Hello Coyote Fam,
Last week, I admitted that the holidays snuck up on me. Now, there’s no denying it, the holidays are officially here. This is the week when all the “best of” and “top gift” guides are published. We’re thrilled to share that we were included in Forbes’ Top-Of-The-Line Cookware For Home Cooks (for the second year in a row, see the 2023 and 2022 articles).
These aren’t paid advertisements, when we were listed last year, I asked the reporter how she heard about us and she said that a friend told her about our cookware. We have no idea who the little birdie was, but we want to thank all of you for helping to share your love of cooking with handmade pottery.
This year, we want to spread the love around too, so we thought we’d try our hand at sharing some of our favorites. Same rules apply here for us. These are not paid recommendations, just some of our personal faves. If you do want to buy them, please go directly to the company.
One of my personal mottos is “a high tide lifts all boats.” I hope this holiday season, when you’re thinking about gifts for your friends and family, you look toward small businesses, like us and the millions of others, that help ensure our hometowns and Main Streets thrive.
Cheers,
~Morgan & The Coyotes
For The Jet Setters
Know Someone with the Travel Bug?
We all have one, a friend who is always off on the next adventure…
Clay Coyote Tagine is the best for the one who wants to take a trip to the Mediterranean from the comforts of their kitchen.
We also love the unique Travel Guides from Wildsam, our old neighbors (they lived a few apartments above us in NYC).
The team started with one and now there are more than 60 field guides including my favorite series on the National Parks.
The guides are awesome coffee table reads.
Speaking of the Mediterranean, another friend of mine, launched a line of coats, bags, and hats made from Moroccan blankets called GLOR.
I have one of the bags and I love it.
They have a limited inventory and release collections throughout the year, I recommend signing up for the newsletter for great content and first dibs on the next batch.
For the Bakers
Baking is a Science
There are just some folks that baking comes natural to, I am not one of them. Probably because I’m more of a “cooking is an art” girl than science type.
Our No-Knead Bread Baker is a favorite of oven-warriors from coast-to-coast.
I’m really into Sunrise Flour Mill from North Branch, Minnesota. We don’t know them at all but love their product.
They produce single source, organic, heritage flours using a renewed milling technology from the 1930’s called the Unifine mill.
Their website says, “organic heritage grains are better for you, and many people find them to be more digestible than modern hybridized wheat.”
Here in the upper Midwest, in the colder months, we use a heating pad to help aid the proofing process in bread making (I sound like I’m on Bake Off).
At our house, we use Raisenne from Reliant Heat.
It was a gift, but I looked today and the company is based in Amery, Wisconsin. Ta-da! Go Midwest!
Check out their website for where to buy.
For the One-who-have-everything
aka The Hard-to-Buy-For
At the Clay Coyote we make the only-handmade clay grill basket in the USA. It’s extremely unique. Unlike the metal alternatives it won’t rust, warp, or flake.
When I need a gift for someone who has everything, I go with this, and if they’re not a griller we have the Cazuela, the inside version.
One of the best gifts for the person who has everything is a donation in their name to a nonprofit or program that is meaningful.
We contribute regularly to our local community art center.
Do you have a Center for the Arts in your community?
Another wonderful gift is an experience that you and your friend can do together.
For those of you in the Twin Cities area, I will be teaching another cooking class at Alliance Française in December.
Take a look at all their cooking classes.
For the Francophile
The Dinner Party Wow Factor
In 2022, we partnered with food and travel author, Sylvie Bigar, to create a special edition French Cassole to pair with her memoir, Cassoulet Confessions: Food, France, Family and the Stew That Saved My Soul.
As the weather turns, cassoulet season is upon us. This special pot is designed to serve a crowd, maybe for a NYE dinner party?
Looking for the best ingredients to give to a friend who loves to cook?
We love the heirloom beans from Rancho Gordo in California.
Their classic Cassoulet Tarbais beans are a real treat.
We heard that their exclusive, monthly Bean Club has a 2-year waitlist, but you can get beans by the pound quickly.
Last week, Sylvie and I had the opportunity to be on a virtual panel talking about our partnership and the joys of cooking with clay.
One topic we discussed was how much we both appreciate using fresh herbs. I use the Click & Grow indoor herb garden. I love it and have fresh herbs year round. I just have the Smart-3 but they can get more elaborate.
For the Hostess-with-the-mostess
Love a Good Cheese Spread
Know someone who can really put out an amazing display of cheeses, nuts, fruits, jams, honeys, and artisanal crackers?
I love gifting different combos of our handmade trays and dipper sets. I like the idea that the edible display has some separation and texture for the different ingredients.
Out East? A cheese that will wow every time is Harbison from Jasper Hill Farm in Vermont.
Locally here in Minnesota, we love Redhead Creamery in Brooten.
Out West? There is a soft spot in my heart for Cowgirl Creamery.
I am also a big fan of jam pairings.
Blake Hill, in Vermont, is one of the most approachable brands that I have found. I really appreciate the work they do to help you pair the right flavor profiles between the jams and cheeses.
I’m known for making a pretty rockin’ jam, brie, and apple grilled cheese.
