Southern Living says these Alabama foods are some of the best gifts in 2023
If you’d like to give the gift of food before 2023 runs out, Alabama has two items Southern Living considers among the best you can do.
In her story “The 34 Best Food Gifts Of 2023,” writer Moriah Mason outlines “the very best food gifts for any occasion, whether they’re a dedicated home chef, cocktail enthusiast, or even a picky eater.”
Among the picks are iconic Southern items like a Cafe Du Monde Coffee and Beignet Mix Set, Caroline’s Cakes 7-Layer Southern Chocolate Cake and the Magnolia Bakery Banana Pudding Lovers’ Sampler Pack.
All great picks, and we spotted two delicious things we thought looked familiar: An Alabama Peanut Co. Original Roasted Peanut Bucket and Stone Hollow Farmstead Lady Finger Popcorn.
“If your loved one loves peanuts, then we recommend giving them this bucket of peanuts,” Mason wrote about the peanut company located at 2016 Morris Avenue in Birmingham. “Based on your budget, you can either purchase one or two gallons of peanuts (the 1-gallon size feeds 8-16 people, while the 2-gallon bucket feeds 16-32). And if your recipient likes to bake, they can de-shell the peanuts and add them to their favorite treat.”
One bucket (or one gallon) currently costs $20 on the website.
The shop, opened as the Peanut Depot by D.J. Cassimus in 1907, is as much a part of the history and culture of the Magic City as Vulcan, Rickwood Field or the Alabama Theatre, according to D.J.’s grandson John Cassimus.
The business specializes in gifts including the one Southern Living picked, but also a “Boil Your Own Peanuts” kit, Bronnie’s Brittle and more, all of which you can find on their website.
Stone Hollow Farmstead has an array of fancy options to give your loved ones from flowers to cooking oils to skincare products, but Southern Living picked the Heirloom Popcorn.
“Made in Harpersville, AL, each Stone Hollow Farmstead container contains approximately 32 ounces of kernels, so the recipient can take their air popper and make a warm, delicious batch of popcorn for a movie night,” Madison wrote. “The Lady Finger kernels pop into extra-small pieces and are more tender than other popcorn varieties.”
The Lady Finger popcorn is currently listed for $13. Other varieties are sold out online, so you better hurry if you want a bottle. “Ladyfinger is an old open-pollinated variety of popcorn is similar to Tom Thumb,” the official description says. “If you like small, hulless, tender popcorn, you definitely will want to try this type!”
Deborah Stone founded Stone Hollow Farmstead in 1999 with her husband, Russell, and daughters, Fallon and Alexandra, producing cheeses, honey, specialty foods, botanicals, cosmetic extracts, and cosmeceuticals. In 2019, the Stone family opened Stone Hollow FarmStand at Pepper Place.
“The Stone family comes from a line of Alabama gardeners and farmers, sharing their history in all facets of the farmstead,” the website says. “Lessons learned from her grandparents, who ran a sustainable farm and grocery store, are evident in the jars of rose petal jam, the hillside of happy goats, the hives of honeybees and the heirloom herb gardens.”
The farmstead also houses several complementary businesses including Stone Hollow Creamery, Stone Hollow Hanoverians, Stone Hollow Herbs, Botaniko Skin and NeoTegument medical skin care.
Oprah’s Favorite Things and ABC World News Tonight in December 2022 featured Stone Hollow Farmstead as part of their Made in America series celebrating small businesses in the U.S. The segment featured Stone Hollow’s movie night trio popcorn box — a gift box of heirloom variety popcorn, an infused olive oil and infused sea salt. Read more.