Spoonful of Comfort

I used to want to punch people when they said stuff like, "It's never too soon to start thinking about the holidays."

However, as I have grown older, busier, and friends and family are increasingly dispersed throughout the country, I have reluctantly accepted the aforementioned statement as a partial truth, at least if you want to avoid exorbitant rush shipping fees.

Christmas is more than a month away and I have already identified a wonderful foodie gift option for my out-of-state loved ones: chicken noodle soup, rolls, chocolate chip cookies from Spoonful of Comfort. 

First, I should admit that I am not a soup person. It also might be possible that at one time when I was really grumpy I said something like, "chicken noodle soup is for old or sick people!" Besides the fact that this edict is patently false, it also unfairly generalizes about the inherent value of chicken noodle soup. On the quality spectrum, Spoonful of Comfort's soup is on the far right, i.e., it is the Mercedes of chicken soup. The flavorful broth shimmers appropriately to reflect an ample use of schmaltz and the noodles are plentiful and perfectly al dente. Furthermore, while actually locating a piece of fowl in some chicken noodle soups is like a game of "Where's Waldo," this version is loaded with over-sized chunks of tender, juicy white meat. Thick carrot coins and fragrant parsley provide botanical balance to this protein richness.

Dessert can come first.

While I may not be a "soup person," I am a card-carrying member of the Chocolate Chip Cookie Lovers of America club and therefore a bit picky when it comes to their preparation. I had low expectations for any chocolate chip cookies not fresh out of the oven, but surprisingly, these saucer-sized treats arrived very moist, chewy, and liberally studded with semi-sweet chocolate chips. 

Although you can order cookies and soups individually from Spoonful of Comfort  (other varieties of which include oatmeal raisin and butternut squash, respectively), I suggest the combination gift baskets because they also include fluffy rolls and...

A ladle! With a bow on it! So cute.

Finally because Spoonful of Comfort's goodies  are not explicitly holiday-themed, they also work well as "Please don't succumb to the shingles" or "Congratulations, you just contributed another person to the world population" presents. So, even if you don't get your sh*t together to buy Christmas gifts, you can make it up for that Next Major Life Event.

The Calm Book

When I was initially approached with the opportunity to review Calm, a guide to daily mindfulness, I almost declined because I thought it sounded really cheesy and not in a good carbonara sort of way. Also, do I really need this book? I KNOW HOW TO CALM DOWN.

Oh, wait, no I don't. Thanks to genes that predispose me to anxiety and socially induced neuroticism due our current political climate, I'm on edge these days. So, yeah, maybe I could use this book.

Bridey O'Leary endorses this message.

The authors state in the introduction that Calm is a non-linear narrative; readers should feel free to frolic from one activity (i.e., "Sketch Your Own Tattoo", "Sketch Out Your Perfect Island") or section ("Nature", "Sleep", "Travel", etc.) to another. Naturally, I skipped straight to "Food" chapter to read about calming comestibles and how setting the table slowly can help you unwind. (Damn, it true. Except on Thanksgiving.)

Yum.

I like this book. The premise is hippie-dippy but the content albeit a bit too cutesy at times, is generally fun and, most importantly, distracts you from ticker tape and reminds you of not just "what's important" but "what's important to you."

Calm foods. To this list, I will add chocolate chip cookies.

Buy the book. I promise it's more fun than Candy Crush.

Preview: "Mouth Meets South"

When I first read about "Mouth Meets South," a novel frozen soul food concept, I was understandably dubious.  Soul food by definition is food made painstakingly with the loving hand of a careful cook.  Could such care and attention really be found in a frozen entree? And even if so, would said dish really even taste good?

I don't know and won't know until I try this product, which is set to debut in late 2016 with initial offerings of oxtails, collard greens, and corn  pudding. However, after speaking with Mouth Meets South creator, Tanya Howard, I have significantly warmed (hah!) to the idea that quality soul food can be found in the frozen food aisle of the grocery store.  An entrepreneur, intrepid businesswoman, and university professor, Howard is well-versed in the culinary and social history origins of soul food and is passionate about doing the tradition of this fare justice by offering something that is accessible to the masses yet tastes homemade. Mouth Meets South is the product of the intersection between her own busy lifestyle that often mandated prepared foods on weeknights and her eating experiences growing up in an African-American and Barbadian household. 

As Howard passionately described her soon-to-be-released line of entrees, the growling of my stomach droned out any lingering cries of doubt from my brain. I can't wait to sample Mouth Meets South and give y'all the lowdown.