste of classic, decadent chocolate cookies and transforms them into satisfying yet “safe” sweets the entire family can enjoy. 

Created by a punk rock PR fashion model mom, these cookies are perfect for a girls night in with a bottle of wine, a small dessert in your kids lunch box at school or camp, or your new go-to for milk & cookies. 

Stock up on goodiegirl.com because these delicious, little things run out quick.

Recap of the Coffee & Tea Festival in Oaks, PA (November 2-3)

This past weekend in Oaks, PA  (November 2-3) at the Greater Philadelphia Convention Center, Starfish Junction productions presented the first ever in the Greater Philly area:
The Coffee & Tea Festival!  

Selected as one of the "10 Best New York Events" and featured on the Food Network’s “Unwrapped"The Philadelphia area welcomes the festival for the inaugural Coffee & Tea Festival. This long-running event originated in New York, and always draws huge crowds. As they say, their mission is to unite coffee and tea drinkers for a weekend of fun festivities!

It was a hit! Over 40 vendors and exhibitors, tastings, giveaways, seminars and workshops made for a wonderful event. Walking in the door each day, the first 1000 attendees received a goody bag with all kinds of tasty samples) Biscoff cookies, Eight O’Clock coffee!). Upon walking in the door, your senses are pleasantly bombarded with the satisfying scent of roasting coffee.

Kristyn Dolan, marketing manager for the show’s producer, Starfish Junction Productions, was very excited to bring this exhilarating event to the Philadelphia area. "The event surpassed our expectations for the first one in this particular area, and we look forward to future years of the show as we grow and improve," she said.

It was a real buzz... sampling all that delicious coffee and tea.  A good number of vendors offered Fair Trade and organic items, local merchants sold baked goods, and everything was available for purchase.

DONUTS for ALL!

40+Vendors such as Eight O'Clock Coffee, Wholesome Sweeteners, Adagio Teas, Celestial Seasonings, Choice Organic Teas, Organic India USA, Red Rose Tea, Salada Tea, Martinson Coffee, Honest Tea, Bare Tea, Coffee Ale House, Owl’s Brew, Tea Time, Maui Wowi Hawaiian, Ajiri Tea, Capital Teas, Chai Diaries, Waterfall Tea Company and more all had delicious samples to try.

Owl’s Brew was one of the more interesting items we sampled at the festival- ice cold blended tea, herbs, agave, then spiked (not sold that way) with either vodka or tequila. The result? A unique, lower-calorie (than most cocktails) refreshing tea beverage perfect for hot summer nights or a cool Fall afternoon.

Owl's Brew is delightful

Honest Tea was offering samples of all its fresh delicious tea. Honest Tea is my go-to at lunch when I don’t want to ingest a ton of sugar and carbs and drink actual tea. Sweetened naturally, it’s the right choice for me, and so yummy too! I love the peach white tea.

Yes to Honest Tea!

A few booths had local and flavored honey- lavender honey, rosemary fig honey, peach blossom, and blueberry honey were just a few of the delectable nectars we sampled.

Oh honey!

There were a few vendors advising on proper tea etiquette, how to set a proper tea table, tea parties, and coffee and tea- specific magazines and cookbooks.

Many local food craftspeople had booths as well, Goshen Donuts, Taste, Sweet Serenity Confections, along with similar vendors offering cheese, cookies, cake, dips, cupcakes, and caramel apples.

Eat up yummies!

Many vendors offered uniquely-crafted items, rare teapots, quirky mugs, coffee and tea brewing essentials, and fun kitchen items.

This event was very well received and everyone looked like they were having a great time!

Take me home!

Special thanks to Kristyn Dolan, of Starfish Junction Productions!