Vosges chocolate was at the forefront of the ongoing (and wonderful) bacon renaissance, and they continue to innovate. This year, there’s   bacon chocolate chip mix ($12), bacon caramel toffee (also $12), a flying chocolate pig ($8), and a $62 gift set. Original Mo’s Bacon Bars, in milk and dark chocolate, are $7.50. Mini bars are available for $2.50. Mix and match 6 bars for $12.50. Stack ‘em, wrap ‘em in a ribbon, and give them to your                                                                         foodie friend. Sweet.

Because, you know, he may want some.

Cooks Corner Silicone Pig Pot Holder, $5.26 at Amazon.  (Other animals $9.99)

EDIT: The pig is currently out of stock, but the cow is available for the same price. Moo.

Bubby’s Matryoshkas Measuring Cups, $14.99 at ModCloth.com

I know I’ve been gone for a while. . . let’s call it winter vacation at Gift U. I hope everyone had a great holiday and that you found some great gift ideas here (or elsewhere). What was everyone’s favorite gift to give/receive? I’ll start. . .

I know I’ve mentioned Savor, a popular Etsy soap shop, many, many times, but I simply love soapstress Lisa’s “Creme Fraiche”–whipped soap in a jar available in scrumptious flavors like Blood Orange Granita and Creme Brulee. Lisa’s inventory is constantly changing–you can find a calendar of her upcoming listings here. I bought several mini-sized Creme Fraiche–they are a perfect air-travel appropriate 2 ounces each–for my mother and sister for Chanukah, and they were a big hit. I definitely plan on giving more of these as gifts this year. ($4 for minis, $11 for most 8-ounce jars)

My sister really liked her copy of Here’s the Story: Surviving Marsha Brady and Finding My True Voice by Maureen McCormick ($17.13, Amazon). I’m hoping it will be followed by Pork Chopsh and Applesawce: Peter Brady Speaks Out, but I won’t hold my breath.

As for myself, I think my favorite gift (other than the Toshiba laptop I purchased with my gelt) was the giant ceramic mug I requested at the last minute. If you know someone who always seems to have a mug of tea or coffee or cocoa or Postum or hot Pepsi or whatever floats their boat, a giant mug for oversized beverages are great. (You can find many hand-thrown ones on ETSY; you can also find ceramic mugs at any grocery store, drug store, Target, etc.)

The gift that may have changed my life the most, though, is the Peek my father gave my mother.  The Peek ($79.99)  is a portable device for e-mail, and nothing else–no phone calls, no Internet, no games, no airbags, no espresso maker, no time machine. . . you get the idea. Service costs $19.99 a month. Why has this changed my life? Because now my mother can e-mail me any mundane message she wants, from “I’m heading to the butcher and I hope they have cornish game hens” to “Please e-mail your father to let him know who played Rooster in Annie; also, who played Daddy Warbucks.” (Answers: Tim Curry, and Albert Finney. DUH.)

Please, people. Don’t put this technology in the wrong hands.

In the coming weeks, follow Present Professor as we switch gears to Valentine’s Day, Presidents’ Day, SuperBowl Sunday (ok, some of these aren’t gift-giving holidays, unless you’re a president) as well as great ideas for the everday gift-requisite events in your life. Also look for the return of the giveaway. . . and don’t forget to Ask Present Professor if you need a great gift idea. Have a great 2009!

Mmmm… Chocolate… (Now picture Homer Simpson drooling.)

Chocolate company Ferrero and Share Our Strength, a hunger-relief organization, have forged a partnership that you, perhaps, cannot resist supporting. Ferrero has donated $150,000 to Share Our Strength and is giving others a chance to add to that donation. Right now, if you go to Share Something Sweet and use it to “send something sweet” (a customizable e-card), Ferrero will donate $1 per e-card sent, up to $10,000. So if you haven’t sent out your holiday cards yet, now’s the time to get some sweet e-cards sent and support a good cause.

Also, right now, if you leave a comment on this blog post, Ferrero will donate $1 to the “Shannon and Carli Need a Vacation Fund.” No, wait, that’s not it. If you leave a comment you’ll be entered to win one of five Ferrero Chocolate Christmas Tree gift boxes filled with Ferrero chocolates. Yes, five lucky Present Professor readers will get some delicious chocolate in their mailboxes next week. Enjoy them yourselves or bring them to your holiday/New Year’s celebration gatherings. Happy Holidays to all!

This giveaway has now ended.

I’m dealing with multiple out of town families…. All transplanted new yorkers. Modest budget, we are in a recession. No, really, just a gift to say, hey –thinking of you. In years past I’ve done juniors cheesecakes, cannoli’s from little italy, family board games…. That sort of thing.

Beth, when I first read your request, all I could think of was pancakes. I think I probably wanted pancakes at the time and secretly thought I could sneak onto your gift list, recommend a tasty breakfast gift box, and enjoy my ill-gotten flapjacks in the comfort of my kitchen nook with no one ever knowing. Then I realized I am not the pancake equivalent of the Hamburglar, and there are easier ways to go about satisfying a breakfast craving.

And yet, I stay with my original thought: pancakes. And syrup. Maple syrup. Real maple syrup. It may not sound like much of a gift, but that’s because you’re probably used to grocery store, synthetic syrup. But the real thing is a true treat. My suggestion: Head to your local Whole Foods or other gourmet or health store. Find a bottle of 100% maple syrup you think is pretty and falls within in your price range. Then, add a package of gourmet pancake mix (AKA do NOT gift someone with a shake-it-up box of Bisquick) and perhaps a copy of  the book If You Give a Pig a Pancake. Fill a box with that pretty colored crinkly paper, and send. There. You’ve just treated your friends to an amazing wintertime breakfast. And if any of them are longing for a more New York-centric gift, perhaps remind them of the mysterious syrup smell that occasionally descends upon the city that never sleeps.

The coffee brews directly into a travel mug, perfect for those 8:30 classes. Add a pound of coffee to sweeten the deal.

By the way, hearing the term “Brew and Go” totally makes me think of The Sound of Music. You know, in Edelweiss, when Captain Von Trapp sings, “Blossom of snow, may you brew and go? Brew and go forever.” Oh, wait. That was “bloom and grow.” Live and learn. And do click on that Sound of Music link to watch a YouTube video of John Denver and Julie Andrews in a rare duet.

2. iPod Shuffle, $50

Yes, they may already have a bigger, prettier iPod. But these lil’ guys are great for working out and traveling.

3. Darts! Calendar 2009, $10.19

With magnetic darts and 12 different boards (one for each month, see?).

4. The Best American Nonrequired Reading 2008 , $11.20

Collection of news stories, fiction, police blotters, and more hidden gems of writing.

5. Pail of 6 Christmas chocolate-covered fortune cookies, $12.50

Non-Christmas options also available.

Nordicware Mini Holiday Loaf Pan $38 at Sur la Table

Gift this to your favorite pâtissier, or treat yourself–and give mini-holiday loaves to all your friends and family. Win/win!

Kitchen Pals Silicone Oven Mitt $19.99 at Bed Bath and Beyond (online and in stores. . . and beyooooooond!).

I like to stalk my cupcakes with the shark. I even whistle the JAWS theme song while I’m pulling scones out of the oven.

(I’m just kidding, silly. I don’t know how to make scones.)

For the pyro-enthused baker looking to kick up their game a notch, think about a culinary torch. ($31.95 at Crate and Barrel). Add a cappuccino créme brulee kit ($4.95, also at C&B) for testing out your buddy’s ability to set food aflame. And maybe, just to be on the safe side, throw in a new fire extinguisher. Safety first!

Take two Irish coffee mugs (These are $2.95 each at Crate and Barrel, but you can find them just about anywhere. . . except, like, gas stations.)

Add two irresistibly silly Teddy Bear Slipper Coasters ($19.99 + shipping at Perpetualkid.com):

And some gourmet cocoa or a pound of coffee, and you’re good to go.

(Sweeten the deal with some Irish whiskey or chocolate-peppermint stir-in spoons, which you can make yourself or find in the holiday section at Target, among many other places.)