GIFT GUIDE: 5 Easy-to-Make Premixed Dishes for the Food Lover
Cooking from scratch can be very enjoyable, but you know what else can be very enjoyable? Not having to cook for more than a few minutes.
One of the ways to avoid this is to get some of the ingredients already mixed together for you. The problem we usually have though is that pre-made mixes often are of fairly questionable when it comes to the quality of the ingredients they use, and the resulting taste oftens leaves a lot to be desired. Fortunately we have some selections here from professional chefs and bakers that we think you’ll be very happy to eat, and definitely suggest you either give them a try, or give them as a cool culinary gift.
ELIA OLIVE OIL CAKE MIXES
Bake an olive oil cake today!
The beauty of olive oil cakes is that they are full of flavor but not with dairy-based butter. The olive oil takes the place of it in a classic style that is known throughout the Mediterranean. The Extra Virgin olive oil beautifully enhances the flavor and texture while also being a healthier alternative.
ELIA is a line of high-end, organic baking mixes with unique flavors and pure, organic ingredients. Definitely not our parents’ or grandparents’ baking mix, ELIA was created by a baker so at-home baking is leveled up to pro quality. Each cake mix comes with a bottle of its own Greek Olive Oil.
The three current ELIA flavors are 1) Vanilla with a Hint of Lemon, 2) Dark Chocolate & Espresso, and 3) Grecian Almond & Citrus.
Candice Hunsiger is the creator of the brand, recognizable from her former organic bakery, Cacao Sweets & Treats in the north suburbs of Chicago (2009-2018), has created a line of organic olive oil cake mixes. As a Chef featured in outlets like Food Network and Food & Wine, Candice’s half-Greek heritage ensures food and hospitality is in her blood. Candice started a from-scratch bakery business and opened one of the first luxury organic bakery storefronts in the US. She continues to interact with her customers and shares recipes on candicehunsinger.com.
SAMPLE RECIPE
Vanilla with a hint of Lemon Olive Oil Cake: The Classic
YOU WILL NEED
- 2 Large Eggs
- 1 c (8 oz) Buttermilk
DIRECTIONS
- 1. Preheat oven to 325 Fahrenheit degrees (160 Celsius). Using 2 tsp Olive Oil from the bottle, oil an 8” cake pan and line the bottom with parchment paper.
- 2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the buttermilk and eggs and whisk until smooth. Add the remaining olive oil.
- 3. Pour in cake mix and stir until almost smooth.
- 4. Pour batter into the prepared pan.
- 5. Bake for 28 minutes on the center rack. Rotate the pan and bake for 15 minutes (whole or plant-based milk), 22 minutes (buttermilk), or until the center of the cake is just set.
- 6. Let the cake cool for 10 minutes in the pan. Use a knife to release the sides then turn out onto a serving tray. Let the cake cool completely before cutting.
- 7. Serve as-is or lightly dust with powdered sugar.
SARGE’S SHRIMP AND GRITS SAUCES AND SPICES
Chow down on authentic shrimp and grits today!
Shrimp and grits almost never disappoints, unless you mess up the recipe. Which is not unheard of… the shrimp can be overcooked, the grits grainy, and worst of all, it can just be too plain bland.
A kit that has all of the flavors and instructions really helps so you can just focus on the end result that you want to enjoy.
Sarges Shrimp & Grits Sauce is Black-owned and from Raleigh, NC, where Chef Julius West‘s love of food developed as a child traveling the U.S. as the son of an Air Force Sargeant. While his dad was serving, Julius spent hours in the kitchen with his mom where she taught him that thoughtfully preparing traditional, homestyle dishes is a way to show others care and respect.
This inspired Julius to open his food truck in 2012 where his delicious shrimp & grits quickly became the most popular dish on the menu. Julius has now decided to bottle this fan favorite to make it easy for anyone to enjoy this delicious, time-honoured regional favorite at home.
The product is a unique take on a classic Southern dish that has been a staple in the region for generations. Sarges Shrimp & Grits Sauce is a savory, rich, and versatile sauce that can be used as a marinade, a dipping sauce, or a cooking ingredient. Made with high-quality ingredients, including fresh shrimp, butter, and spices, our sauce is the perfect addition to any seafood, meat, or vegetable dish.
Products shown here include the Sarge’s low country shrimp and grits sauce, Sarge’s yellow stone ground grits, and Sarge’s sea food seasoning
GOOD TO-GO RANCHERO SCRAMBLE
Make gourmet eggs today!
You can make this dish almost anywhere that you can find hot water, a spoon or fork, and a plate. At home, at a friend’s home, at school or work, camping, in the desert, or at a sports practice. Maybe even — if you want to be sneaky — after a romantic encounter (but you should hide the bag).
Acclaimed Chef Jennifer Scism recently introduced this savory breakfast, the Ranchero Scramble. The ranchero recipe is an aromatic Mexican sauce made with tomatoes, onions, chilis and spices, plus real dehydrated scrambled eggs, black beans and cilantro.
Jennifer Scism has been a professional chef for over 20 years. A graduate of The French Culinary School in Manhattan, she began her career cooking with top chefs and landed at Bouley, a New York Times 4-Star rated restaurant in New York’s Tribeca neighborhood in 1993. Scism was an award-winning chef and long-time co-owner of Annisa, a Michelin-rated restaurant in New York’s Greenwich Village. Later, in addition to competing on the TV Food Network’s Iron Chef program, her team became the first to win against Mario Batali. In 2008, Jennifer was honored with the Golden Fork Award from the Women Chefs and Restaurateurs organization recognizing excellence in the dining room.
In 2017, Jennifer was named one of the outdoor industry’s Best & Brightest by Outdoor Retailer Daily. “Hungry hikers everywhere owe Jen a thank you note,” said Kristen Hostetter, OR Daily editorial director. “She fused her undisputed culinary talent with a love of backpacking and the result is downright delicious. Her backpacking meals are vibrant, hearty, atypical, and wildly different than her competitors.”
Good To-Go’s Ranchero Scramble is now available at retailers and on Good To-Go’s site.
The brand has won multiple awards including three Backpacker Editors’ Choice, Backpacking Light’s Members Choice, and was named to Saveur Magazine’s The Saveur 100 list of favorite foods, people, places and things. Today, Good To-Go is sold in over 700 stores nationwide and in Canada.
- 15g of protein from real scrambled eggs
- House-made ranchero sauce
- Plantains added at the end provide extra crunch
- Gluten-free
- Vegetarian
HAPPY GRUB SQUEEZABLE INSTANT PANCAKE MIX
Make fast pancakes today!
Tired of waking up with a taste for pancakes, but not the energy to make them? If you have enough energy to get out of bed, then the problem is solved. Simply pick up one of these bottles, add water, shake, pour, cook, and serve. Voila!
Happy Grub provides a variety of flavors from Banana, Apple Cinnamon, Whole Wheat, and Buttermilk. The dry mix contains all natural and organic premium ingredients. This squeezable pancake mix is just what you need to create the perfectly shaped heart or XOXO pancakes on your skillet!
Side benefit, if you want kids to make their own pancakes, this is the perfect option, and easy to clearn.
Instagram @eathappygrub.
Also nice, woman-owned Happy Grub helps supports Childrens Hospital of Orange County and their mission to nurture, advance and protect the health and wellbeing of children.
CHOC Hospital in Orange and CHOC at Mission Hospital, is dedicated to working cooperatively-assisting and enriching existing services as well as developing programs to benefit the families of Orange County. Over two million children across four countries count on CHOC to be here when they need them most-regardless of their family’s ability to pay.
WILTON WONDER MOLD PAN SET FOR DOLL CAKES
Create a Doll Cake today!
Not technically a pre-mix of food ingredients, but rather a pre-mix of tools to make a fantastic, easy and beautiful Doll Cake (or Barbie Cake or Princess Cake) for those who you want to stun with your creativity.
- Iconic Barbie Cake: Create a stunning 3D princess or doll cake with tge doll shaped cake pan, perfect for Barbie cake masterpieces.
- Premium Aluminum: Crafted from durable aluminum, this doll cake pan ensures even baking and lasting performance for years of use.
- Complete Set: The 8-inches round barbie cake pan comes with a heating core, brunette doll pick, and detailed baking and decorating instructions.
