Gourmet Goodies, Gadgets and a Giveaway!

Our Gourmet features usually don't include remedies for hair loss, but this one does! TMI? Maybe, but if it helps someone regain their self-esteem {and hair!}, it's worth it. So pull up a chair and read about this superfood, a few gourmet gift ideas, and products to make cooking easier. After you've visited the featured websites, head back over here to enter to win the prize of your choice from our gift closet.

The Crock-Pot® 6-Quart Smart Slow Cooker Wemo®-Enabled is every cook's dream appliance. With the touch of your smartphone, you can adjust, start or stop the slow cooker from wherever you are! Stuck in traffic? No worries, simply open the free Wemo® app and adjust the temperature or set to warm so dinner is ready when you arrive home. How cool is this smart pot? The large oval shape accommodates roasts and the glass lid locks in heat and moisture. The removeable stoneware and the glass lid are dishwasher safe making cleanup a snap. $129.99 at crockpot.com. 

Pair your special holiday dinners with Durant Vineyards Bishop Pinot Noir 2012. It's a classic, elegant, and memorable wine. Planted on native rootstock dating to 1973, it is a 100% Pommard clone. Nutured by the land, this small-batch wine reflects the family's meticulous farming methods. Durant Vineyards, located on Red Ridge Farms, produces 3,000 cases per year of estate wine. The Bishop Pinot Noir 2012 is a 204 case limited production. $65 redridgefarms.com. 

Open that bottle of wine with one simple motion with the Peugeot Salma Corkscrew. Effortlessly twist the handle into the cork and it seems to magically lift it out of the bottle. Features include an ergonomic handle, soft touch body, and a detachable foil cutting base. Makes a great gift for the wine enthusiast on your holiday list. SRP: $35. Available on Amazon. 

Calling all chocolate lovers, new to the merci collection this holiday season is the Merci Milk Chocolate Selection. The selection includes 4 rich, creamy, mouth-watering flavors in one box ~ Milk Chocolate, Hazelnut-Almond, Hazelnut-Creme and Praline-Creme. Available at retailers nationwide, SRP: $4.99-5.99.

Every cook will appreciate Kyocera's 6-piece Easy Slice/Grate Set. Food slices effortlessly along the advanced ceramic blade. The set includes a Julienne Slicer, an adjustable mandolin slicer with 4 thickness settings, a grater, a handguard with teeth for garnishing, and a two-piece container to collect and store sliced food. $59.95 at kyoceraadvancedceramics.com.

A rather stressful move earlier this year caused my hair to fall out in clumps. I credit Nutiva® Organic Chia Seed with reversing the hair loss. I add 1/2 teaspoon to a smoothie blend of kale, 1 frozen banana, 1 apple, flax seed, dash of milk, water, and 3 ice cubes. It's incredibly delicious and until I added the chia seeds, my hair was still falling out! A 12-oz. bag of ground organic chia seed is $11.99 on nutiva.com.

The Bamboo KNIFEdock safely stores knives between cork rubber sheets. Featuring flexible dividers made from foodsafe cork and rubber composite, KNIFEdock can accommodate knives up to 12" long. We like that part of the blade can be seen, making the knife that's needed, easy to find. SRP: $29.99 available at Bed, Bath and Beyond, Crate and Barrel and Amazon.

Mrs. Renfro's has the largest selection of tasty salsas we've found. We tried the Nacho Cheese Sauce {YUM-MEEE!!!} and the Mango Habanero Salsa which was sweet and spicy with a kick. A 16-oz. jar is $4.25 for the Cheese Sauce and $3.25 for the Salsa. Both a great buy at mrsrenfros.com.

Silpat® mat is a must-have tool for bakers. Made of fiberglass and food-grade silicone, it protects your baking sheets and eliminates the need for parchment paper. No matter how gooey the batter, it won't stick to Silpat®. FDA, NSF® and Kosher-certified. Available in a variety of sizes, the U.S. Half Size fits a 13x8" pan, SRP: $26.95. Available at Macy's and Bed, Bath & Beyond. 

Bahlsen Waffeletten are delicious light, crispy rolled wafers that are dipped in a rich European dark chocolate. Excellent to enjoy with an afternoon cup of tea. $7.59 for two boxes. Available at Bahlsen.us.

Hampton Creek's Just Mayo is just scrumptious! A homemade taste from a mayo that is non-GMO, cholesterol, soy, and dairy-free! Available nationally at Whole Foods, Safeway and select Costco stores in four flavors: Original, Sriracha, Chiptole and Garlic. A store locator is available at hamptoncreek.com. 

For a quick dessert with a made-from-scratch taste pick up Krusteaz Lemon Bars Supreme Mix in your grocer's baking aisle. They are simple to make and make a great after school snack or to enjoy with a cup of tea. SRP: $2.97. Available at your local grocer's.

Chic Giveaway! ~ One reader will win the prize of their choice from our gift closet.

To Enter: Email chicgiveaway@gmail.com and include the following: 

• "Gourmet" in the subject line
• your first and last name
• complete mailing address
• twitter id 
• facebook name 

If you're entering our giveaways, we ask that you follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest 

If you wish to tweet about this giveaway, here's a sample tweet for your convenience ~

#Win the prize of your choice from @ChicLuxuries gift closet in *Gourmet Goodies, Gadgets & a #Giveaway* Details: ow.ly/DZvtl

Giveaway ends 11:59 PM ET December 22, 2014.  Limit one entry per person and email address. Winner will be notified by email and announced on our Winner's page. Winner will have 48 hours to claim prize. Open to US Residents 18 years of age and older. We will not clog your inbox with emails nor do we share your email with sponsors, we only email giveaway winners.

Many thanks to each of the brands featured for providing products and/or photos for this editorial.