Most of the time, we eat when we’re hungry.  But dining is a whole ‘nother activity.   Delicious and interesting food in elegant surrounding with music that sets the mood is dining.  And if someone you know like to read about food, plan a dining experience, and relive the occasion, Ann’s has a wonderful gift for you to give him or her.

Called Music and Menus, Sharon O’Connor’s books are themed dining tomes that include a CD to go with each one.  Sharon is an accomplished cellist who has travelled the world and dined in beautiful and varied restaurants all over.  Her books pair music with food, and the food is delicious!  Sharon adapted recipes from top world-class restaurants for at-home dining and includes stories of each restaurant and region, along with beautiful photographs.  Travel to the great American Lodges, the Wine Country, Italy and France.  Even if you never turn on the oven, you will enjoy reading the books and listening to the music paired with them.  Boxed and ready to give, $39.95 each.

Travel from the comfort of your home via one of Ann’s new food tomes.  Beautiful pictures and glorious descriptions make these the perfect way to spend a hot afternoon keeping cool and comfortable.    Plan your next party and dream of fabulous food in spectacular settings.    With books like these, you don’t actually have to cook to enjoy the food!   They make great gifts, too.

Frog lovers always appreciate a new addition to the collection:

Frog Thermometer attaches to your window, $11.50

Frog Lovers Birdbath for your garden, $299

"Hop to it" froggie notepad, $6.95

Lovelink's sterling frog charm with CZ, $45

Book of poems and inspiration with frogs on the cover

Weird Texas, by Wesley Treat, Heather Shade, and Rob Riggs is a great gift for anyone who wants to read about all the quirkiness that make Texas a wonderful place.  It’s also Ann’s best selling gift book.  Do you need a gift for someone?  Let us wrap up a copy for you!

The cowboy or wanna-be in your life might enjoy one of Ann’s many gift books for a good read.  Choose from humor to cooking to boots and hats!  Ann’s books are an easy and appreciated gift for the western buff on your list.   We’ll gift wrap your Ann’s purchases free, the Christmas wrap is ready.  Shop now at Ann’s!

A good gift is a cookbook for someone who likes to read about the lifestyle of the place and chef that created the recipes.  Visit B&B’s across America, Fredericksburg, Texas, and a ranch in Rio Frio, Texas with these beautiful gift books filled with recipes and good reads.

“Best Recipes from American’s Country Inns and Bed & Breakfasts,” by Kitty and Lucian Maynard, is just what we mean.  Not only can you find new recipes, you can read about the inn or B&B that serves them to their customers.   Who knows?  Maybe you’ll visit and see for yourself! 

Want to party like they do in Fredericksburg, Texas?  Visit in the comfort of your armchair by enjoying Rebecca Rather’s “Pastry Queen Parties.”   Rebecca is the chef of Rather Sweet Bakery & Cafe and local caterer extraordinaire.  Her book and its pictures will soon have you planning a trip to taste for yourself.

Live the Texas ranch life through Paula Disbrowe’s book, “Cowboy Cuisine.”  Paula gave up life in New York City, where she was a chef and food writer, for boots and cowboy cooking at a ranch in Rio Frio, Texas.  She now divides her time between Whistle Berry Ranch in Nueces Canyon, Texas, and Austin, Texas.  Her book is a wild ride in Texas food and fun.

Ann’s cookbooks are fun to read, make great gifts, and have plenty of ideas for your next party.  One of our favorites is by “Pioneer Woman”, a country mom on a cattle ranch in Oklahoma.  You can see her blog here.   Pioneer Woman’s baker friend, “Bakerella” has produced a cookbook, too, called “Cake Pops.”  For her blog, click here.  These two innovative women definitely have fun with food, and you will, too, when you read their books and enjoy their stories and recipes! 

The Pioneer Woman Cooks, by Ree Drummond, well known blogger and accidental country girl

Cake Pops by blogger and baker extraordinaire Bakerella

In case you were wondering, here is what a Cake Pop looks like. These adorable tigers are featured in Bakerella's cookbook.

When you are absolutely clueless about what to get Dad, default to one of our gift books.  Lots of fun titles for men, whether he likes a good read or a good laugh (or both).  Some ideas:

Ann’s loves gift books.    If you mother is rather hard to buy a gift for, perhaps she’d like one of our Texas books.    We have titles specific to Texas, with vivid, gorgeous pictures.    With a book about Texas and a package of Ann’s Texas coffee, Mom can enjoy an afternoon of travel and good food from the Lone Star State!

Gorgeous pictures and descriptions that will make your mouth water:

Fine Texas Cuisine, by Jon Bonnell

Even if you don’t throw big parties, it’s fun to live vicariously through the eyes of Rebecca Rather, who lives and works from her shop in Fredericksburg, Texas: 

Pastry Queen Parties by Rebecca Rather

 We have a customer whose father was the architect for one of the courthouses featured in this book!  Great time capsule of Texas treasures:

Historic Texas Courthouses by Matthew Andrew

Breathtaking photos of Texas scenery will inspire your next road trip to out-of-the-way Texas locales:

Lovin' The Lone Star Flag by E. Joe Deering

Add an assortment of packages of Ann’s Texas Coffee from Fredericksburg, Texas.  Bubba’s Texas Brew, Texas Velvet Hammer, Texas Gold, Mexican Vanilla, South Texas Pecan, and Lone Star’s Best, all available in an 8-10 Cup Packet.    There is always hot coffee to sample at Ann’s, so come, browse, enjoy, and get your Mom a good Mother’s Day present!

Ann's Texas Coffee from Fredericksburg, Texas. Come sample some at Ann's while you shop for your Mother's Day gift!

See you soon at Ann’s!