All Over Albany

Holiday gifts: Deanna Fox

Gifts and giving are on most everyone's mind this month. So we thought we'd ask a few people to share some thoughts on presents, past and present.

Today's thoughts on gifts and giving come from food writer, cooking instructor, AOA contributor and all around lovely person Deanna Fox.

What gifts would you like to get this year?

For Christmas this year, I'm giving everyone a bottle of Nine Pin Cider (those of drinking age, at least). And a batch of homemade spiced nuts. Homecooked meals will be doled out freely, mostly because I haven't bought a single present yet, and cooking is the only useful skill I have. Everybody has to eat!

What gifts would you like to give this year?

I'd love a big, fluffy, help-I-can't-find-my-way-out down comforter for my bed. Since I spend such little time sleeping or even just lounging around in bed, I want to make sure my time there is dreamy. An entire box of Krause's dark chocolate cherry cordials would be good, too! (And if we can instill fantasy for a moment, I'd love that finger-snapping magic that Mary Poppins has, so my house will always be clean.)

What charity would you like to support?

There are so many charities I'd love to support, it's always hard to choose one! I typically support food, agriculture, and historic preservation causes (all topics dear to me), but this year I'd give to Peaceful Acres Horses. People go ga-ga for horses in this area, but tend to forget about how many abused and neglected horses there are; we dispose of them so easily once they can't entertain us anymore. The folks at Peaceful Acres work tirelessly to ensure that horses can receive proper care and love, even if they aren't "useful" anymore.

What is your most memorable gift from childhood?

I've received some awesome presents through childhood -- a cool all-metal toy backhoe when I was a toddler, endless LEGOs, an electric guitar. But the only thing I ever really wanted was a little brother. I never got one, regardless of asking Santa every year. Just before Christmas when I was 12, my family adopted Baron, a Jack Russell Terrier who was more boy than dog. He was part of our family for 15 years and he was the best little brother I could ask for.

Baron

Besides Baron, the best Christmas gift I ever received was just the love from my parents and family. Even when finances were really tight and life didn't feel that great, my mom and dad always made sure I had a wonderful Christmas, even if they went without. It was never the toys or food or decorations that created the magic of Christmas, it was the effort of my parents, especially my mom, that made the holidays bright for me. I'm really lucky.

More holiday gifts:
+ Daniel B. from the FUSSYlittleBLOG
+ Erin Pihlaja from the Troy BID
+ Lauren Hittenger Hodgson from AOA and The Thrifty Ginger
+Sean Desiree from South End Pallet Works
+ Rachel Person from Northshire Bookstore
+ Musical theater teacher and performer Brandon Jones
+ Katie O'Malley Maloney from Katie O' Weddings & Events
+ Illustrator Elizabeth Zunon
+ Musician Sean Rowe
+ Heather LaVine from The Confectionery
+ Lecco Morris from the Chefs Consortium