No eggnog or milk for Santa here! As the world of craft cocktails has gotten…craftier, chefs around the world have put themselves to the ultimate test of creating a specialty Hanukkah drink. Each chef listed below garnered inspiration from a different source; some paid homage to the traditional blue/white/silver color scheme; others played with traditional Jewish ingredients; and some just needed to get that punny name out in the world. Maybe you try one of these or are inspired to develop your own recipe!

Olive Oil Gin Sour

Egg Cream

Hebrew Hammer

Aperol Schvitz

Jelly Donut Cocktail

Blueberry Ginger Ale Spritzer

The Latkatini

Make ’em fruity or make ’em sweet with chocolate, these bite sized rugelach are sure to delight your Hanukkah or other celebration.

Holiday gift shopping at your local grocery store? Are you suggesting I get all my friends and family some carrots and a chunk of cheese? Not at all! Although, that wouldn’t be the worst gift…

Your community-owned Littleton Food Co-op has a number of great gift options for everyone on your list! And yes, some of them are food-based. But none of the options we’ve laid out below will require space in your refrigerator or freezer – save that for your holiday feast! By the way, have you ordered your custom roast yet? If not, go do that now! We also carry a number of special non-edible items if you want to go in a different direction. So, without further ado, here is a selection of our favorite gifts from the Littleton Co-op for the 2024 holiday season: 

 

View and download as a PDF – less scrolling!

 

For the chef

For some of us, cooking can be a chore, or just a “necessary evil” to keep our bodies well fueled. But we all know that one person for whom cooking is an experience. They love preparing a fresh meal from scratch, appreciate quality ingredients, and will always be found in the kitchen. It would truthfully be a faux pas to NOT get something from the Littleton Co-op for the Chef in your life; but, if you’re not a foodie yourself, it can be intimidating to find a place to start. That’s where we come in with these suggestions: 

Wozz! Kitchen Creations

The double punch of Wozz! Kitchen Creations is they make high quality sauces, marinades, and more, AND they’re right in our backyard! From down the road in Bethlehem, NH, “Wozz,” also known as company founder Warrick Dowsett, is a former luxury yacht private chef who wanted to bottle the flavors he experienced first hand on his global travels. And no one understands the needs of home chefs better than a chef himself. The other beauty of the Wozz! line is its versatility. If your gift recipient leans towards cooking a specific cuisine, you can pick up sauces that work with that cuisine type. Alternatively, bring multiple varietals together for a global package! 

110 Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Olive oil is not just for greasing the pan, and a foodie home chef will understand the importance of a quality olive oil. Keep it local and pick up a bottle of 110 (OneTen) Extra Virgin Olive Oil. This newer venture is from the family of Woodsville Village Pizza, who sources and presses the olives from their own orchard in Kalamata, Greece. This is an exclusively cold-pressed oil with no added chemicals, preservatives, or blends. If you really want to elevate and personalize this gift, bring your own glass or other container to pick up new 110 Extra Virgin Olive Oil in the Bulk Department. 

 

Organic Tierra Farm Cashews 

Chefs who cook with elevated ingredients need an elevated snack, too. Packed with protein, healthy fats, and flavor, any cashew variety from Tierra Farm is a great choice. We love snacking on the curry and everything bagel cashews. Tierra Farm products come directly from farmers in the Finger Lakes region of New York in small, hand-crafted batches. Recipients will also appreciate their plastic-free home compostable packaging. They are even committed to going plastic free in all areas of their manufacturing! Or, you can take it up a notch and scoop Tierra Farm and other nut options directly from the Bulk Department bins into your own reusable container. 

 

 

For the Overworked 

Listen: who isn’t overworked these days? There are the people out there who fully recognize they need a break and some pampering, and those who are fully in denial that they are pushed to their limit. Since you likely can’t gift your recipient a day (or three) off from work, school, and life responsibilities, you can infuse some self care into their life. Self care gifts are more often than not marketed towards women – men deserve pampering, too! But remember: just because you want to make someone else feel well cared for, doesn’t mean you have to overextend yourself either. One way to take the stress off is doing all of your holiday shopping in one place – might as well make it the Littleton Co-op…

Mountain Lathers Gift Set 

Is it a coincidence that so many of the products in our gift guide are locally made items? We don’t think so! Our local producers ROCK! Local soapmaker Mountain Lathers went above and beyond this holiday season in offering this Washtub Bundle Soap Set. This is so adorable, yet its neutral color scheme makes it giftable and usable for anyone on your list. Not only does the set come with three hand crafted seasonally scented soaps, the cute bathtub can be used as a soap holder, decor, or toy. We appreciate the attention to artistry here and the reusable packaging, because who needs another brown basket? 

Badger Aromatherapy Travel Kit 

We can’t always guarantee our need for focus, stress relief, or a meditative moment will happen at home when we have full access to our well-loved self-care toolkit, whatever that may look like. In fact, the moments we need a helping hand the most are likely not going to happen at home if the world has any say in it. That’s where this convenient Aromatherapy Travel Kit from Badger comes in! The five balms in the kit are designed to target the following needs: to delight and uplift the spirits (Cheerful Mind Balm); to energize and clear the mind (Focus Balm); to calm and soothe the mind (Stress Soother); to cool and relax the mind (Headache Soother); and to center and balance your inner “badger” (Yoga and Meditation). These travel sized organic sticks can be applied at common pressure points and/or as lip balm. We love a versatile gift! 

Ridge Hemp CBD Face Cream 

CBD products: completely safe, won’t get you high, and not just ingestible products anymore. We are so excited to now be carrying products from our friends at Ridge Hemp just down the road in Littleton. Their face creams are smooth, lightweight, and a great introductory product to the calming properties of CBD oil. It’s even gentle enough to be used around the eye cream. Aside from the CBD, the cream’s ingredients are designed with nourishing and skin-boosting antioxidants, cell regenerating proteins, and plenty of Vitamin C. The three options are unscented, grapefruit, and turmeric.  Must be 18+ to purchase per NH State law. 

Burt’s Bees Grooming Essentials for Men

We have so much to do during the holiday season, so when a pre-made gift set option is presented to you, don’t let it pass you by. Our friends at Burt’s Bees put together this Grooming Essentials for Men kit, featuring: cooling shave cream; cooling face wash; soothing moisturizer and after shave; and cooling beeswax lip balm. All of these products are infused with aloe and hemp to moisturize, hydrate, and soothe skin. They can also be used at home for everyday use or taken on the go. 

 

For the “Tired of Giving Toys”

By the end of the year 2024, we think both children and adults are sick of more plastic toys cluttering up their home. That’s why we chose quality made, experience-based gifts to give to the young ones in your life. “The hottest toys this season” are just that – only interesting for a season. These options are timeless and relatively ageless, meaning if it has to be put aside until the excitement of new toys wears off, it’ll still be useful and exciting. And let’s be so for real here: the young at heart would love any of these gifts, too. Just like a child, we’re feeling pretty antsy to present these ideas, so let’s get to it:

Bath Bombs

Did you ever think your youngin’ would actually be excited for bath time? Well believe it with the help of these colorful bath bombs! If you’ve never had the pleasure of using a bath bomb, what happens is these small condensed balls of natural ingredients will spin and dissolve into a sea of magical AND nourishing color. They’re basically the only way to turn your tub water into mystical shades of purple, green, and orange without staining any skin or tile. Watch the bath bomb do its thing, but also make sure to watch your young one’s face as they see it dissolve before their eyes. 

 

 

Decomposition Book

Writing, but make it cool. Gone are the days where writing means virgin white paper bound inside a boring black and white casing. Michael Roger, a family-owned and operated company, produces these Decomposition books: whimsical, fashion-forward eco-conscious notebooks that will inspire anyone to write the next great novel (or maybe just their homework assignment). Writing is a useful skill that can be developed at any age, but no child is going to appreciate you giving them something that looks and feels like schoolwork. A Decomposition book isn’t work – it’s a colorful portal into new written possibilities.

Eco Kids Make Your Own Ornament Kit

These Eco Kids kits are actually multiple gifts all rolled into one: a gift for a child to open at your gathering; the gift of using the kit to make something; the gift to the parents of their child being kept occupied; and a sentimental and handmade final product. Unlike other ornaments made for children, the ornaments made through this kit are made of clay instead of cheap paper or other products. Not only will the final product’s quality be better, but the young artist will feel more empowered using this medium traditionally reserved for adults. 

 

Ice Cream Toppings Kit

This is the one gift suggestion that requires a bit of construction by the gift-giver ahead of time. But that just means more opportunity for customization! Everyone loves ice cream, but you run the risk of your gift melting before your recipient gets to it if it ends up on the bottom of the pile. Plus, your hands get really cold trying to wrap a frozen product – just trust us on this one. Instead, go with the gift of ice cream accessories to help them elevate the at-home ice cream experience! This gift can consist of anything your recipient might enjoy with/on their ice cream. Suggestions include a Stonewall Kitchen sauce, Watkins sprinkles, peppermint sticks, and your cone preference. Nuts, maraschino cherries, and candy pieces are other good options. And it could always be supplemented with a gift card to Super Secret Ice Cream!

Knots of Fun Dog Toy 

Depending on the type of family you come from or are gifting into, the family pets may already be receiving their own presents. But all dogs know: dog toys are so much more fun when there’s a dog toy AND a tiny human to play with. With any luck, these simple, durable toys will give you hours of interactive play. And Knots of Fun toys are one size fits all – no worrying if they’d better fit in a size medium or large. Technically, this gift could go to anyone in the family, but young ones will appreciate you recognizing the special bond they have with the family pet – and parents will appreciate the opportunity to tire the tikes out. 

For the Homebody 

You might think we’re sending negative feelings towards this class of people by calling them “homebodies,” but it’s really the opposite. We fully understand and support the urge to not leave the house, especially in the winter. You’re telling me you want me to go outside and do things? Where it’s cold? And there’s other people there? Yeah, hard pass. Just because homebodies may be less sociable than others, doesn’t mean they don’t deserve a great gift. Instead of trying to push them outside their comfort zone, try giving them a gift that makes their in-home experience even better. Consider the following: 

Littleton Co-op Official 15th Anniversary Puzzle

If one thing will get a homebody out into the world is a quality sale…or an empty fridge. Bring everyone’s favorite community-owned grocery store into the comfort of one’s home with the official Co-op puzzle! This Vermont-made puzzle features a collage of great cooperative moments from the past 15 years of the Littleton Co-op. Sitting at 375 pieces, it will make for an entertaining afternoon without being so difficult you quit in frustration. Who doesn’t love breaking open a new puzzle on a cold winter day!? 

 

 

Sillycow Farms Hot Chocolate

While their name is a bit silly, Sillycow Farms Hot chocolate is no joke. Made just over the river in St. Johnsbury, VT, Sillycow products are gluten free and Non-GMO Project verified. In fact, their flagship flavor “Chocolate Chocolate” has just two ingredients: cocoa and natural cane sugar. That’s all they need to create a classic cozy drink that everyone will enjoy. If your recipient would appreciate a little bit of adventure (well, adventure for a homebody) introduce them to Sillycow’s less traditional flavors like Chocolate Truffle, Chocolate Moo-use (Vanilla), or Chocolate Sea Salt and Caramel. And then they get the best gift of all – a cute bottle to reuse again and again! 

White Mountain Apiary Beeswax Candle 

These local hand-crafted candles from our friends at White Mountain Apiaries in Whitefield, NH are more than just gorgeous home decor pieces. Each candle is made from 100% beeswax. Beeswax is a natural, renewable resource whose candles emit a bright, healthful light within the same spectrum as the sun. Imagine being able to grant someone the greatest gift – sunlight! – in the depths of the North Country winter. Even more so, beeswax candles drip less and burn longer, so your recipient won’t have to worry about losing out when they want to light it every day. Choose from a traditional pillar or a fun, whimsical shape. 

Matr Boomie Jalini Wine Stopper

Some days, there’s no better way to unwind and let your stressors go with a glass of wine. But what if recorking your wine could be an experience so grand it rivals actually drinking the vino? These hand painted wine stoppers are made with ceramic and cork to get the job done while adding a beautiful aesthetic to your end of day ritual. This is the perfect gift for those who appreciate function just as much as beauty. Pick up a few, or compliment one with a bottle of wine or oil of your choice. 

 

Buzzballz Biggies 

While maybe not as…classy as a bottle of wine, the new Buzzballz Biggies certainly would win the “Most Festive” award. These comically large alcohol-filled ornament-shaped containers are the equivalent of over eight of their original Buzzball counterparts. Definitely not for one person to consume in one sitting! But any of the Biggie flavors will provide a ready-to-drink cocktail with premium ingredients for many nights to come – no trip to the bar required. This item may only be purchased by customers 21+ with valid ID for recipients 21+. Please drink responsibly. 

 

For the Adventurous 

Adventurer means something different to everyone. Maybe it means mountain climbing. Maybe it means trying something new every day. Maybe it means leaving the house today (see above re: homebody). Keep these folks’ daring spirits alive with their holiday present. Now, not everyone has the resources to give the gift of an international rock climbing adventure or snorkeling with sharks extravaganza, but these gifts straight from the Littleton Co-op can infuse adventure into everyday life:

Ropewear Can Cozie

Bring outdoor adventure into the home with these unique can cozies. The company Cactus to Pine takes retired climbing rope and fashions it into new products, keeping material out of landfills and giving you a never before seen gift option. This is a great way to level-up a very practical gift – nobody likes cold hands! Your recipient may choose to keep their cozie at home to dream of more adventure-filled days, or even take it out with them on their next hike, climb, or activity for the finish line celebration drink. 

 

Kingdom Coffee Roasters Coffee

Every adventurer needs adventure fuel! Choose a local and delicious adventure fuel with Kingdom Coffee Roasters, a family-run business from the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. If you’d like to lean even more into the “adventure” theme, we suggest the Trailbuilder Blend. Trailbuilder Blend is a dark roast that’s just a few shades darker than a medium roast, making it much more sweet and smooth than other dark roasts. And while we can’t make any promises about being ready to build a trail from scratch after a few cups, you’ll certainly be closer than if you didn’t have any. 

 

Woodland Farms Brewery N/A Beer

Adventuring doesn’t have to mean pushing your body to the extreme every day. Non-alcoholic beer is a relatively new product to market that keeps all the great flavor of beer, without the alcohol. That means no fuzziness, no hangover, and more time to hop to your new adventure. We love that N.A. options allow you to still have that celebratory drink, just with much less consequences. Woodland Farms is Maine’s first non-alcoholic brewer that offers low calorie, lower carbs than regular beer, and less than 0.5% alcohol in each can brewed with Maine-grown ingredients. And their cans come in the same styles you love – IPAs, sours, stouts, and more. 

If you don’t think any of these gift ideas are what your recipient is looking for, you can’t go wrong with a Littleton Co-op gift card! Purchase in store at any register or purchase online here. We can mail to any US address! 

Like so many things, charcuterie board assembly is an art and a science. Luckily we have a fabulous team of in-house scientists– ahem, sorry, cheesemongers – to help us out. They are master cheese recommenders, board assemblers, and accessory pair-ers. While they’re not going to be with you next time you’re assembling a board (sorry, we don’t do house calls), here are some easy things to remember when putting a charcuterie board (or really any type of spread) together: 

Individual taste – Do the pieces on your board taste good by themselves? If you or the majority of your guests aren’t fans, it’s unlikely there’s a “perfect pairing” out there to take it from a 0 to a 10. Don’t try and convince yourself that “the rules” say you need to have something you aren’t a fan of. Save your money and avoid the bad egg all together. 

Pairing taste – Can the individual pieces on your board be combined with other pieces on your board for an enhanced tasting experience? I often draw up the same question when cheese shopping as I do when clothing shopping: how many “outfits” can I wear this individual piece with? Your “cheese wardrobe” will work the best when you maximize the number of pieces that can be mixed and matched. And yes, there are certain times when we want to buy that fancy top because it will pair so nicely with those specific pants, and that’s okay. But your guests, and your wallet, won’t appreciate the rules around eating. Think of it this way: unless you want to stand in front of the cheeseboard all night and explain everything to your X amount of guests, they will be left to their own, less knowledgeable, devices

Presentation – Even if your guests aren’t the kind of people who say “the phone eats first,” presentation can still be important. If you didn’t care at least an ounce about the appearance of your food, you would be serving everything separately in its original packaging. Appearance can also play a role in how food tastes. Now, this is not to say that your board has to be outlandish, perfectly crafted, or difficult to assemble. But even something as simple as a clean, straight knife cut or breaking up a sea of off-white with food of another color can enhance your presentation – and your perceived taste. Board organization is also your opportunity to subtly suggest pairings to your guests.

A bottle of wine is not an uncommon gift to give whoever is hosting you for the holidays. But sometimes, for whatever reason, that’s not the gift most appropriate to give. Now what? We put our in-house cheesemonger team to the test to put together The Ultimate Gift Basket™. Not just limited to hosts, this is a timeless, ageless, and genderless gift idea for anyone you want to treat in your life. It gives all the presentation of a thoughtful gift that took hours to put together– with none of the actual work or hours required. We did all the prep for you, all you have to do is choose what looks good to you (or your recipient) from our collection down below, and choose an appropriate vessel to present it in. And if you need any further advice or recommendations, chat with the Specialty Cheese team in store or check out their holiday serving recommendations here.

Basket above includes:

• Firehook Baked Sea Salt Crackers
• Le Broye du Poitou pure butter shortbreads
• Effie’s Oatcake Biscuits
• Vermont Farmstead Cranberry Windsordale
• Tillamook Maker’s Reserve White Cheddar Cheese
• Mountain Fire Farm Hot Pepper Maple Cream
• Jasper Hill Harbison
• Champlain Valley Creamery Truffle Triple
• Blake Hill Tart Cherry Preserve
• Nettle Meadow Maple Fromage Frais
• Vermont Farmstead Blueberry Windsordale
• Crooked Mile Goat Feta
• Santori Tennessee Whiskey Bellavitano
• Sartori Merlot Bellavitano
• Vermont Salumi Salami (various flavors)
• Vermont Farmstead Brie

 

Recommendations Straight from the Speciality Cheese Department

When picking a cheese or two for your next hosting gig, it might seem that the easiest course of action is to walk into the Littleton Co-op and ask one of our cheesemongers “What’s your favorite?” Especially for a BIG hosting gig, like a holiday party, or even the main meal. But asking a cheesemonger to pick their favorite cheese is like asking a parent to pick their favorite child: it changes throughout the year. While our cheese team can’t be at your house to oversee your cocktail hour or appetizer set up, we can pass along some of their personal tried and true favorites for this time of the year.

Meg

(L to R): Jasper Hill Willoughby, 34 Degrees Original Crisps, Brabander Goat Gouda

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Travis

(L to R): Colston Bassett Shropshire Blue, Brebirousse D’Argental, Cranberry Almond Maine Crisp)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Catherine

(L to R): Effie’s Gruyere Biscuits, White Stilton w/ cranberries,