Any ideas for Xmas gifts?

[Kathryn41 3,205]

I tried the boiled peanuts when we were in Georgia. I think they have to be one of the nastiest tasting things I have ever eaten. The texture was pretty bad as well!!

yeah, they do take some getting used to. The texture is weird but once you get over that they do taste like peanuts - although not as good as roasted peanuts. They are certainly not something I would go out of my way to eat.

[Krikit 1,164]

My husband and I have been picking up the odd Christmas gift for the past few weeks. We pretty much do that all year, I guess.... see something that's perfect for someone so buy it at that time. I don't, specifically, pick up items which you can't get in Canada except for cereal. I bought my son Boo Berry cereal!!! He loves it. My son, my daughter, and her husband all love the large multi-pack cereals so I always bring those with me. They also like those mini frozen cheeseburgers and Uncrustables. lol

I find the Ovaltine here extremely sugary. I think the problem with the flavour is that you can't put as many teaspoons in the milk due to the high sugar content so you don't really get the flavour..... just the sugar.

I've never tried boiled peanuts. I always wondered about them because when we lived in Florida there were places selling boiled peanuts on practically every road. I'd never buy them, though, because seriously..... they're boiling peanuts on the side of the road. Where do they go to the bathroom and where do they wash their hands? Nah uh. Not for me.

Since Trailmix is no longer on VJ I guess we're not doing the Secret Santa thing.

[Canadiandggal 49]

My husband and I have been picking up the odd Christmas gift for the past few weeks. We pretty much do that all year, I guess.... see something that's perfect for someone so buy it at that time. I don't, specifically, pick up items which you can't get in Canada except for cereal. I bought my son Boo Berry cereal!!! He loves it. My son, my daughter, and her husband all love the large multi-pack cereals so I always bring those with me. They also like those mini frozen cheeseburgers and Uncrustables. lol

I find the Ovaltine here extremely sugary. I think the problem with the flavour is that you can't put as many teaspoons in the milk due to the high sugar content so you don't really get the flavour..... just the sugar.

I've never tried boiled peanuts. I always wondered about them because when we lived in Florida there were places selling boiled peanuts on practically every road. I'd never buy them, though, because seriously..... they're boiling peanuts on the side of the road. Where do they go to the bathroom and where do they wash their hands? Nah uh. Not for me.

Since Trailmix is no longer on VJ I guess we're not doing the Secret Santa thing.

No secret santa, "crys" That sounds like fun though

[Veronik 19]

How come Trailmix is no longer on here?

[Marilyn. 340]

I am wondering which Ovaltine you guys have tried because there are 3 kinds in the US.. Rich Chocolate, Chocolate Malt and Classic Malt... I always get the Chocolate Malt one... I bought the rich chocolate one once but hubby said he liked the chocolate malt one better...

[Kathryn41 3,205]

I am wondering which Ovaltine you guys have tried because there are 3 kinds in the US.. Rich Chocolate, Chocolate Malt and Classic Malt... I always get the Chocolate Malt one... I bought the rich chocolate one once but hubby said he liked the chocolate malt one better...

I have chocolate malt and malt - one of each.

Maybe we can compare ingredients and nutritional content with the ones from Canada if someone wants to post those: Here are the US versions:

Chocolate Malt: Sugar, Cocoa processed with Alkali, barley malt extract, sweet dairy whey (milk), Beet extract, salt, mono and diglycerides, molasses, natural caramel flavour, vanillin Vitamin and Minerals: tricalcium phosphate, Ascorbic Acid (vitamin C), Vitamin A palmitate, niacinimide (vitamin B3), Ferric Orthophosphate (iron source), Vitamin D, pyridoxine hydrocloride (vitamin B6), thiamine hydrochloride (vitamin B1) Riboflavin (Vitamin B2)

calories: (mix) 80 (1 cup skim milk) 170

total fat: 0

Cholesterol: 0

Sodium: 115 mg

Total Carbohydrates: 18 grams (consisting of dietary fiber less than 1 and sugars 15 grams)

Protein: 1 gm

Malt: Sugar, maltodextrin, Toasted defatted Soy flour, barley malt extract, whey, caramel color, beet extract, whole milk, non-fat milk, salt, molasses, mono and diglycerides, natural caramel flavor, vanillin; Vitamin and Minerals: tricalcium phosphate, Ascorbic Acid (vitamin C), Vitamin A palmitate, niacinimide (vitamin B3), Ferric Orthophosphate (iron source), Vitamin D, pyridoxine hydrocloride (vitamin B6), thiamine hydrochloride (vitamin B1) Riboflavin (Vitamin B2)

calories: (mix) 80 (1 cup skim milk) 170

total fat: 0

Cholesterol: 0

Sodium: 55 mg

Total Carbohydrates: 18 grams (consisting of o dietary fiber and sugars 14 grams)

Protein: 2 gm

Edited October 24, 2010 by Kathryn41

[Lise+Michael 13]

My grandchildren & son-in-law did not like USA cereals; there is a difference in the sodium and sugar contents. People in my family really like Nutter Butters, I love Land-o-Lake products, especially the butter and yogurt. I always find different toys and clothes for the grandkids that are not available in Canada.Also, last year for Christmas presents for my fiance's family I created "Canadian gift baskets". They were well received and I also had requests to send up more McIntosh toffee which they don't have. Imagine, Canada has some unique things too!

[Krikit 1,164]

How come Trailmix is no longer on here?

She decided that her time on VJ had come to an end. I miss her.

I am wondering which Ovaltine you guys have tried because there are 3 kinds in the US.. Rich Chocolate, Chocolate Malt and Classic Malt... I always get the Chocolate Malt one... I bought the rich chocolate one once but hubby said he liked the chocolate malt one better...

I've got the Classic Malt at the moment, but I also buy the Chocolate Malt.

Maybe we can compare ingredients and nutritional content with the ones from Canada if someone wants to post those: Here are the US versions:

Ooh, I hope someone can post the Canadian version! I'm interested if there are any differences or if my taste buds have just changed. It may just be me because I've cut down on the amount of sugar in my coffee too.

[Veronik 19]

Thanks for the tips everyone, I think I'll make a basket for each family and leave it at that... I have four brothers and sisters and there are 9 nieces and nephews to think of, I don't want to be broke by January 1st...

[The_Dude 1,142]

So, who you gonna believe? Your Mom or me? Oh, wait . . . !

Sounds like a blind taste test is required!

I did find when I mixed a teaspoon of pure coca in with the chocolate Ovaltine here it tasted more like the Canadian one I remember - but it is the malt one I like best, and sadly, the US malt Ovaltine is just not up to snuff .

SO you add pure cocaine to Ovaltine and it tastes like the Canadian version. Strange.

[JlovesA 109]

I go to the states quite a bit to visit A since I live on the border. Here are some of my suggestions

-Mint 3 Musketeers (my mom always asks me to look for these)

-Cherry Diet Pepsi or Cherry Coke Zero (why doesn't Canada have this?!)

-Jolly Rancher soda

-Coconut M&Ms (my friend asked me to bring them back)

-McClures pickles (local to Michigan but you may be able to get them elsewhere...apparently they're amazing).

-Oscar Meyer weiners

Also, I don't know if I'm alone on this, but gum in the USA is way better than Canadian gum. Stocking stuffers perhaps?

[OBX 51]

I go to the states quite a bit to visit A since I live on the border. Here are some of my suggestions

-Mint 3 Musketeers (my mom always asks me to look for these)

-Cherry Diet Pepsi or Cherry Coke Zero (why doesn't Canada have this?!)

-Jolly Rancher soda

-Coconut M&Ms (my friend asked me to bring them back)

-McClures pickles (local to Michigan but you may be able to get them elsewhere...apparently they're amazing).

-Oscar Meyer weiners

Also, I don't know if I'm alone on this, but gum in the USA is way better than Canadian gum. Stocking stuffers perhaps?

Love it!

Thanks for the reminder; when my sons were visiting they commented on how much they liked it. I'll use a bottle as as stocking stuffer.

[Marilyn. 340]

midnight Milky ways are really good too... i am not a huge chocolate fan but i love those...

[Kathryn41 3,205]

SO you add pure cocaine to Ovaltine and it tastes like the Canadian version. Strange.

http://answers.yahoo...12074908AACi77J

Does cocaine come from the cocoa plant?

no...cocoa gives chocolate. The COCA gives cocaine.

The Coca plant comprises four main species and varieties (Erythroxylum coca), often spelled koka in Quechua and Aymara, is a plant in the family Erythroxylaceae, native to northwestern South America. Two subspecies, E. coca var. coca and E. coca var. ipadu, are almost indistinguishable phenotypically; a related high cocaine-bearing species has two subspecies, E. novogranatense var. novogranatense and E. novogranatense var. truxillense that are phenotypically similar, but morphologically distinguishable. Under the older Cronquist system of classifying flowering plants, this was placed in an order Linales; more modern systems place it in the order Malpighiales. The plant is best-known in modern times for the stimulant drug cocaine that is extracted from its new fresh leaf tips in a similar fashion to tea bush harvesting.

Cocoa: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cocoa - from the cocoa plant

Cocaine: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cocaine - from the coca plant

Two different plants - one simple vowel - but it makes a significant difference!

Edited October 25, 2010 by Kathryn41

[Marilyn. 340]

Cocoa: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cocoa - from the cocoa plant

Cocaine: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cocaine - from the coca plant

Two different plants - one simple vowel - but it makes a significant difference!

I think the point Rob was trying to make was that you posted coca instead of cocoa in your original post ..lol