Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Eat Your Heart Out: Indulgent Eats for Holiday Treats

By: Finance Foodie

One of the most frequent question I get is: "As someone whose job is basically trying new foods, how are you not 300 pounds?" Truth is being a food writer has actually made me more disciplined about what I put in my body. Because of what I like to think of as my Type A "finance" personality, I was already very careful about working out and eating properly to maintain good health even before I started writing. Therefore, having the opportunity to test so many yummy (and not so yummy) products has made me even more aware about what actually taste good - and if I don't like it, I won't finish it.
Gimmme more (in moderation obvs)!
However during the Christmas holidays, I throw caution (i.e. calories and fat) to the wind . For 10-15 days, I have no regular workout schedule (unless you count sprinting from the sofa to the kitchen between commercial breaks) and imbibe in as much nutrient-empty fat-laden treats until I burst (or fall asleep). Below are some of the items on my must hit list - after all, holiday weight gain makes for great New Year's Resolution posts.

Sartori Gourmet Cheese

The Sartori family has been making high quality cheese in Plymouth, Wisconsin since the 1940s. Sartori is known for their primarily hard and Italian focused cheese – these beasts have won more than 100 awards in the most prestigious international cheese competitions around the globe.
One taste of the rich and creamy SarVecchio Extra Aged Parm (my fave out the ones I sampled) and BOOM – Heaven’s doors have opened! Unlike other parms (I’m looking at you Kraft), the Sartori cheese doesn’t have a heavy salty note – instead, it has a subtle fruity tone and ends with a caramelized parm flavor that gradually blossoms onto my tongue. I grate a little of this on everything – from my morning bagels to snack time nachos.

Enstrom's World Famous Almond Toffee

Enstrom’s World Famous Almond Toffee is a hand-crafted confection that, once tasted, is never forgotten. From its humble beginnings in a small-town Colorado candymaker's kitchen, Enstrom's toffee has become a world-class, internationally known confection.
Although they've expanded their product line to chocolates and dessert popcorn, their original Almond Toffee - made from a perfect blend of California almonds, sweet cream butter and pure cane sugar and covered in a generous layer of Guittard chocolate sprinkled with crushed almonds – is still tops in my book. The rich, buttery, melt-in-your mouth taste is all occasion fun – it’s the perfect dessert for any meal or as a midnight snack for those late night cravings.

Peligroso Tequila 

I’m not a big drinker, but when I do, I drink the classy stuff (no plastic bottled nonsense for me – kthanks). So when making festive and aggressive margaritas, my new go to alchy mix in is Peligroso Tequila. This 84 proof premium liquor is made with only the good stuff – as in 100% Weber Blue agave harvested in the highlands of Jalisco aged in real oak whiskey barrels from Tennessee. Peligroso’s 42% alcohol content is higher than the norm of 40% - which makes their tequila that much more Peligroso rock n’roll!

2012 Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau


For 30 years, wine lovers across the United States have eagerly anticipated the third Thursday of November and the grand unveiling of Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau. And every year, Georges Duboeuf surpasses expectations as the new vintage arrives amid a flurry of excitement and spectacle. If there is any wine that deserves such a festive welcome, it is certainly Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau – the first wine of the harvest and the first taste of a new vintage.
November 15 might have passed, but I’m still celebrating with Duboeuf’s Beaujolais Nouveau. This vibrant, fruit-forward ruby red wine is dominated with flavors of fresh red berries that make you just want to get up and have a dance party. The wine is also delicious paired with holiday food and at only $9.99 a bottle (MSRP), there’s not need to share - you afford to let everyone have their own bottle.

****Giveaway****
Congrats Laurie (cheese) and Joy (toffee)!

Financefoodie.com wants our readers to get (ph)fat and happy too with a box of Sartori gourmet cheese and Enstrom toffee! Two lucky winners with receive:

Prize #1: Wooden BelloVitano Gift Box with five 4oz wedges of BelloVitano cheese (Balsamic, Espresso, Black Pepper, Raspberry and Merlot) - ARV $70

Prize #2: one pound of Enstrom's Famous Almond Toffee - ARV $30

There are THREE ways to enter
1. REQUIRED: In my comments section, tell me what is your favorite part of the holidays (mine is getting together with my family, whom I see only twice a year). Also please include your email address so I can contact you if you win!
2. Follow Finance Foodie on Twitter (leave separate comment telling me this)
3. Reblog / Retweet this giveaway (leave separate comment telling me this)

Contest ends Friday, December 14, 2012 at 5pm EST. Winners will be chosen via random integer generator on random.org announced on the financefoodie.com site shortly afterwards!!

Full Disclosure: The prizes are being provided by Sartori and Enstrom. FFMP was not compensated for this post.

72 comments:

Just me said...

Follow Finance Foodie on Twitter

Camelia Elena Vasilescu said...

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margaretsmith said...

My favorite is Christmas morning with the kids so excited that Santa had came.
Thanks so much and Happy Holidays :)
rickpeggysmith(at)aol(dot)com

margaretsmith said...

Follow on twitter (peg42)
Thanks
rickpeggysmith(at)aol(dot)com

starr_greenwell said...

My favorite thing on the holidays is spending time with friends and hopefully seeing my son.
starr_greenwell@comcast.net

starr_greenwell said...

following on twitter (@greenhome1) thanks

starr_greenwell said...

retweeted: https://twitter.com/financefoodie1/status/278531132188938242

abfantom said...

My favorite part of Christmas is seeing my family members who live out out of state.

abfantom at yahoo dot com

Jeff Hidde said...

My favorite part of Christmas is seeing the family together!

ky2here said...

It's gotta be the music - love the familiar tunes.


ky2here at msn dot com

ky2here said...

following

financefoodie1 twitter as ky2here1


ky2here at msn dot com

ky2here said...

https://twitter.com/ky2here1/status/278695266725527552


ky2here at msn dot com

Jeff Hidde said...

retweeted: https://twitter.com/financefoodie1/status/278531132188938242

Stephanie V. said...

getting together with extended family to eat tamales on christmas eve

Stephanie V. said...

tvollowitz at aol dot com

Stephanie V. said...

Follow Finance Foodie on Twitter

Diane W said...

my favorite part of the holidays is when everyone gets together for a family meal. We usually try a new dish or two. It wonderful to see how food bring family and friends together and hear them chatting about their favorite dish that year. diane(dot)wortman(at)gmail(dot)com

Diane W said...

Follow Finance Foodie on Twitter as @silanti1
(dot)wortman(at)gmail(dot)com

Diane W said...

tweet https://twitter.com/silanti1/status/278771820918878208

diane(dot)wortman(at)gmail(dot)com

cynthiac said...

I like hosting Christmas dinner for the family.

cynthiac said...

Follow Finance Foodie on Twitter @clc408

cynthiac said...

Tweet
https://twitter.com/clc408/status/278836611251335168

Debbie Penny said...

I like baking with my son.
twoofakind12@yahoo.com

Lori Williams said...

Opening my presents! Yes, I am 53 but still feel like a kid on Christmas morning. :)
delilahhhhh@msn.com

Eileen Burke said...

My favorite part is watching my kids open their gifts!

Kathy said...

Follow you on twitter @mkjmc
kathypersons@yahoo.com

Kathy said...

https://twitter.com/mkjmc/status/278963820947443712

Kathy said...

We go Christmas Caroling every year

Mary DeBorde said...

Loved your happy smile and that decadent toffee had me drooling lol

Anyway, my favorite part of the holidays is watching the joyful faces of my children
when we celebrate Christmas every Christmas Eve - it's been a family tradition for decades, and I always give thanks that I'm blessed to be there for yet another year! <3

Thank you for such a sweet giveaway!

zenrei57 at hotmail dot com

Kimberly Walters said...

While I love spending time with my family, my favorite part is baking cookies for everyone

jalapenomama said...

My favorite part - my sis and I see always see a Christmas play!
Thank you.

barbara dot montyj at gmail dot com

jalapenomama said...

I follow you on Twitter @JalapenoMama

barbara dot montyj at gmail dot com

jalapenomama said...

Tweet: https://twitter.com/JalapenoMama/status/279009089818877952

Sarah Skeem said...

Spending time with family.

Gloria Schulte said...

Spending time with my grandchildren--gjsrjs@sbcglobal.net

prettishi said...

The best part for me is spending time with family and watching them open their presents.
prettishi at yahoo dot com

Kyl Neusch said...

see all of my family

Kyl Neusch said...

Follow Finance Foodie on Twitter: bleush

Valerie Taylor Mabrey said...

I love the way everybody puts their best faces on
vmkids3 at msn dot com

Miz Vickik said...

I love decorating the tree!

Pauline Mendes said...

We have a family christmas eve party every year with my five brothers and sisters along with their families at my parent's house. My mom makes a ton of food and we exchange gifts by playing bingo! I look forward to it every year!

Pauline Mendes said...

twitter follower (pauline15)

RustysR said...

Most of my family lives in a different city, so the holidays are about the only time we all get together. That's my favorite thing.

Tracy Allen said...

My favorite part is being with my family for sure
thebutterbeaneryatyahoodotcom

Deb Christie said...

My favorite part is the decorations and the homemade cookies.

Deb Christie said...

I like you on Facebook. Deb Christie
kismetchris(at)gmail(dot)com

Deb Christie said...

I tweeted:
twitter.com/Kismetchris/status/279464037501243392

Andrew Lesage said...

I love baking Christmas Cookies!

bakergurl02 (at) yahoo (dot) com

Andrew Lesage said...

Twitter Follower of yours @Xizelle

bakergurl02 (at) yahoo (dot) com

Jen Twark Gersch said...

my fave part of the holidays is the music

Jen Twark Gersch said...

Follow Finance Foodie on Twitter @jtwark

Jen Twark Gersch said...

tweet https://twitter.com/jtwark/status/279520742868152320

Sherry Conrad said...

Spending time with family and friends, for sure.

Sherry Conrad said...

Follow you on Twitter dddiva

discriminating_diva at yahoo dot com

Sherry Conrad said...

https://twitter.com/dddiva/status/279588228389019649
discriminating_diva at yahoo dot com

susan1215 said...

I only see my family once a year so I really enjoy spending time with them at Christmas
s2s2 at comcast dot net

susan1215 said...

https://twitter.com/susan1215/status/279594137366433792
s2s2 at comcast dot net

susan1215 said...

follow you on twitter susan1215
s2s2 at comcast dot net

carol lewis said...

Having our dinner and opening presents Christmas Eve. The 2 little grandkids are so excited about the presents and everything, that it is so much fun to watch them!

carol lewis said...

twitter follower dresdenrain

Joann F said...

My favorite part of the holidays is being with my family!

jofo120 at yahoo dot com

susansmoaks said...

my favorite part of the holidays is the time off work and time with family!

susansmoaks said...

twitter follower @fdp4life

susansmoaks said...

https://twitter.com/fdp4life/status/279615534662840320

Breanne Tennant said...

Spending time with family

Joy Quinnan said...

I really enjoy having time to spend with my family and friends.

joyq19135 at yahoo dot com

Joy Quinnan said...

Following finance foodie on Twitter @joyq74
joyq19135 at yahoo dot com

Joy Quinnan said...

Retweeted the giveaway @joyq74
joyq19135 at yahoo dot com

Just me said...

https://twitter.com/lilshuga2001/status/279650611333570561

Chrissy Nestor said...

My favorite part of the holiday's is spending time with family and having a great time!
chrissylea1979 (at)gmail(dot) com

Atreau said...

I love all the seasonal foods and spending time with family and friends! ATREAU at GMAIL dotcom

Tracy l Davis said...

Putting up the Christmas tree is my fave part of the holidays julis55@yahoo.com

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