iowgirl
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,314 
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Post by iowgirl on Nov 18, 2024 15:53:10 GMT
I have been doing some online shopping this morning for some seasonal treats that I get every year. It's a little early for some, but I went ahead and ordered my dates. I get Medjool dates from California every year. I ordered from two different suppliers, to see if one is better than the other. Usually dates are about the same, no matter where I order though. Everyone LOVES them here! So I thought I would get some early to have here at Thanksgiving. I got the Rutab style Medjool dates this year. I usually just get the Medjool dates, but we love the super soft ones. Medjool Days - I ordered from here last year and they were very good Coachella's Best Dates - I am trying out a box from them this year. I was doing my fruitcake shopping (ok - you can laugh!), but I am waiting for a sale. They usually have a sale on Black Friday. I get mine from Grandma's Bake Shop/Beatrice Baking. It's a bakery in Nebraska, and their fruit cake is SO good. It's the only one I have ever had that I would recommend to anyone. I like getting the little boxes of individually wrapped slices to give as gifts. Only to known fruitcake lovers, though! They are too expensive to chance giving to someone who wouldn't like it! I love to send cookies from Cheryl's Cookies. They are the only frosted sugar cookies that I would buy. They are the closest to homemade I have found. Each cookie is individually wrapped. They are soft and stay fresh for quite a while, and freeze well. I have the "Passport" - so I get free shipping. You can use it with Shari's Berries, Harry & David, etc. I always search for a coupon also. I have ordered some duds over the years. The food looks so good in the pictures, but when you get it - blech. I am pretty picky when it comes to baked goods, etc. Do you have anything you order/purchase special every holiday season? Links please! |
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Post by kellapea on Nov 18, 2024 17:58:16 GMT
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kelly8875
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,441
Location: Lost in my supplies...
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Post by kelly8875 on Nov 18, 2024 20:16:28 GMT
We have several good candy shops in Iowa  Betty Janes is always popular! Sweetopia is very good too. This is about 5 minutes from my house. I try to always buy the sweets local, we have such a variety in places. |
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iowgirl
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,314
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Post by iowgirl on Nov 18, 2024 21:08:29 GMT
Those candies all look awesome! You Eastern Iowan's have the neatest places! I have given gifts from Chocolaterie StamI am also intrigued by the Cordial Cherry in Omaha. The are SO cute!  |
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Post by paulao on Nov 19, 2024 2:01:20 GMT
I love fruitcake and have ordered from Colin Street Bakery www.colinbakery.com. I haven’t baked cookies in several years but this year I plan to make three types. |
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Post by brynn on Nov 19, 2024 2:14:01 GMT
I order spritz cookies from the grocery store bakery. My mom used to make many shapes.
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Post by ntsf on Nov 19, 2024 2:30:31 GMT
I make dark fruitcake and send it to my sister, after saving 2 slices for me. takes about 1 hour to make and 2-3 hours to bake. and it is easy and she loves it. family recipe..adapted, cause I can't get some of the stuff anymore.
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Post by Delta Dawn on Nov 19, 2024 2:43:35 GMT
I have a moderate amount of snark. I suggested in September we should make Mary Lou’s Christmas cake. It’s an all day process and we have made it in the past in early November. My dad bought 5-6 and is buying some from a friend (they were excellent last year) , but I wanted to make our own this year.
This is a moot point if the recipe has gone missing. I need to write it in my phone for future reference.
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Post by librarylady on Nov 19, 2024 3:05:11 GMT
I love fruitcake and have ordered from Colin Street Bakery www.colinbakery.com. I haven’t baked cookies in several years but this year I plan to make three types.
I am probably going to gift some of their apricot pecan cakes this year.
I have also given popcorn as gifts also. This popcorn gets good reviews. |
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Post by crazy4scraps on Nov 19, 2024 3:57:09 GMT
Buy treats? In my house that’s almost blasphemy, LOL. I make cookies (at least 8 kinds), pumpkin pie and Amish white bread. This year I might try making some chocolate covered cherries from scratch too. DH loves them.
ETA: Other than the stuff I make, the only holiday treats I buy are the Lindor truffles and the Ghirardelli squares that Costco always has on sale this time of year. I’ve been known to buy several bags of those to have on hand in case we need a quick hostess gift, plus they’re great to split up into smaller gifts for teachers, etc.
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Post by chaosisapony on Nov 19, 2024 4:23:57 GMT
I used to get a small box of turtles from a local chocolatier every year as a gift to myself for Christmas. They were amazing. Sadly the shop sold to a new owner several years ago and nothing has been the same since.  |
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mamallama
Full Member
Posts: 152
Sept 14, 2018 7:30:33 GMT
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Post by mamallama on Nov 19, 2024 7:12:55 GMT
We make all of our own treats. Caramels, magic bars, cracker toffee and cookies. I only give to people locally and send some to my sister and brother in law who live 3 hours away. I’m not even sure what I would order if I did. But Harry and David has a cookie I love and haven’t bought myself in years since the local store left.
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snyder
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,340
Location: Colorado
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Post by snyder on Nov 19, 2024 7:23:36 GMT
I use to, but geez, buying treats is really expensive anymore. I love sending Cheryl's Cookies as surprise gift throughtout the year, but I had so many issues with delivery times and them never getting to the person, I quit doing that. Sherri's Berries were a disaster too. I'd pick out cute little ladybugs or something of the like and the person would get black and white striped ones.
I use to buy a lot from Russell Stover when we had a store here, but after they left and two botched orders from them, I quit. One time my chocolate Santa was totally crushed. I asked for a refund and all they could do for me was send me 20 $1 coupons!!! Ugg.
I have bought Wolferman's Bakery goods, especailly their muffins, on occasion. |
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Post by peasapie on Nov 19, 2024 11:35:18 GMT
I always order Wolfermans breakfast baskets for my adult kids’ Christmas morning breakfast.
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Post by mikklynn on Nov 19, 2024 13:34:54 GMT
Thanks to iowgirl, I buy fruitcake slices from Grandma's Bake Shop/Beatrice Baking. I already have my order for this year. I also bought baklava at Costco. We'll see how that it. The chocolate covered cherries from The Cordial Cherry are the cutest thing I've seen! I always treat myself to a box of hand picked See's Candies. I like the dark chocolate creams. I'm so sad, because the last full service store at Southdale is closing after Christmas. |
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Post by compeateropeator on Nov 19, 2024 14:03:12 GMT
Herbert’s candyThere are not a lot that I order regularly/frequently but we do get some white chocolate for my Dad every now and then from Herbert’s. They are in MA and my great aunt always use to get it for Easter baskets and other occasions.
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Post by giatocj on Nov 19, 2024 16:24:50 GMT
I send Cheryl's cookies to my dog's daycare for Halloween and Christmas. I'm thinking of ordering my son in law some fudge from an online store...if I can find the link I saved  For myself? Always a build your own box of See's Candies. |
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Post by scrapcat on Nov 19, 2024 16:57:29 GMT
Leonida's Belgian chocolate is my fav, but also expensive. In recent years, I've found the Moser Roth belgian chocolate at Aldi's is pretty good and comparable. I go the 2nd week of November to stock up on what they have in Moser Roth dark chocolates.
I also like the Hot Cocoa Hersey Kisses.
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sueg
Prolific Pea
Posts: 8,568
Location: Munich
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Apr 12, 2016 12:51:01 GMT
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Post by sueg on Nov 19, 2024 17:06:01 GMT
I usually make a fruitcake, using a recipe from my DiL’s mum and buy everything else. Stollen, lebkuchen, other Christmas cookies are all available either at my supermarket or at the Christmas markets. I can also get good chocolate from either of those or a couple of specialty shops near the markets in the city.
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Betty Janes is always popular!
