Goodies for Gifts is a great website that offers “goodies” from vendors all across the country. It’s a neat place to shop for unique foodstuffs that be shipped as gifts to any of your loved ones…or yourself! The founder realized that she had begun sending gifts to family and friends all over the country for different occasions and it was increasingly becoming more about food. She took this idea and from it formed this business to act as a venue for small individualized bakeries, boutiques, etc. to have their companies become more well-known. The products range from chocolates to pickles to seafood and so on. The site is free and easy to use and the webpage is easily navigable.

I was given the option of which company I would like to receive product from and I chose The Texas Tamale Co. I have been transplanted in the North for the last decade and, let me tell you, if you like tamales, don’t try to eat them in NE Ohio. I have tried many times and they have never met my standards. I also try and make them every Christmas with masa and corn husks that my dad sends. They are good, but not like I remember from my childhood. However, now that I have discovered the Texas Tamale Co. I will never have to want for good tamales again.

The packaging was nice and everything that needed to be kept cold was still frozen in the cooler they sent me. I received a dozen Chicken Tamales, a dozen  Beef Tamales, a pint of Homestyle Chili and a pint of Chili con Queso. Then in a separate package they sent me Tex-A-Rita Mix and Sugar-Free Tex-A-Rita Mix.

I preferred the beef tamales, but my kids liked the chicken tamales better. I think they were a bit less spicy and perhaps that is why. I should mention here that Texas Tamales are gluten-free and lard-free, so it is perfect for anyone on a restricted diet, as well as people who can eat “whatever they feel like.” The Homestyle Chili and Chili con Queso were the same texture and flavour from one of my favorite restaurants as a child. I couldn’t get over how much I enjoyed it slathered on top of my tamales.

As for the Margarita Mix, we invited some company over to share. We bought a bottle of Cuervo and had a little fiesta of our own. As for the sugar-free mix, we made virgin margaritas for the kids, since my mate and I are not one for sugar-free products. The kids got a real kick out of it and said that it tasted good. We enjoyed the flavours of everything we received and I plan on purchasing from them again in the future….and asking for Texas Tamales from my Dad next Christmas instead of trying to make them myself!

Betty