SATURDAY'S SPOONFUL - a small dose of sugar, spice + everything nice

i woke up this morning to make a "family breakfast" of pancakes. got me thinking about hostess gifts for this holiday season....

why not grab a reusable tote (like this 79 cent cutie from whole foods, designed by sheryl crow) + toss in a box of aunt jemima and a bottle of real maple syrup (growers in vermont + ohio make some yummy ones)? add some newspaper as tissue paper. tie on a pretty ribbon. include a thank you note (maybe a bottle of aspirin too...). it's more personal than a bottle of wine + equally delicious. 

trust me, your party thrower will think you are the sweetest party goer.

midwest must:

snake hill farm, located in chagrin falls/geauga county, makes a tasty maple syrup. you can find it at their stand at various seasonal farmer's markets around cleveland.

(photo credit: whole foods)