a peek inside the fishbowl

This past month I’ve mentioned a few items that might make that special someone a nice Christmas gift: mittens, gifts that help break the cycle of poverty, an air plant, home cooked meals made via Supperworks, and the gift of an experience.

I wanted to share another idea with you in case you’re still looking for a little something: A digital, instant-read cooking thermometer. Mark received this one from Lee Valley for Father’s Day and it’s become our secret weapon for juicy and perfectly cooked meats.

We used to have an old-fashioned meat thermometer with a dial on the top. In fact, we had a bunch because we kept buying new ones because we weren’t happy with the old ones. They’re all the same. You stick it in, pray you don’t hit bone, and watch as it slowwwwly tells you whether your entree is raw in the middle and whether the rest of your side dishes will dry out while you wait.

I’ve found our new digital thermometer to be handy for all kinds of foods, especially when I’m frying up chicken burgers or sausages on the stove, which always tend to look done to me but really aren’t. ALSO, I don’t ever want to eat undercooked chicken or pork. I’ve also used it while making yogurt. Getting the milk hot enough without it boiling over is critical.

The thermometer is easy to clean and folds away neatly. We’ve been using ours so much that we don’t bother putting it in the drawer anymore. It’s got a magnet on the back so its new home is on the side of the toaster, within arm’s reach of the oven.

But here’s the thing. This is not exactly a traditional gift. What’s worse, giving a digital thermometer may even be dangerously misinterpreted. For example, you might think you’re doing a kindness by giving one to your parents or inlaws but they may end up being insulted. The last thing you want on Christmas morning is a mother-in-law in tears because she thinks YOU think she can’t cook a turkey. So, it’s your call. :)

p.s. Speaking of turkey, you MUST watch this quick little video that shows the best way to carve a turkey. It’s genius.

Holds phone closer to ear…
“I’m sorry, I can hardly hear you this is an awful connection…You cant come out because you’re washing a WHAT?” pic.twitter.com/LwmQfeuZ6w

— Peter Lorimer (@pighilltweets) December 15, 2017

• Here’s What the Best Bosses Are Doing for Their Employees This Holiday Season, inc.com
• 30+ Times People Sent The Most Hilarious Christmas Cards Ever, boredpanda.com
• The 2017 Hater’s Guide To The Williams-Sonoma Catalog, adequateman.deadspin.com
• A journey through a land of extreme poverty: welcome to America, theguardian.com
• CDC gets list of forbidden words: fetus, transgender, diversity, washingtonpost.com

Some of you have seen this already, but my most recent Buying Smart column for Costco Connection magazine is about buying experiences over things and outlines some of the cool ideas available at the Costco warehouse and on their website. (You can read that article over here. You might be surprised in terms of what kind of tickets and gift cards are available. I know I was!)

I really like the idea of giving tickets to experiences! Don’t you? Memories last a lifetime. Talk about gifts that keep giving!

There are many different ways you can go with this gift idea.

• Restaurant and movie passes. There’s a dealio if you buy them at Costco but the Cineplex and Landmark cinemas aren’t the only game in town. Don’t forget the Mayfair and Bytowne too.

• Museum and gallery memberships: There are so many in Ottawa! How about passing along a hint to grandma and grandpa re: a family membership to the Museum of Nature (there’s a new butterfly exhibition!) or the renovated Canada Science and Technology Museum museum? Actually, this family  membership gives admission to THREE Ottawa museums. Check it out.
• Fishbowl patron, Saunders Farm, has annual passes and gift cards available too. They come with great perks too! Read more about it on the Saunders website.
• How about a Brew Donkey tour?
• … or a sightseeing flight in Ottawa?

The tricks is to find out what your recipients will get the most joy out of and start from there. If they’re art lovers, perhaps a membership to the National Gallery. Music and theatre buffs might appreciate a gift card to the NAC.

Got any ideas to add to the list? I’d love to hear if YOU have received the gift of an experience!