We’ve arrived here at holiday time and there seems to be some confusion about proper holiday gift etiquette.

So what are the DOs and DON’Ts of gift giving?

Most of the time, common sense will prevail in these situations. But some forethought – however small – might just be your best friend at this time of year.

Trust me.

Number one:  You never want to leave anyone out. Going over to Cousin Verne’s house to exchange Christmas gifts? Make sure to ask exactly WHO will be in attendance.

You don’t want Uncle Larry to sneak up on you when you assumed he would be in Detroit this year. Ask. Then, ask again. Just to be sure.

But to be extra, EXTRA sure, bring along some additional Christmas steaks to give as host/hostess gifts and to those whose appearance is a mystery to you.

Oh, hey Larry. Didn’t see you over there. What a nice surprise! Enjoy these steaks…

Number two:  Is a knitted toilet paper holder really the best choice for holiday gifting?

Miss Manners would say not.

Again, the gift of gourmet edibles is always a smart choice. Everyone has to eat, so why not make it enjoyable? People really appreciate good food. It’s universal.

And it’s something everyone in the family can agree on. Those topics may be few and far between. So bask in them and keep directing the conversation back to neutral topics.

Number three:  When RECEIVING a gift, always be grateful. Even if you are wishing it was something delicious in return – and it’s not. At least they were thinking of you when picking out that potholder. Be gracious.

But I don’t have to tell you that, right?

Most of all, let’s just treat each other with kindness this holiday season. That’s the best etiquette tip of all.

Happy holidays, everybody!

The holidays are fast approaching. It’s mid-December. Can you believe it?

Don’t panic, but it’s definitely time to get your holiday shopping in full gear if you haven’t already! Because ready or not, the holidays are coming!

I personally LOVE to give gifts of gourmet food for the holidays. Something that fills the belly and the soul is always a great choice. And the best steak cuts make fabulous gifts.

Ribeyes! T-bones! KC strip steaks!

Check. Check. Check.

And, to be mindful of our wallets, let’s keep it under $50, please.

So, what are some more ideas for gourmet gifts that are sure to be winners?

Filet mignon for Aunt Sue? Yes! You know she likes this delicate, tender cut so give it to her. Let her know you’re paying attention!

Or how about a beautiful gift of delicious Beef Wellington? The lucky recipients of this gift can just heat and serve this tender beef inside a flaky crust. No prep – just enjoyment.

I just love it when my gifts are unexpected and much appreciated. And you just can’t go wrong with beautiful food and drink.

Speaking of drink – how about a special wine to go with those incredible steaks or that gourmet meal?

Check out this wine gift collection for vino inspiration. There’s sure to be something they’ll love that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg.

Want to give something special and gourmet but can’t decide exactly what? Give ‘em a gift card for any amount you like and let them choose their own gift of beef, ham, turkey, desserts (like Red Velvet Cake, Cheesecake Bites and Buche de Noel), gourmet side dishes (Gourmet Mac and Cheese!) and more.

Let THEM decide what gourmet goodies to choose and you’ll be on the “Good” list for sure. For this year, anyway. And they’ll absolutely love you for it.

I just LOVE giving steaks for the holidays! People feel so special when you give the gift of excellent, gourmet food.

And what’s that old saying about the way to a man’s heart being through his stomach? Yeah, steak does that. It does that really well.

And we all know there are so many types of steaks to choose from. So this holiday, for the men in your life, what’s the best cut of steak to give?

Honestly, that depends upon the man.

Take my dad, for instance. He’s a T-bone and Porterhouse kind of guy. A man’s man. But just like both of these cuts of steak – he’s got a tender side.

And voila! That’s gift idea number one and two. You’re welcome.

Now, maybe you want to give your boss a taste of Kansas City. It’s the place where the Kansas City strip steak was born. It’s flavorful and thick and really makes a statement. That’s gift idea number three.

Want to really, really make an impression this holiday season? Give a USDA Prime gift-boxed combo. It’s got delicious prime steaks in an assortment of filet mignon, Kansas City strip steaks and boneless ribeye steaks. This gift idea number four means you don’t have to choose – they get ‘em all!

And what really, really goes well with all this amazing steak? The perfect wine! Gift idea number five is an incredible complement to any steak dinner. It completes the package! It’s wine!

Need help deciding which wine to give? Check out this great wine pairing guide to match up the best wine with his favorite cut of steak.

And try this wine gift collection to make it even easier on yourself!

With these five great gift ideas in your back pocket, any man on your list is sure to have a happy holiday!