Food Advent Calendars
Lots of links and recommendations for the holiday season!
I know I know. It’s October. IN MY DEFENSE: I wanted to prepare for the holidays by making sure that my fave advent calendar didn’t sell out before I could get one. My husband and I went and snagged our now traditional jam advent calendar on Friday night. Stores are releasing holiday things earlier and earlier, and to me it feels stressful that the year is being rushed along. But for something that we like to get in person like the advent calendar, and that can be stored for a bit, it makes the most sense to buy it now and then store it away for a couple months.
You can feel free to scroll past this (main) section of the newsletter and save it for later! I know for a fact lots of my education pals did this with my Teacher Lunches post. Trust that I’m not trying to push you into the holiday season right now. I live with a horror writer, so this month is completely focused on spookies.
I love advent calendars. Maybe it’s because I grew up in the 90s, where having tiny bits and bobs for toys reigned supreme. I cannot tell you how many small toys I carried around during my elementary years. Calico Critters, Polly Pocket, those Dalmatians figurines from McDonald’s, toys from the dollar store my grandma got me, among many others. I also love to sample things. Having an assortment of snacks and flavors makes “girl dinner” and charcuterie some of my favorite meals. An advent calendar has both: physically small varieties of whatever the calendar has. As an adult, I get holiday sample collections of skincare, snacks, makeup, whatever I can get my hands on because I love the options.
It’s only natural that this extends to food advent calendars. Since I love to eat, and I love options, advent calendars are one of my favorite things about December. For the last couple of years, my husband and I have gotten the Bonne Maman advent calendar, which we eat with an English muffin in the mornings of December. Whoever gets up first toasts up one English muffin (two halves), and the amount of jam in the tiny jars is the perfect amount for both of the halves. It’s the sweetest tradition and one we continue to do this year. I love the anticipation of opening the cardboard door the night before (maybe an advent calendar faux pas), and coming into the kitchen with a tiny counter lamp to make my breakfast. We are left with the most adorable little jars which I have yet to decide how to use but I do have a Pinterest board full of ideas because I am a visually inclined millennial.
If you too love advent calendars, or if you’re interested in trying some food ones out, I’ve compiled a recommendation list below. Most of them are out now, or will be later in the month so feel free to scoop them up now for your future self!
Bonne Maman Jams & Spreads. This is the one that has had a grip on me the last two years. I have half of a tiny jar on one half of an English muffin and it is bliss. My husband has the other half of the jam and the other half of the English muffin. It’s the perfect amount and brings me so much joy.
Charcuterie by Hickory Farms. Wow! What a delight this would be to eat through December. It has summer sausages, cheeses, mustard, jam, and a few sweets.
Modern Chocolate by Compartés. This is the most pricey but I swear it’s some of the best and most creative flavor combinations in chocolate. My husband and I sometimes spring for a bar to share over a few days and this advent calendar has 24 chocolate bars!
Lakrids by Bülow. Filled with black licorice (a polarizing flavor that I came to appreciate when I was in Sweden and Finland earlier this year) mixed other typical sweet flavors like caramel and chocolate.
Murray’s Cheese & Pairings. Cheeses, jams, and crackers, oh my!
Shortbread Cookies from Walker’s. Imagine a variety of shortbread cookies throughout the month of December that you can nibble with a cup of cocoa after dinner each night. How romantic!
Tea Advent Calendar. For the non-coffee person - a whole month of different tea. Bonus is that if you’re a tea person and love to have some variety, they have a discount on their advent calendars from last year on their website!
Tony’s Chocolonely Chocolates. A more affordable chocolate advent calendar that is also delicious and is made with cocoa sourced from 100% slave-free cocoa farms in Ghana and the Ivory Coast.
Williams & Sonoma Spice. An excellent way to try some spices you’ve never had before, and gives you an excuse to make something new!
Winter in Sichuan by Fly by Jing. Twelve 2 ounce bottles of various chili crisp flavors?! Don’t mind if I do! How perfect would this be for someone who loves the crunchy spicy goodness of chili crisp!
World Market is the GOAT when it comes to “foodie” advent calendars. They have so many options! If you live close to one, just let yourself wander and browse. If you’re like me and love the excitement of advent calendars long before or after the holiday season, check the expiration dates to see how far into 2025 the treats could last. A future gift to yourself!
Whether you love miniature things, sampling any number of foodstuffs, or the holiday season, advent calendars are ready and waiting for you!
Audrey’s Cookbooks Updates
It’s been a little quiet on the business front. I’m getting lots of things set before the holiday season as a small business. Book orders from publishers are arriving, dates are being set for weekend pop-ups, and I’m sourcing vintage cookbooks as often as I can! I’m looking forward to my pop-up at Bench Pressed next weekend, and I just got word that I got into Cake Plus Size Resale’s Fat-O-Ween event at the end of the month!
Things I Like
This hat that I ordered. Please get one so we can be twins.
Really into vests - what style of vest should I make this winter?
These cookies!!!
I cannot stop thinking about this pair of mules from Vionic, the place I get all my shoes from because they are actually supportive and have alleviated my foot issues!
Started to listen to a weekly podcast about astrology and it’s been a very lovely way to ground myself for the week.
May your week be gentle and may you eat well. 🌲🥣