yogurt-culture-cheryl-sternman-rule

Oops. I was too busy frying, shopping, and wrapping to get this holiday gift blog up in time for Hanukkah. But the month is young, and I love giving.

Thanks to Rux Martin/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and Melissa’s Produce, I have a copy of Cheryl Sternman Rule’s Yogurt Culture: A Global Look at How to Make, Bake, Sip, and Chill the World’s Creamiest, Healthiest Food to give to one lucky person. Yogurt — plain and unadulterated — is one of the world’s great ancient foods that has transitioned into the 21st century’s most popular “health food.” Forget presweetened snack packs; real yogurt is sophisticated, complex, and nutritious! Be sure to join Cheryl’s Team Yogurt page to stay on top of all things cultured.

To enter:

  1. Leave a comment on this post answering this question: What is your favorite form of yogurt (labneh? Greek? yogurt cheese? kefir?) and how do you use it?
  2. Comments will close right before the ball drops at 11:59 pm Pacific Daylight Time on Thursday, December 31. The winner will be chosen at random (using Random.org) and will be posted to my blog on Monday, January 4, 2016.
  3. The giveaway is open to U.S. readers only.
  4. One entry/comment per person, please.

poems-from-the-pond

As this very challenging year comes to a close, I’m drawn to books that feed the soul and give back. Poems from the Pond ($29.99) is a remarkable collection on life, love, and loss by Peggy Freydberg, who began writing poetry when she was 90 until her death at the age of 107 in 2015. Once Laurie David “discovered” Peggy, she raced to put this lovely volume together while the centenarian still lived. The book was published a few months after Peggy’s death. You can order the book here.

temsalet-mary-jane-wagle

When my friend Mary-Jane Waglé “retired” as President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Los Angeles and moved to Ethiopia, I could only wonder what good works would ensue. Temsalet (“shining example” in Amharic; $74.95 hard cover,  $54.95 trade paperback) is the beautiful result: The personal stories and photo portraits of sixty-four inspiring contemporary Ethiopian women of all ages who have broken through age-old barriers to advance in their fields. Each participant offers her thoughts for girls and young women growing up today and proceeds from book sales go to the Network of Ethiopian Women’s Associations, a nonprofit organization advocating for women’s rights and women’s full equality. Order directly from the publisher here.

Also for your gift-giving consideration:

  • Help feed families in need. Make a contribution, or better, gift yourself by actively participating in food justice programs. Purchase “food baskets” that feed a family for a week in your friends’ names from organizations that aid families in need. Then, donate your time to pack and hand out the baskets. Since the days when my children were quite young, our family has been helping One Voice do just that. Volunteer with a gleaning project near you, such as Food Forward, or community garden-outreach groups like Netiya.
  •  Give a gift that grows. Trees, that is, to heal the planet. Dedicate them to your friends, and make a date to help a local urban renewal group, such as Tree People, re-green your community.
  • Give to your local farmers. They need us now more than ever. For many growers in California, the drought and unpredictable weather through all of 2015 have wrought havoc with production — some of our most passionate farmers harvested as little as 20% of their usual (or hoped for) yield. Try staying in the game with numbers like that. So join a CSA, shop more often at your local farmers’ market, and give holiday gifts of boxed produce.
  • Give back to your farmers’ market. Sign up to volunteer at your market for the coming year. Sure, you spend your food dollars there, but farmers’ markets need reliable help to run smoothly. L.A. Westsiders: the Santa Monica Farmers’ Market needs dependable volunteers. Contact: nicole.gordon
    [at]smgov.net.
  • Start the New Year right. Give you and your bestie cookbooks and my Santa Monica Farmers’ Market Tour on Wednesday, January 20, 2016. Click here for details and to sign up.

As we hurtle to the end of 2015, I wish you serenity. Remember to breathe.  And don’t forget to post your answer below no later than 11:59 PST, December 31 for a chance to win a copy of Cheryl Sternman Rule’s Yogurt Culture: What is your favorite form of yogurt and how do you use it?

UPDATE: And the winner of Yogurt Culture is … Jane, who wrote “My favorite yogurt is the homemade Armenian one made with a culture that is very old. Great with muesli, fruit, etc.” Congratulations! I’ll be in touch about sending the book. And by the way, where do you find that old-culture homemade yogurt? Sounds delicious!