Dancing Deer Baking Company
We feel good every time we buy something from Dancing Deer Baking Company. Not only are their cookies, brownies, cakes, and mixes delicious, but we also know we're supporting one of the great corporate citizens in our area.
Over the years we've read stories about how much this company cares about its employees. It goes beyond profit sharing. When they out-grew their original plant, they relocated to a site near their workers' homes and public transportation.
Dancing Deer has its core values listed on the website, they need a separate section of the site for their philanthropic work, and they even ask customers to "Nominate a Deer" so they may recognize people who share their values.
If Kosher is a part of your gift decision, they have proudly announced, "All of Dancing Deer's products are certified Kosher Dairy (Star D) under the supervision of the Star-K. Our products are Dairy, Non-Cholov Yisroel; Kosher for year-round use, excluding Passover."
It's hard to choose favorites among their items but let us suggest three that offer an interesting twist on flavors you may think you know – Chocolate Tangerine Cookies, Sugar Cane Lime Cookies, and the Deep Dark Gingerbread Cake.
Deborah's Kitchen
You may know Deborah's Kitchen from the farmers' market where she sells her luscious, low sugar fruit spreads and relishes. We have jars of "Pear Lime Limbo" and "Sweet Pepper Relish" on hand at the moment. Last summer we brought six jars of her more savory selections to a barbeque where we tasted them with an array of meats.
Deborah's website says it best, "While most jams and preserves today use two thirds refined sugar or high fructose corn syrup, we use two thirds fruit, all natural sugar and no preservatives. Just ask our enthusiastic customers, from chefs and caterers to gourmet cooks and just plain folks, the payoff is far superior taste and less calories! "
Crazy Camel Dessert Hummus
This is our newest discovery. We sampled Crazy Camel Dessert Hummus flavors for our recent report on the Downtown Crossing Holiday Market. We've been sending people downtown to buy all these great flavors ever since. We especially recommend this for anyone on a gluten-free diet. It can be difficult to find gluten-free desserts. But, you can spread this hummus on an apple and feel as if you've had a real treat.
Here's a link to part one of this series.
http://www.bostonzest.com/2009/12/local-favorites-for-gifting.html
Mailing Deadlines Are Upon Us
The deadline to send Chrismas gifts by parcel post is December 16th. Here's a post with all the shipping deadlines.
http://www.bostonzest.com/2009/12/holiday-mail-and-package-delivery-deadlines-for-the-boston-area-2009.htmlWhat are your favorite local products?
Add a comment below, email us , or send your ideas our way on Twitter. Tomorrow we'll tell you about a few more of our local favorites.
Details:
Writers: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photos: Top photo Courtesy of Dancing Deer. Others, © 2008-2009 Penny Cherubino.
