Gifts from the Kitchen?
 

As there is already a Christmas gifts thread, I was wondering who is giving gifts made in their kitchen? And if so, what do you make?

I usually give everybody something from my kitchen ('cause it's edible and even if they don't like it, it's gone quickly and it's not going to crowd up your place), e.g. hand-made pasta or chili salt.

I usually include some things I've already made like caramel corn and caramels but also send a mix that I've put together usually for a quick bread, cookies, chai tea etc. All mine are mailed so I'm keeping weight and how perishable and breakable things are in mind.

O.K. Cathy you have me stumped! Please fill me in - just what is chili salt?? I am almost 70 yrs old and I have never heard of that before. Of course there are a lot of things I have never heard of before lol.

I make Bread in a Jar & give it as gifts . The recipe makes 8 jars at a time & it keeps up to a year so it is something they do not have to eat right away. I also make homemade laundry soap & this is can be put in a container & given as a gift along with the recipe & how to use it. Snack mix is another idea to make & give.

I love to get the homemade jars of jam/jelly. A piece of fabric cut with pinking shears tied to the top make a great gift for someone that sews.

One year I made cookie mixes...however the postage cost more than the mixes were worth...so off to something else this year.

I usually make fudge, lots and lots of fudge. I too did the cookie mixes one year but will not do that again the cost of mailing it was crazy.

Since you have done the flavored salt what about vanilla sugar with a recipe or two how to use it.

I have a "house blend" of seasoning that I use on most everything it's a salt, pepper, garlic, onion mix we like the ratio of I keep it on my counter you could mix your own put it in small crocks for a gift.

You can make infused vinegars or olive oil too.

I used to do the matched sets of infused oil and vinegar. I grow my own herbs so I try to use those. It's fun trying to think of interesting combinations. I add other items such as garlic, orange rind, clove, hot pepper, onion ... whatever I can think of.

The hardest part was finding nice bottles with good stoppers.

I make microwave peanut brittle. Everybody loves it and it's easy.

It's basically just chilis and coarse salt blended together, then dried (if you are in a hurry you can use your oven for that). I mainly use it for sauces (tomato, bolognese, etc.) or anything else that needs salt with a kick! ;)

I've seen the jar recipes around and I do think they might get costly (I usually get stumped on the cost of nice mason jars around here). Also, I think they look really nice with all the layers, but I'm pretty sure it will just look like mud once it's carried around for more than 5 min. :p

@Billi:
Any chance you'd post your recipe for the fudge? *prettyplease*

I like the idea of the mixed seasoning, I might do that (it's also something you can do quite a few weeks in advance, that's always helpful! :D).
I made two different infused oils (one chili oil, the other herbs) three, four years ago. They were a hit!

? This inquiring mind would like to know how you make bread in a jar ?

Concerning postage of Christmas gifts, I try to look at it that is cheaper than traveling to deliver your gifts and paying for gas, lodging, etc. It is just once a year. :)

Would love to know how you make microwave peanut brittle?


Here is a recipe for Microwave Easy Fudge. I have made it a few times and it is delicious!!!

http://www.kingarthurflour.com/recip...e-fudge-recipe

I have made "Cake-In-A-Jar" and sent in care packages to the troops. Always get great reviews. Google cake in a jar, there are hundreds of recipes. Yes, you bake and seal them in a mason jar. I try and get those can cozies thru out the year and wrap them around the cake first, then anything else in the box that's going, then stuff hard candies into every crook and cranny so nothing can move. Of course I always ship in the military Flat Rate boxes from the Post Office. It's amazing how much I can get in there. My heaviest was 33 pounds!!

I do quick breads and instant spiced tea.

Gooey Baby Ruth Brownies

1 (18.25 ounce) box chocolate brownie mix
3 (2.1 ounce) Nestle Baby Ruth Candy Bars, chopped
8 ounces cream cheese
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
2 teaspoons milk

Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 13 x 9-inch baking pan.

Prepare brownie batter according to package directions. Stir in chopped Baby Ruth. Pour into prepared pan.

Beat cream cheese and sugar in small mixer bowl until smooth. Beat in egg and milk. Using knife or spatula, swirl cream cheese mixture into brownie batter to create a marbling effect. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out almost clean. Cool completely in pan on wire rack. Cut into bars using a wet knife.

Since family is all grown and live away and not interested in exchanging gifts, I have 'adopted' a QB group FWSQ and PC group that I did those projects with...and sent each of the 12 (15) families to send cookies or quilting things to for the winter holidays. Non-food items went to Canada, Netherlands, and Australia last year. Yes, the shipping costs a few $$, but it is worth it to me once a year to express my joy of our friendship. Can you really put a dollar value on friendship?? I love to cook and share the bounty of four or five different kinds of cookies in quart plastic bags. Buffalo chips, and Cowboy Chocolate cookies remain the favorites... both from the Texas Reporter Cook Book.

Of course, being retired we have a small budget to live on, but I save up for the holidays, to enjoy and spread the cheer to others...with respect for the way each celebrate the days. I use the six by six cardboard packaging and have gotten rave reviews in feedback.

We usually receive a fruit basket from email friends in Texas and brighten up our holidays. I also make homemade jellies and share it with them and others during the season. Never have met the couple in Texas who sent the fruit to us, but hold them dear in our hearts. Never have meet my QB group in person, except for one this summer, but I hold their friendship dear in my heart...but value and respect their views.

I like those mix in a jar gifts. All the dry ingredients layered and recipe of what to do with it ...top it off with a pretty fabric on top

My family loves fudge and banana bread. Of course, they will eat just about anything.

My "tried and true" recipe is the marshmallow creme fudge recipe off the jar of marshmallow creme. People love it and when they ask for the recipe I tell them where to find it....and they usually don't believe me. They think it's a secret recipe of some sort. I also have a recipe for shortbread bar cookies that I love to make; my secret ingredients are vanilla extract (it doesn't call for any flavoring) and a few dashes of orange extract, which I prefer to lemon.

I make them, like cookie ingredients in jars, etc., but I love getting edible gifts as well.

Most of my family & friends ask for my Jams, jelly & canned fruit. Their favorite are plum & blackberry. That is great for me as I have my own plum tree & the blackberries grow wild around here.

I have given homemade vanilla as gifts. It is so simple to make, I just buy the beans at the local health food store, put them in a bottle and add gin or vodka to cover and let it steep. The person receiving the gift just has to refresh it from time to time as it's being used up by sticking in a new bean or two and replenishing the liquor level.

Cathy,
This is my moms recipe copied from her recipe cards this one dates back to the mid 50's for sure and possibly earlier.
It is the only recipe I have ever used for fudge it's not a fast one but it is incredibly smooth, rich and creamy.

My Moms Fudge

1 large can pet milk
5 cups sugar
1tsp vanilla
1 tsp salt
36 oz high quality chocolate chips semi sweet or dark chocolate depending on your taste
1 jar (16oz )marshmallow whip
1/3 lb butter


Cook together, milk sugar,salt and butter bring to a boil and boil for 7 minutes, remove from heat and add marshmallow whip and chocolate chips beat by hand till stiff add vanilla and beat some more.


Pour into greased jelly roll pan and let set up at room temperature. When set up cut into 1inch squares.




Notes, be sure to stir the boiling ingredients and not allow sugar crystals to form. Also may not set up on a very humid day if you want nuts chop and add them with the vanilla,

Billi, you're a dear! Thanks so much for the recipe! :hug:

Just a few questions: I assume that pet milk is not for your cat, but evaporated milk? Also, can I make the marshmallow whip myself (e.g. with this recipe)? I think it'll be very hard to find here otherwise...

Ha yes it's evaporated milk pet was the common, possibly the only, brand when mom wrote this recipe down. I sometimes forget not everyone I share recipes with is as old as I am hahaha. . . I think your homemade whip recipe would be perfect.
Thanks for the link I may try that this year. I hope you let me know how it works out for you if you choose to make it.

Also as a side note once we cut our fudge we wrap each piece individually with plastic wrap. And freeze it to keep it fresh.

Haha, no, you're not old, I'm just not American, so I don't know your brands - or your measurements! :p
For that matter: a large can is 12oz (about 350ml), right?

I think I need to go shopping tomorrow..:)

I like to bake various cookies and bars to make a "tray" for my kids. Also make a HUGE batch of chex mix and give it as gifts.

You are correct the large can is 12oz
ps do not try it lighten up the recipe and use non fat the version of evaporated milk it does not set up as well or taste as good.

And I am oldish there are several Americans that would have no idea what pet milk is haha

I copied this one down RedGarnet ....yummy :)

Judy in Phx, AZ

Darn, I wanted to start my diet tomorrow. Guess it will have to wait until I try the brownies & fudge. I am soooo excited! :p

Nuts n Bolts are always a good gift to give and easy to make

I've tried it and let's just say it ended before it started! *lol*

I tried to make my own marshmallow whip and it reeaally didn't work out! I didn't use the recipe I posted before FYI, because I don't have corn syrup here either. It ended up being very liquid, so I put it in the fridge in the hope it would set.

Nope, no such thing happened! It separated, white fluff on top, yellow-y liquid at the bottom...

But I won't give up, I hope to try again this weekend, this time I'll just try it with melted marshmallows...can't get much worse, right?!

I love your preservance,

Instead of melting the marshmallows I would just use the big ones 12-16 oz bag of them heat them up just to where they are just expanding then stir them in. Good luck I hope it works

Very similar to recipe on Marshmallow 'fluff' jar or that puff"?. The milk and sugar are put on with the butter, and brought to a boil, and soft candy stage, 240 degrees on a candy thermometer , then stir in the vanilla, chips and marshmallows and quickly whip until the candy is not longer 'shinny' looking...put into plate or pan to get hard. You can change out the chips for other flavors, e.i, butterscotch, peanut butter, vanilla....

I always gve bread in a jar, jams and jellies for Chrstmas.

Jams and jellys and syrups are first. I make candied pecans for instant gifts takes about 20 minutes tops. Also I make a jar of taco seasoning (ala ALL RECIPES.com) a simple mix of spices put in a jar with instructions on how much to use great for people who like making tacos. You could put it in a small amount in a small plastic sleeve from the craft store tied with ribbon for a quick easy gift or a bigger jar of it for someone special. If you buy spices from Penzies spice house you could just cover the top of a spice with a recipe on a card.. bing great gift who doesn't love FRESH spices that last for moons? a spice mix of your chosing with a recipe you love making you will be a hit surely :)

I made microwave peanut brittle one year, and lost the recipe. Could you, pretty please, give us the recipe??

Last Christmas, I made hot fudge sauce (from old Betty Crocker cookbook) and Silk in a Jar (caramel sauce from the Land o' Lakes website. Put them in cute modern Ball jars (available now at places like WalMart). Something a little different and well-received. I had thought of what to do this year, but have forgotten already!!! Grrrr.... Once year, I made herby dip mixes included with a cute mitten dish and spreader I found at Big Lots. Thanks for all the great ideas here. Gotta get going...'you know what' will be here before we know it!:)

I love to give and receive home made gifts. This year I am making 'marinated red peppers' in small jars! so pretty