Cook a different theme each night you cook.  For example, my family has a different theme each night I cook: sandwich night, family favorite, vegetarian and new dish night.  Other examples would be pasta night, seafood night, pizza night and so forth.  Once you have a pattern of dinner themes, menu planning is simply a matter of picking the meals for each theme.

Think about what your family likes and dislikes. Try to incorporate their favorites frequently, but also try new things occasionally too.

Have some recipes you want to try picked out. Project Foodie is a great place for that as is the "try" tag to find a quick list of what you've found that you want to try.  

Check out your pantry and the weekly ads.  The idea is to pull together items in your pantry with items that are on sale and family favorites to make a good meal with minimum effort and money.  For example, if ground turkey is on sale then how about pairing it with some of those kidney beans in your pantry to make chili.  Or you could use canned tomatoes and make a tasty Bolognese sauce.

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I'll give you one guess what that word is...give up?  It's Diet. That's right I'm going on a diet.  Although, I don't like to use the word Diet, I prefer lifestyle change.  Why am I torturing myself you may wonder, well mainly because I had two kids in three years and needless to say I'm not looking too svelte these days.  Also, I really do believe that you can be healthy while still enjoying good food.  In the past Weight Watchers always did the trick, but I've grown tired of counting points so I'm just taking a more realistic approach using some of the basic rules that I learned from my WW days.  Here's the plan:

1. Exercise - How I'm going to do this I'm not sure. I already get up at 5:30am Mon-Fri, but I know I won't get past ten pounds without it so I'll figure something out.  I guess that means getting up at 5am (I think I just heard Foodie Pam groan all the way from the left coast).

2. Eat More Whole Grains/Vegetables and Less Meat - I could totally be a vegetarian except when those cravings for a juicy rib-eye hit, but seriously I do need to spice up my vegetarian dinner night at home maybe do it twice a week. Three times might be pushing it for my husband. 

3. More Water - I admit it, High Fructose Corn Syrup and I are good friends, but I think its time to sever those ties. No more Coca Cola at 3pm when the stress of my day reaches its all time high.

4. No Junk Food - This won't be hard because I don't buy junk food, but my parents do and so do my grandparents so when I pick up the girls after work sometimes I just can't help but grab just one chip.  Also I do have a three year old and unfortunately she does know what a French fry is and it ain't those baked things that "Mommy" makes at home according to her.

5. Portion Control - This will be tough for me. After a long day at work I come home and un-wind in the kitchen.  I really do take pride in the meal I've prepared for my family; I mean how much can that second bowl of Spaghetti Carbonara hurt?  A lot apparently.  

So that's the plan. If any of you out there have any more tips for me please feel free to share.  Shortly before the holidays I started reading a book called "The Daily Fix" which has been pretty inspiring and I can't wait to get my hands on Mark Bittman's latest, although from what I hear it may put me off meat forever.  However, I know Lorna Sass's Whole Grains For Busy People will definitely help put me on the right path.  I'll update you guys from time to time to let you know what's working and what's not, sorry there will be no pictures unless I miraculously transform into Halle Berry.

Happy New Year!

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We’ve given you gift suggestions that are more budget friendly and ones that are middle of the road, but today its time for a little excess. For those of you not affected by the recession (of course I don’t know anyone who isn’t), or those just looking for what to dream of next, these gift ideas are definitely for you.

1. Give the gift of Education – Whether it’s a paid cooking lesson for your spouse, a sister who’s newly married, an enthusiastic baker who wants to learn how to make wedding cakes, or an underprivileged High School Student who dreams of being the next Thomas Keller, or maybe Emeril, give the gift that keeps on giving - knowledge.  If you live in suburban or rural areas check out your local community colleges and vocational/technical schools for classes.  For those of you who live in more urban areas most professional culinary schools have a series of recreational cooking classes and even some of your favorite restaurants or kitchen supply stores may offer classes.
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3. Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer 6 quart - I realize that this gift may seem really clichéd, but I remember when the 6 quart version was pretty hard to track down unless you were a professional baker. I personally can’t wait to upgrade my current one for this guy.  I don’t know any Foodie that wouldn’t appreciate this gift, even if they aren’t huge bakers.  It comes in about 9 different colors and retails for $300-$400. They can be found everywhere right now including QVC.  
   

1. Foodie Vacations – If you are a true Foodie the one thing that's of the upmost importance when traveling is where you are going to dine, or better yet a vacation that is planned around various food destinations. Whether it’s a vineyard or a renown farmers market (think London or Paris) plan a vacation for someone that is all about great food.  You can break out the travel books/magazines and plan each detail yourself or, check out one of these great sites for package suggestions: Culinary Vacations, Epiculinary, and Backroads.

1. Wine Storage – Nowadays there are plenty of good reasonably priced wine coolers and refrigeration units for your kitchen, but if you know someone who is a budding connoisseur, someone who requires some real space, than how about building them one of these.
   

1. Personal Shopper – So it would seem that personal shoppers aren’t just keeping wardrobes up to date these days, but also pantries.  I’ve only come across a few self-described Foodies who don’t like to grocery shop or just don’t know what to buy, but apparently there are many of you out there, so Whole Foods is capitalizing on that by offering personal shopping services through select stores in some locations.  Want to have more of a Mediterranean diet? They will outfit your kitchen with everything you need to make that happen, if you happen to be a tex-mex junkie they can do that too.

1. When that old spiral ham just won’t do – Try this on for size, it is the champagne of the ham world, it just recently became available in the United States for only a mere $96 per pound. Jamon Iberico 

1. Technology and the perfect cuppa - I’ve seen some fancy teapots but this one here takes the cake. Preparing tea the proper way is indeed a ritual, but the IQ Innovations Gourmet tea machine takes all the guesswork, and dare I say, romance out of brewing a perfect cup of tea. 
2. The Best kind of adoption – Once again, I’m going a little off course...this gift doesn’t cost anywhere near $200, but it's so unbelievably cool, this is definitely one of my favorite gift finds this season.  Nudo is an olive grove in Italy and for a mere ~$95  (plus shipping) you can adopt an olive tree and reap the benefits year round with two packages, one in the Spring (all the extra virgin olive oil from your tree), the other in Autumn (three flavored extra virgin olive oils) along with a personalized adoption certificate and booklet about your tree.  I know it may sound a little hokey, but it’s for real.  Impress all of your friends by sharing a little olive oil from your very own olive tree. 
3. For the Green Foodie – A solar powered outdoor oven let's you save money and emissions from cooking fuels.  It even has an electrical back-up just in case things get a little cloudy during your cooking adventure.  Check out the models from eartheasy and Global sun oven ($150-$300).
4. Ownership has its privileges – For the devout wine lover in your life, I am sure their dream of dreams is to own a vineyard, well this is as close as most of us will ever get and this is indeed the gift to end all other wine gifts.  A membership to the Napa Valley Reserve for approximately $165K you can experience the following. A fractional membership on the 80 acre property that is overseen by the Harlan Estate viniculture and winemaking team. The idea is to teach serious wine lovers and enthusiasts about the winemaking process, but some say its just a glorified country club for wine enthusiasts. Some of the property features are wine tastings and dinners throughout the year; olive groves; gardens and Beekeeping; custom Wine Label Design; and seminars with noted winemakers, authors, historians. The 400 members come from all over the world and can join in the wine making process as much or as little as they like. Members can choose to receive from 6 to 75 cases of the estate wine each year and can even have a special blend created for them. The Reserve holds events throughout the year for its members and with the help of Harlan Estates aims to produce some of the best wines in the world.  Another fractional ownership source, The Ranch on Soda Rock.

Well fellow foodies, that’s about all I have for this Holiday season, we’ve given you ideas for gifts under $25, gifts over $50 , and finally these gifts over $200. I sincerely hope that you found something from our lists worth giving this year.

I wish you all a wonderful Holiday season and a Happy New Year.

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This week we're gonna focus on gifts over $50, but under $200.  While gift prices have no set rules, this price point is generally reserved for parents, in-laws, close friends, and spouses. In other words, it's for the people who are closest to you that you don't mind spending a little more on. This price range has lots of possibilities and you'll see by the wide variety of gifts below...

If you're looking for a foodie gift that's a bit cheaper check out last week's gift guide:  Foodie Gifts on the cheap (under $25).

For the Tech Savvy Foodie - The Nintendo DS. Video games apparently aren't just for tweens and teens anymore. My own mother seems to be having a mid-life crisis that has her not wanting a young boyfriend or convertible, but technology. First it was the iPhone and  now she has informed us kids that the Nintendo DS is the gift of choice. Boost your cooking skills with Personal Trainer:Cooking, or test out recipes from Chef Jamie Oliver in one his virtual kitchens in What's Cooking? with Jamie Oliver.  But I would have to say the one game that even makes me sit up and take notice is Iron Chef America: Supreme Cuisine, what foodie hasn't daydreamed about being at Kitchen Stadium? And now you can! The Nintendo DS retails for about $130 dollars and the games range in price from about $29.99 to $49.99.

Membership has its privileges -  There are a lot of Foodie groups and organizations out there, but two that continue to reign supreme are the James Beard Foundation for the New Yorkers in your life and Copia for those that live in close proximity to the California Wine Country (Napa & Sonoma).  Treat someone to an annual membership which will give them entry into many exclusive Foodie events.  

31 Flavors not enough -  Dying to know what Bacon flavored gelato tastes like, have a pregnant sister whose been mixing pistachios and brownies in with her chocolate ice cream.  Well for $50 a half gallon you can go to ecreamery and design your own custom gelato and ice cream.  Customize the ice cream of your dreams or try on of their innovative combinations like "Asian Red Bean" or "Happy Hour" (Stout flavored ice cream with pretzels).  

Not just another Gift Card - Give a little extra with that Gift Card this year.  Try a Vivabox.  The Vivabox is literally a gift box with two gifts in one, a small trinket that they can enjoy right away and a gift card for the main event.  The Gourmet to Your Door Viva Box contains two elegant dinner napkins encased in silver plated napkin rings alongside a gift card redeemable for a three course dinner for two to be delivered to your door from a fine dining establishment in your area.  A true Gourmet meal right in the comfort of your own home. 

Cookware - Tired of watching your mother use that same saucepan over and over? You know, the one she's had for like 30 years now.  Although I have to admit some of the vintage stuff is great, most of it has seen better days.  Kitchen Essentials from Calphalon has a great 10 piece set for $200.  Our favorite Domestic Goddess, Martha Stewart, also has a comparable line that is even less expensive at Macys.  I personally am a big fan of stainless steel lined Copper cookware which can be really pricey, so I usually get one new piece a year from my Mom or Husband to add to my collection which is also a great idea for the more expensive stuff.  

Yet another wine gift - Having just hosted a wine tasting party for a friend of mine I wish I had this at the time.  Red Envelope has a great wine tasting party kit.  Place wine bottles into numbered wine bags. After tasting each wine, guests take a guess. Even if no one correctly identifies the wine, engaging conversation is guaranteed. $70

Personalized Recipe Cards & Embosser - So you've taught your Mom how to use Project Foodie as a way to keep track of all those great recipes she finds in the magazines, but what about those family recipes, the ones that are like family heirlooms? Doesn't she deserve to have something nicer than that old plastic recipe card box from the local discount store.  This beautiful wooden recipe box with personalized cards and embosser makes you want to turn every recipe into a family recipe.

Monogrammed Items - To me there is just something so completely, retro, chic, and incredibly preppy about monogrammed gift items and I love it.  Treat your brother and his new wife to a set of monogrammed high balls, a stylish martini pitcher, or an ice bucket. Have a good friend who entertains a lot? Monogram cocktail napkins are always nice and not just for weddings anymore.  Williams-Sonoma and Neiman-Marcus have a fabulous selection to choose from.

Holiday Dinnerware - This can be a real tough choice because everyone's taste is different, but who doesn't like a festive set of appetizer or dessert plates with a Holiday inspired pattern? It's one of those things that unless the recipient is a regular entertainer they probably haven't gotten around to purchasing for themselves.  My favorite patterns are the classic Spode Christmas Tree, Lenox Holiday Nouveau, and the Boho Holiday collection from Rosanna, Inc.

CSA Share - I think I like this gift idea best of all.  Foodie Pam recently blogged about her reluctance in participating in a CSA , but she is now reaping the benefits of her investment and enjoying every minute of it.  This is a perfect gift for that friend or sibling who is trying to provide their family with meals using fresh and local ingredients.  CSA's are popping up all over the country so find one in the designated area and buy someone a share.  I live in New Jersey, and the CSA I participate in runs from April to October, but most farms are taking orders for the upcoming spring right now.  To find a local CSA in your area check out Local Harvest.

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“It’s the most wonderful time of the year”

When it comes to gift giving the thing I always try to remember is this, the simpler the gift the better.  Extravagant items are nice, but I have found that those are the ones that are most likely to be returned after the Holidays.  If you know the recipient well you can put some real thought into it.  Give them something you know they will use and something they might not necessarily buy for themselves even if its as basic as a brand new cast iron pan. 

1. Anything Homemade or Handmade – I love making vintage inspired aprons, jams, chutneys, homemade soaps and candles. Channel your inner Martha this holiday season and show off some of those hidden talents that you have. But, if you like the idea of handmade gifts and just don’t have the time to do it yourself a great online resource is Etsy, not only will you find vintage aprons, linens, and artisan candies, but you'll also find handmade jewelry, handbags, and clothing.  It is the premier source for purchasing handmade goods with loads and loads of fabulous items for under $25.

1. Cookbooks – Now this is a given, if you have a true Foodie in your life they can never have too many cookbooks and there are so many good ones under $25 its criminal.  If you're looking for a few suggestions, be sure to take a look at some of the ones Team Project Foodie has spotlighted this year.

1. Spices – Now this may seem odd, but seriously hear me out. There have been many times that I go to my local market only to see that they don’t have what I’m looking for in order to try out a new recipe. Penzeys and TSP Spices have a great selection from the most common to the most obscure spices.  They also have numerous gift packs that are just right for Holiday gift giving.

1. Seeds – With the ever rising costs of produce and lack of local CSAs and Farmers' Markets in selected areas, encourage someone to start their own Kitchen Potager or Victory Garden this coming spring.  Put together a small basket with a selection of heirloom seeds, gardening gloves and an inexpensive watering can.  Check out Johnny's Selected Seeds, Kitchen Garden Seeds, Cook's Garden, Bountiful Gardens, and Territorial Seed.

1. Custom Cereal – Know someone who really digs their granola? Create a custom mix just for them at Me and Goji Custom Artisanal cereal.  Prices start at $4.99 for a 21oz capsule; you can choose from over 40 all natural ingredients like soy, flax seed, amaranth, blueberries, sunflowers, brazil nuts, you name it.  My Artisan, Blueberry and Walnut mix cost me about $9. 

1. For the Wine lover – Here’s a gift for the oenophile (wine lover) that has everything, but I bet they don’t have this.  The Soiree mini wine decanter sits on top of your bottle of wine decanting it as you pour, how cool is that.  www.winesoiree.com

1. Cooks Tools – There are many inexpensive gadgets to be had - microplanes of every shape and size imaginable, specialty peelers, and one of my personal favorites for the tea drinker in your life, there are silicone tea infusers sold from Neiman Marcus and only $15 dollars to boot. Other sources for cook's tools include Williams Sonoma, Sur la Table, and Chefs Catalog.

1. Serveware – Every single time I go to entertain I come up short a platter or serving bowl. Of course, I don’t think about it again until an hour before the guests arrive and that’s not nearly enough time to run out and pick something up.  Basic white is best for showing off your special dish since patterns can often take the attention away from what should be the main focus - the food.  The Martha Stewart Serveware Collection at Macy's and Sur La Table has an excellent assortment to choose from.
   

1. For the Tea lover – I had the pleasure of visiting a Teavana retail store about two years ago and I have never been the same since. Their blends of Tea are unlike any I’ve ever had.  Treat the tea lover in your life to some of the best teas around.  My personal favorites are the Zingiber Ginger Coconut Roobios Tea and the Mrs. Earl Grey Flavored black tea. www.teavana.com.
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3. For the Coffee Lover – Okay I’m breaking the $25 rule here, but let’s face it how many Starbucks gift cards can you give?  I have to admit that I was pretty skeptical about the whole “pod” style coffee pots when they came out, but as a tea drinker living with a coffee drinker there was no need to have one of those huge, expensive coffee makers to make one cup of coffee a day.  Melitta and Senseo both have well rated and reasonably priced pod style single cup makers at under $75.
   
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