An edible gift can make someone feel loved in the way only delicious, homemade food can. They also leave no clutter behind, providing a welcome break from the sea of compulsively purchased consumer goods that's become synonymous with the holiday season. In case you can't tell, I'm a big fan.

I like to divide my life into two eras: The time before I knew about preserved lemons and the time after I knew about preserved lemons. Unlike fresh lemon zest or juice, these funky little wedges add a bit of umami along with acidic brightness.

Picking fresh fruit is one of my favourite warm weather pastimes, but I inevitably go overboard and pick too much. Lots of the excess gets baked into pies and such, but there's an easier way to stretch out your fruit enjoyment, and it involves rum.

A squeeze of lime brightens up beverages, fish, tacos, fish tacos and all sorts of other things, but preserving them takes their flavorful impact to great new heights.