Holiday Edition: Vietnomnomnom's Favorite Things

....because, let's face it, Vietnomnomnom is just as important as Oprah.

Many of us are in gift-buying mode for the holidays, and Vietnomnomnom is here to help. Here are our favorite "nom-related" things.

From left to right: 1) Microwave Steamer, 2) Popcorn Popper, 3) Pickler, 4) Mister/Sprayer

1) Microwave Steamer - A great, easy alternative to stove top steaming or a pressure cooking. Added bonus - the dish can be used to store leftovers in the fridge. + Gift idea: Bundle the steamer with a fresh vegetable basket, or a subscription to a local farmer delivery service.

2) Microwave Popcorn Popper - Easy to pop, easy to clean, and allows you to add and control your own seasonings. + Gift idea: Bundle the popper with some specialty popcorn kernels and some popcorn seasonings (cinnamon and nutmeg, and/or seasoned salts).

3) Instant Pickler (by Vacu Vin) - Pickled or fermented vegetables and other food items are great for promoting good digestion. This little device makes pickling easy. + Gift idea: Similar to the steamer idea, package the pickler with a basket of fresh seasonal veggies, or a subscription to a local farmer delivery service.

4) Stainless Steel Mister/Sprayer - I have three of these in my kitchen - one for extra virgin olive oil (for salads), one for balsamic vinegar (for salads or veggies), and one for canola oil (for cooking). + Gift idea: Bundle the mister with some high-quality, flavor-infused extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

5) Coffee Makers galore - Vietnomnomnom likes to keep a variety of coffee makers in the kitchen. Each method produces a slightly different flavor of coffee, so for those of us avid coffee drinkers, we'll be sure to have the taste that fits our mood. A French Press, a Vietnamese coffee maker (cà phê phin), a stove-top espresso maker (moka pot), a vacuum pot/siphon, a pour-over mechanism (chemex), and a Nespresso machine, of course :). + Gift idea: Package one of these coffee makers with high-quality coffee beans and a nice mug.

Coffee makers (#5) from L to R: French Press, Vietnamese Phin, Moka Pot, Vacuum Siphon, Nespresso Vertuoline

6) Ceramic cookware - Pots and pans made of ceramic are non-toxic, keeping your food pure, fresh, and healthy. Also, most of the ceramic ones are designed so that you can saute with limited oil/fat (or with none at all). See our last post, Vietnamese Health Tip #6: Cooking 101 - Lay off the oil!. + Gift idea: A pots and pans set is a nice gift by itself, or you can give one good quality ceramic pan, bundled with the mister mentioned above, and/or a decorative, good quality spatula.

7) Powdered Peanut Butter - Powdered PB has almost 1/4 of the calories of regular peanut butter, but still great flavor and plenty of nutrients. You can add the powder to water to make your own peanut butter, or add it to oatmeal, smoothies, or yogurt for some extra flavor and protein. Even better, try chocolate peanut butter powder. + Gift idea: Make a "Breakfast Gift Basket" with the powdered PB, Oats, Cinnamon, Cardamom, Honey, Nuts, and Coffee

8) Ancient Grains - Cereals and breads made from quinoa, barley, bulgur, and other ancient grains are not only flavorful and delicious, but also pack in the nutrients (namely protein and fiber). You can find these cereals and breads on Amazon, or in any grocery store, oftentimes in the "gluten-free" section (sometimes the ancient grain bread is in the frozen section). Explore cooking with the ancient grains themselves as alternatives to rice and cereal (e.g. bulgur, barley, quinoa, etc.). + Gift idea: Make a "Baked Goods Gift Basket" with ancient grain bread (can be found at many local bakers or at the grocery or hey, try making it yourself!), tasty local jams and honey, a nice spreading knife and plate, and some cookies for fun.

9) Gluten-free Pastas - These pastas are not just for the gluten-free! Made from beans, legumes, vegetables, and/or ancient grains, gluten-free pasta is tasty, easy-to-cook, and nutrient-dense (especially in protein). You can find them on Amazon, or in any grocery store in the gluten free section or even the regular pasta aisle. My favorite brand is "Explore Asia." + Gift idea: Make an "Italian Gift Basket" with some ancient grain pasta, good tomato sauce, an herb-growing kit, and some good extra virgin olive oil.

10) Canned pumpkin (organic) - Fortunately in Vietnam, fresh pumpkin is plentiful. Every week, we at Vietnomnomnom steam a bunch of pumpkin and sweet potato, and keep them in the fridge to add to smoothies and oatmeal, or to then mash and add to chicken salad, sandwiches, or anything that needs a good spread. An easy alternative is to buy the organic canned pumpkin (can be found in the grocery or on Amazon). + Gift idea: Make a seasonal root vegetable gift basket with a few types of pumpkins and sweet potatoes, or make a Pumpkin Pie Smoothie gift basket with canned pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, and a nice hand blender appliance (I like the CuisinArt brand).

From L to R:

7) Powdered PB, 8) Ancient Grain Cereal, 9) Black Bean Pasta, 10) Organic Pumpkin

Add YOUR favorite things and gift ideas in the comments. Let's put the fun and the love (and the 'noming) back into gifting! Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Happy New Year, fellow 'nom-ers!

#FavoriteThings #HealthTip