Last year, I was a Christmas orphan in New York and although I missed seeing my family, my first New York City Christmas was absolutely magical.

 

I’ve always felt that New York does Christmas like nowhere else in the world – you just can’t help but get in the spirit of things. The lighting of the trees on Park Avenue, the spectacular windows on 5th  and that special smell as you walk through the rows of trees being sold on the streets always puts an extra little bounce in my step.

 

Now back to my magical Christmas. Not one, but two parties on Christmas Eve and my very first taste of eggnog out of a huge silver cauldron! Then Christmas day itself seemed like one long meal (no complaints from me). A delicious 3 course lunch with my fairy godmother and her husband and then onto another amazing meal in the evening with the Butler family.

 

I dined on caviar, juicy crown roast of pork with potato gratin followed by homemade Christmas cookies and an enormous chocolate layer cake. But the best part of the evening was getting my very own stocking from Leigh with each gift wrapped individually. I may have told her that my childhood stockings were a little more Dickensian than they actually were although I do remember an actual sock being used. So thank you Leigh for falling for my sob story and putting the icing on the cake of my first New York Christmas.

 

So as as you start to think of what to put in your family’s stockings this year whether they’ve been naughty or nice, here’s a few suggestions.

 

Nice Boys and Girls:

Christmas Morning Marmalade, Mr. Great Almonds and Sea Salt Bark, or Honey and Maple Syrup Gift Set

Naughty Girls and Boys:

Jerk Sauce, Breakfast of Anarchists, or Bitchin’ BBQ Sauce