This year, more than any in a long time, is a year of cooking. People are more open, more willing to give it a try. There is just too much change going on all around us to pinpoint exactly why, but whatever the reason, right now the thought of spending time around the kitchen table with people you care about seems to be universally appealing. And to those trying to muster the courage to give cooking a try there is no better gift than one that pretty much guarantees whatever they cook is going to taste great, and that is just what our wide variety of spice boxes do.
     Along those lines I do want to say just what a really nice little gift the new mini box is. In the catalog, no matter how we try, it is hard to give the sense of its feel and heft that you get when you see it in person. Yes, it might not be quite large enough for every occasion, but for anyone who deserves a little something nice, it is perfect. Four amazingly good spices, each one ready to make a big difference in the cooking of everyone on your list. If you ever wanted an easy, economical way of explaining to friends, family, co-workers why you are not crazy to go out of your way to shop at Penzeys, give them one of these. Next year at the regular $11.95 price it will be a good deal, but at the $7.95 “limited time introductory price” it is an amazing bargain. This holiday, leave no stocking unstuffed.
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     That said, as much as it is my job to encourage you to buy our gifts, and I do like my job, this time of year is about more than just buying things, even things as cool as spices. When you look at who cooks and who doesn’t, more than anything I think it comes down to this: People who cook have at least one person in their life that showed them the value that comes to life through cooking. Magazines, T.V., websites, they all talk about cooking, but they are no substitute for a real live human sharing person-to-person how much richness cooking brings to our lives. You are that real live human, you have far more power than you know to improve the lives of those around you. You have the power to spread the joy that is cooking; the holidays are the perfect time to make it happen.
     Maybe it is giving a plate of cookies with a recipe that means something to you. Or on the holiday itself, pulling that novice into the kitchen and sharing a bit of what you know with them. As great as it is to have them watch, it means so much more to help them actually play a part. Show them the way, but then let them be in charge of mixing the salad dressing, thickening the gravy, or even seasoning the roast. Give them that feeling of knowing that part of the smiles around the table were their doing and you will have gone a long way in sharing what cooking is all about.



Bill