Sundays with Stephanie

12 Days of Cookies - the First 8...The Hostess Gift Guide

Are you looking for gift ideas? Consider a gift subscription to this newsletter. I am leaving this week’s newsletter open to all subscribers so you are tempted to upgrade or give a gift subscription. There are 8 HOT cookie recipes below and exclusive recipes for Subscribers in the StephaniesDish Recipe Archive only on Substack here each week.

Here is how you give a gift subscription

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Do you want me to make a custom video greeting welcoming your gift recipient? Happy to - just message me here after completing the gift subscription set up.

What I am Cooking:

It’s the 12 days of Cookies, and we have a contest for you to win.

So far, we have shared recipes for

1. Stacey's Raspberry and Almond Jam Thumbprint

2. Chocolate Crinkle

3. Ginger Molasses Stamped

4. Spritz Cookie

5. *Salted Caramel Bars

6. Julia's Christmas Crack

Then yesterday, we added number 7, my mom’s Russian Tea Cakes with their powdering “snowy” finish. These are really airy and light little mouthfulls with the chopped and salted pecans.

Today is number 8! Which is another of my mom’s greatest hits with her Toffee Bars. We always had these at Christmas. This is a shortbread cookie base bar covered with chocolate and sprinkled with pecans on half and plain on half (some kids didn’t like the nuts). I always think of my mom when we have these at the holidays.

Watch for my 12 days of cookie recipes on Instagram and Facebook, and make sure to rate any recipes you make on my website. Remember, Anyone who rates any recipes on stephaniesdish.com will be registered to win a Cookie Library with 3 Cookie Books,

• Zoe Bakes Cookies

• Baking For The Holidays

• The Ultimate Minnesota Cookie Book

The more you rate, the more chances you have to win. Each rating is an entry. The contest is open until Saturday, December 21, 2025.

Remember How to rate recipes?

Watch here…

Now it's time for one more gift guide. This is for the Hostesses and gives you ideas that is something other than flowers or wine to gift!

The Gift Guide Starts with POPCORN my favorite food.

Who doesn’t love Popcorn? Just last year, Food & Wine selected two Dell Cove Spice popcorn kernel flavors Mushroom and Midnight Blue, that’s hull-less and slightly sweet as the best popcorn in the nation, and this year, they have two themed flavor profiles:

Their Movie Night popcorn gift set collection with flavor combinations and specialty packaging is selling fast and is grown by small family farms in the Midwest.

Have a nosey neighbor or sassy teen on your list? Team Naughty Christmas Coal® popcorn and seasonings gift set is a funny but delicious gift for the "naughty but nice."

If you have already watched “Hot Frosty,” try their Christmas Movie Popcorn, Christmas Coal Popcorn, Holly Red Popcorn, and Snowman Kisses Popcorn. I love the Holly Red® popcorn kernels and two popcorn seasonings combo. It is a tasty gift, packaged in a sleek black gift box and tied closed with a red satin ribbon. I am going for salt, vinegar, and Dill Pickle, but you might be more Buffalo Wings, Buttery Garlic, or Spicy Cajun.

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As a Subscriber EXCLUSIVE, enter code

HOLIDAYPOP25 for 25% off

your order in their popcorn shop:

*Code is valid 12/8 - 12/11 (ends at 11:59 p.m. ET* and is not valid on gift cards

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1. “Secret Twin Cities, A guide to the weird, wonderful and obscure.” by Julie Joe Severson. This book is full of weird Twin Cities attractions and fun places to visit. Give the book with a promise to go on a weird Twin Cities day trip together. $18.

2. Larissa Loden is a local treasure. This Ranch Hair Pin (they have Sriracha, too) is $10, well spent.

3. “Do You Remember” table game cards. This deck sparks fun memorable conversations and storytelling. $8

4. “True North Cabin Cookbook” $40. Let me know what you want the inscription to read, and l’ll sign it and ship it!

5. Locally Produced by our friend Charles Lovejoy and featured as one of Oprah’s favorite things - these 3 Bloody Mary mixes are outstanding. You will be set for three parties with this purchase. $55.

6. 127 Spice blend produced locally by our friends at “Heres The Deal Spice Company” - a great all-around seasoning blend for chicken, potatoes, meats, roasts, or eggs. $12

7. Pure Loon reusable makeup pad remover. I did not know I needed these until I got them as a gift, and now I love them so much. They are handy, washable, and they work great. $18

8. Zoe Bakes Cookie Book is a treasure. There is an entire chapter devoted to perfecting the chocolate chip cookie and by god she has done it. A masterpiece. $30

9. Stephanies Dish Newsletter Subscription. Here is how you do it… To gift a paid subscription, click below and enter the requested details. If you'd like to send the gift subscription later, check the box next to "Schedule for later" and select your preferred date from the date picker. The gift recipient will receive an email and be able to access paid content immediately. If they don't have a Substack account, one will be created automatically, and they can sign into the Substack publication to start reading.

10. Jigsaw puzzles are fun for the right hostess (me, please) These from local graphic designer and Artist Adam Turman feature a Boundary Waters Scene! $25.

11. BT Mcelrath Toffee from the Golden Fig is the Gold Standard. Made local and so damn delicious. $9.

12. The Cocoa and Flake, made in Minnesota, Christmas chocolate collection is exquisite. It's a must-have. $42.

Bonus…. Try making your Irish Cream and gifting it to hostesses throughout the season in cute bottles or pint Mason Jars!

Still Looking for Cookbook Gifts?

How about these local and regional Cookbooks? Remember Shefzilla from chef Stuart Woodman of Heidi’s fame?? Smoke on the Waterfront with the gang from Northern Waters Smokehaus would be a great gift. Remember when I podcasted with them? See the link below.

I loved Eat More Vegetables, by Tricia Cornell is a great seasonal cookbook for Gardeners and CSA enthusiasts. Love squash? the Smitten with Squash book by Amanda Paa is fun, and I love the Rhubarb Renaissance cookbook by Kim Ode, too!

Our friends at the

The Heavy Table

have more great options

The 2024 Heavy Table Local Food Gift Guide

Looking for Lights?

Mike Marcotte

is providing us all with a service with his holiday lights list. In its 8th year, this guide gives you all the best holiday light displays in the Twin Cities -

What am I Cooking? Holiday Appetizers

I have a few parties coming up where I will be making some of my favorite appetizers and cocktails. I have pulled out a few of the stars here:

Baked Brie with Sun Dried Tomatoes

A few appetizers will come in handy in the next few weeks. This is an excellent recipe for a potluck or book club, and it gets ooey and gooey.

Gruyere Puff Pastry

Baked Gyuyere is another cheesy wonder! When I made this recipe on my show “Taste Buds with Stephanie,” my producer, Michelle, ate almost the whole thing and put herself into a food coma!

Mushroom + Butternut Squash Turnovers

These savory numbers are pretty on a party platter and taste great with a filling of squash, wild mushrooms, garlic, and goat cheese.

Still looking for other ideas? Here are 20 more favorite appetizer recipes

Grapefruit Thyme Spritz

This cocktail is delightful at the holidays as it’s not as boozy, and it is garnished with fresh grapefruit and thyme, making it feel festive!

Grapefruit Simple Syrup

• ½ cup sugar

• ½ cup grapefruit juice

• 1 -2 inch rind of grapefruit peeled with a vegetable peeler

• 4 sprigs fresh thyme

Grapefruit Thyme Spritz

• 1.5 oz St. Germain elderflower liqueur

• 1 oz Grapefruit Rosemary Simple Syrup See Notes

• 3 oz Cava

• Sparkling water if desired, for more carbonation

Garnish

• Thyme sprigs

• Grapefruit slices

Instructions

• Grapefruit Simple Syrup

• Combine all ingredients in a saucepan over medium heat and bring to a simmer until the sugar is dissolved then take it off the heat and let it sit for 15 minutes to let the herbs infuse the syrup for enhanced thyme flavor.

• Pull out rind and sprigs of thyme.

• Cool before using. You can store syrup in a jar in the fridge for up to a month.

• Grapefruit Thyme Spritz

• Add St. Germain and grapefruit simple syrup to a wine glass and stir to combine.

• Fill the glass with ice, top with Cava, and give a gentle stir to mix. Optionally, top with some sparkling water for added carbonation.

• Garnish with a grapefruit slice or a thyme sprig.

Watch me make the simple syrup here