Dish Gal's Foodie Gift Guide

Maybe it's because I love food, but I think edible Christmas presents make for a great gift, especially if you're on a budget. One, because you know it will be enjoyed (rather than a sweater that will get thrown into the back of a closet) and two, it's one of those presents people would usually never buy themselves, but appreciate getting.

With this in mind, and a mere hours until Christmas, here's Dish Gal's Boston guide to last-minute foodie gifts.

For the chocolate lover: ChocoLee Chocolates, a chocolate-lover's heaven. These Best of Boston award-winning chocolates come in delightful and whimsical flavors. And a visit to the store, with uber-nice Lee Napoli, is just as delightful. http://www.chocoleechocolates.com/

For the cook: Make your own flavored olive oils. Buy a cute jar and some EVOO, then put in something like fresh rosemary or hot peppers. Voila!

For the foodie: Check out foodzie.com, your online get-anything-delicious source.

For the early-stages cook: Get them something Dish Gal approved-- my favorite cookbook -- Martha's Everyday Food. Simple recipes, normal ingredients, lots of beautiful photos. Divided into seasons. I love it! Before you wrap it, photocopy the recipe for pasta with three tomato sauce. Trust me, you'll want it.

For those who prefer eating out rather than cooking: Visit restaurant.com, a website that offers gift certificates at restaurants for discounted prices, like a $25 gift certificate to Azure for $10. Pretty sweet stocking stuffer!

If you're REALLY watching your budget: Buy a cute photo album, then print out your favorite recipes and slide them into the pages, for your own "personal favorites" cookbook.