The Perfect Pantry®

Green (or red) tomato and apple chutney recipe

Long after my tomato plants ceased producing ripe red tomatoes, they buckled under the weight of green tomatoes that had no intention of ripening on the vine. Unwilling to admit that the vines were done for the year, I left those green tomatoes out until the impending first frost forced me to harvest what the chipmunks left in the garden. I made another batch of slow-roasted green tomatoes, and used the rest for this green tomato and apple chutney. Not being a huge fan of super-sweet jams and jellies, I love chutney's tart flavor and chunky texture. Make some chutney now -- yes, it's okay to use red tomatoes, even the unripe ones from the market -- and store it in the refrigerator for a month or more. If you have leftover turkey on Thanksgiving weekend, pull out the chutney and throw together this turkey and brie panini; it's just bread, cheese, turkey, and green tomato chutney.

Spice up the holidays: the ultimate mail-order gift for the pantry lover

Photo courtesy of Nupur of One Hot Stove

At this time of year, newspapers and magazines and, yes, some of my favorite blogs, offer holiday gift suggestions for food lovers. I've picked up some wonderful ideas for new cookbooks and gizmos, and I'm looking forward to Menu for Hope (December 14-25), where I'll bid on more great foodie-friendly items to give as gifts.

Last year, I put together a series of eight posts with gift suggestions for food lovers. This year, I have one great idea, borrowed from Indian cooks. Take it and make it your own.

Gifts for food lovers: Last-minute stocking stuffers

The final part of an eight-part series.

For you, there are two words:

Gift certificate.

And two more words:

Don't panic. You have two days until Christmas, and six more nights of Chanukah.

So, quickly now, get out your credit card. Here are nine quick links to nine quick gifts:

Gifts for food lovers: Gifts of giving (Recipe: fried sweet potatoes)

Part Seven of an eight-part series.

All I want for the holidays is a piece of a water buffalo*.

Or a hand pump for drinking water**.

Or a few meals on wheels*** (and I don't mean pizza delivery).

Yes, I'd also love a wooden spoon or two, some puffy slippers, the latest Kay Scarpetta, a few romantic comedies on DVD, or a CD of the Colombian cumbia that I heard in a Brad Pitt movie and now can't seem to get out of my head, but I don't need any of these things.

I have food and clean drinking water and a roof over my kitchen. But around the world -- and, yes, shamefully, here in America -- millions of people do not.

You can make food lovers like me very happy with gifts to hunger relief organizations at home and abroad, and there's still time to donate before the holidays. Here are nine ideas to get you started: