Running out of thyme? Try these last-minute gifts

I rarely go to a mall to shop, especially during the holidays. I can't stomach the throngs of panicked people running around like barnyard animals in a thunderstorm.

Not to worry. My expert elves have the perfect stocking stuffers to keep me as far away from all the mall madness as possible and be appreciated and used by the food enthusiasts in your life.

Open tomorrow until 2 p.m., Hydro Harvest Farms has plenty of thyme for you. It has the Green Thumb Garden tower, a hydroponic setup that's easily used on your patio or any small space with sunlight. OK, so it won't fit in a stocking. But it can grow pretty much anything, and I'm thinking about the 20 to 25 different herbs it can produce in a 2-foot-square space.

Although I haven't tried it, I've heard great things about Tasty Dinner Solutions. Its gift certificates for delicious, oven-ready, family-size entrees will fit in any stocking. A few of the menu offerings this month are Apple Cider Drumsticks, Bloody Mary Shrimp and Pasta, or Cracker Chicken, its signature dish.

Open until 7 p.m. tonight, Tasty Dinner Solutions is next to East Coast Pizza at 13334 Lincoln Road.
One gift that won't get returned the moment you're not looking is a gift card to a local restaurant.

Some good choices would include Circles or Yanagi Japanese Restaurant in Apollo Beach or Ybor Grill in Ruskin. A meal out is a much-appreciated gift and a great way to support the local economy.

The South Shore Gallery, 447 Apollo Beach Blvd., has some neat, sure-to-please stocking stuffers, like one-of-a-kind wine stoppers made of wood, pewter or blown or fused glass. The gallery also has cutting boards and kitchen utensils made of cherry wood, aprons designed by textile artist Robin Bowman and wood bowls. The store will be open until 4 p.m. tomorrow.

For the recipe this week, I thought I'd give you something to make for Christmas that's prepared the night before. This ham-cheese-and-broccoli strata is a huge timesaver and a delicious reason for getting out of bed, even if you're expecting coal in your stocking.

HAM & BROCCOLI STAR-STUDDED STRATA

12 slices white bread
12 ounces sharp Cheddar cheese, cut into 1/4 -inch slices
10 ounces frozen chopped broccoli, thawed and drained
2 cups chopped cooked ham or Canadian bacon
3 cups milk
6 eggs
1 1/4 teaspoon dry mustard
1 teaspoon dried rosemary, chopped
2 tablespoons finely chopped onion

With a 3-inch cookie cutter, cut a design out of each bread slice; set aside. Tear remaining bread into pieces; place in the bottom of a greased, 13- by 9-inch baking pan. On top of the bread, layer sliced cheese, broccoli, ham and bread cutouts. In a medium bowl, beat together all remaining ingredients, and then pour evenly over the layered mixture in pan. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate 8 hours or overnight.

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Uncover; bake for 60 to 75 minutes or until set and golden brown. If browning occurs too quickly, loosely cover with aluminum foil. Let stand 15 minutes.