Evening star., 1948-12-16
By Violet Faulkner
Food Editor.


There are always last-minute
gifts that present Christmas prob
lens to every one. So here are a
few suggestions for food gifts that
you can pick up while you're doing
your regular week end marketing.
They're practical gifts, but ones
which every woman will be pleased
to tuck away in the pantry against
the day when some unexpected
caller rings the front doorbell.
For the friend who dotes on cup
Of afternoon tea, what about Tongs
mandarin jasmine tea that comes
wrapped in a tricky little wicker
basket? Or the gift package Of 20
different varieties of tea, including
Oolong, Lapsang Souchong, Cum
powder, Rose Blossom, Russian,
Darjeeling and English Breakfast
A jar Of the Mexican pumpkin seeds
with the crisp, nutty flavor that
they call pepitas for the person who
entertains extensively. A jar of
crystallized ginger, bottle of Or
ange or rose water for that special
cake recipe, a pound of specially
blended coffee, or a package Of rice
chips (you fry them just like
French fried potatoes), all make
inexpensive but attractive offerings.
While I was wandering around this
food store I noticed some salt crys-
tails; so many of you have been
searching the town over to use
these in salt grinders. The crystals
have been missing from the grocery
shelves for a long time. Until just
lately saffron was not only scarce
but so very expensive that small
container was worth kings ran
som; now you can purchase small
tube Of it at very decent price.
Since you use such a tiny bit at
one time, this is convenient way
of buying it. To stock your own
pantry, there was the most complete
line of spices I've seen in any one
store; also India curry powders and
Madras curry paste. And you'll be
delighted with the restyling of the
packages of fine cheese, any kind
you want, all weighed and wrapped,
ready to be picked up, put in your
market basket as you pass the
counter.
More new items that are making
their initial bow in time for the
holidays are the Polish sausages
packed in vinegar keep them in
mind if you're having New Years
eve buffet. A salad dressing to be
used mainly with fruit salads; it
has delicate fiavoring of celery
seed that is particularly pleasing to
the taste And, in case you've for
gotten about it, there's the little bag
of prepared stuffing that is such a
time saver. The bread crumbs are
well seasoned, all you have to add
is liquid to moisten. .
Your best buys in fresh produce
this week will be greens kale,
collards and turnip greens cauli-
flower and green beans. BY the
way, have you noticed that the old
name string beans" went out of
style? Green or snap beans are
completely stringless nowadays and
are crisp and fresh practically the
year round. It's no accident, for
it's taken years of careful work to
develop those stringless varieties
and get them to you almost before
the dew has, had chance to dry.
Cabbage and regular cooking onions
are other outstanding vegetable
buys. The small silver skins are
high, but they usually do advance
in price about this time of the year.
California broccoli is another item
that has increased slightly. Mush-
rooms are plentiful, good quality
and very reasonable, which Is a
ray of sunshine If you like to be a
little extravagant with them in
your holiday cooking.
Citrus fruits still continue to
high light the list of best buys
among all the fruit offerings. And,
remember, it's these citrus fruits
that give you such good amounts
| of the vitamin C. Children espe-
cially need lots. of this vitamin to
resist diseases, for healthy gums,
teeth and bones, and for quick heal
ing of all those childhood cuts. In
cidentallt, with the holidays only
week away, save the peel of the
oranges and grapefruit and make
candied fruit peel to serve along
with the after-dinner coffee.