I received a notice from USPS stating I would receive a package on Thursday, December 18th. As I had ordered medical supplies that I expected to receive Tuesday, December 16th, I started to panic -- until I realized my mix up in delivery services. Just thought I'd add this bit of funny truth

Anyway; I received my package on Thursday and couldn't decide whether to open immediately or wait until Christmas Day. Obviously, I couldn't wait that long.

As I shook the gift, I surmised that I was receiving a heavy cookbook. I was only partially correct. The first indication of what an awesome gift this was was the 'wrapping' of the gift. A heftily taped brown box. I was immediately taken back to when my Mom got wise to my sister's habit of unwrapping gifts early only to rewrap them and replace them under the tree. The girl just can not stand to wait. So, Mom got heavy on the tape. So did my Secret Santa.

After getting my secret weapon, I carefully defused the bomb and dove in! My sweet pibble tried to help, but I shooed him away before he could turn the box into postmodern art. The plastic shopping bags as packing peanuts were the first thing to tickle my funny bone. The first thing I notice was not one, but two cookbooks! Score!! A bottle of sauce, a couple of sauce cups, and a hand written letter were also inside. I was conscientious enough to read the letter first.

It turns out that my Santa doesn't think that Idaho has much to offer in the culinary culture department. But au contraire! There, nestled in the ziploc baggy was my prize! Fry Sauce! Okay, it's not a culinary revelation to combine ketchup, mayonnaise, and buttermilk, but I still adore it. It tastes like the base for thousand island dressing before adding the pickle relish. Sweet and tart together. In the photos, you can see that I cooked some fries right away so I could give it a test run. It's not bad! side note: I used it again tonight on a burger and added creole mustard & hot sauce -- BANGIN'!*

Those two cookbooks I mentioned before? Well, Mormonism is strongly observed in Daniel's area, so he sent The Essential Mormon Cookbook. His praise for funeral potatoes piqued my interest, so I found the recipe and am including a pic for you to make them, too (as well as some pie recipes I thought shareworthy)! They do sound yummy!

And for the biggest giggle -- and this was intentional on the part of my adorable Santa -- was the White Trash Cooking! Ooohh the memories! Growing up in a small town in Florida, the Deep South part of the panhandle, I was accustomed to some white trash. And now I live in New Orleans. So, the next thing that happened was a bit prophetic. I opened the book to a random page to see a recipe for Klebert's Cold Crawfish Soup. Too much coincidence for me to handle. I have had cold crawfish soup, though Klebert's variation has yet to touch my lips. I also have no problems reading and following this recipe, so Klebert's variation is one that will be gracing my table in the future. I've included this recipe, too, so Klebert can feed yo' brood as well.

And those used shopping bags yielded their own prize! A receipt from Albertson's from October! Well, that just added to the charm of this year's Secret Santa for me.

To sum this all up, my Santa done good, ya'll! It don't have to be extravagant to be killer, just well thought out. Thanks a Bunches, Daniel from Idaho!!!

btw: Note to all Santas: Please place your reddit handle somewhere on or in the gift so your delighted giftee can give you proper props!