Food special: Get your Christmas goodie basket

The romantic coupleVery much in love a sugary sweet couple calls for an equally romantic hamper Chef and food stylist Michael Swamy suggests ldquoBuy candied fruits and a variety of chocolates Instead of brownies include blondies which are white brownies add caramel popcorns toordquo Another unsual addition would be turkish delights and marzipan in loveydovey shapes such as hearts or flavours Add a candle two wine glasses and a mistletoe for either one of the couple to arrange a cosy Christmas dinner at homeThe healthconscious coupleFestive seasons are the toughest for those who watch their weight and a thoughtless goodie basket might end up passed on to someone else ldquoWhile vodka is lower on calories compared to wine when mixed with other beverages you consume more calories Red wine is your best bet as it is a natural blood thinner too If you are making cookies on your own try dates figs or honey instead of powdered sugar Olive oil is a good substitute for butter Wholewheat or oats cookies and biscuits are easily available in the market toordquo suggests nutritionist Anjali Peswani ldquoMeringues or rochers are made using almonds and egg whites and no flour so can be included instead of brownies Opt for flourless cakes that are available in the city Jams are easy to make one can make fresh fruit jams at home using seasonal fruits Small portions of good quality cold cuts will also add to the variety A batch of fresh whole wheat breads and lavash bought from the market can be added with homemade dips made using hung curd mixed with cucumber garlic chives herbs etc They are easy to whip up and can replace butter dips Hummus is a healthy dip toordquo suggests chef Nikhil Chib We would add some delicious glutenfree or wheyprotein based baked goodies made by several homebakers in the cityThe bottomsup coupleTheir conversations are incomplete without a bottle of wine or any other poison of their choice and Christmas is one their favourite festivals therersquos cake and therersquos rum in the cake mdash the alcoholloving couple would love a tipple basket ldquoIt can be a basket full of different types of wines or a bottle of cognac or rose champagne Add cakes and chocolates with a different alcohol fillings such as wine whiskey or rum Pick up a variety of cheese smoked cheese and brie to go with the wines you have pickedrdquo suggests Ashwin Deo MD founder of Trinity VintnersThe experimental coupleThey put the fun in food and are ready to try out every new restaurant with the wackiest dish on offer This couple deserves an equally exciting hamper ldquoCountless flavoured oils and vinegars are available in the market today These work well to create different kinds of salad dressings instead of regular olive oil Instead of usual cakes and brownies opt for desserts in jars Also add DIY kits with printed instructions in festive fonts with the required ingredients Pick fresh ingredients of an uncommon cuisine that they can then try experimenting withrdquo says chef Rakhee Vaswani of Palate Culinary Studio Buy a smoking gun from Saria Store at Lohar Chawl that can be used to create smoked molecular cocktails at home