Homemade Christmas Gifts from the Kitchen - Make your Own Holiday Gift Baskets
by: Karen Ciancio
Many of us would love to give hand made holiday gift baskets. Christmas gifts from the kitchen are always welcome and Christmas gift baskets, especially home made food gift baskets, are a real treat.
It's easy to become overwhelmed by the thought of making your own holiday gift baskets but with a few easy recipe ideas it is easy to create a personalized and thoughtful hand made Christmas food gift basket.
Any of these recipes make a wonderful gift packaged in a plastic or cellophane bag with a colorful bow or in a pretty jelly jar with a fabric covered lid. Add a hand made card with the recipe attached to it and your gift is complete.
1. Herbed Beer Batter Bread Mix
To make the mix you will need:
- 2 3/4 cups all purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 2 tablespoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon each of dried thyme and oregano
- Dash of dried dill
In a large bowl, stir together flour, sugar, baking powder, salt oregano, thyme and dill. Pack this mixture into an airtight container or bag. The mix can be stored at room temperature for up to 1 month. It will make 1 loaf of bread.
Recipe to print on attached card:
For Herbed Beer Bread
Herbed Beer Bread Mix
- 1 can of beer at room temperature
- 1 teaspoon butter, melted
Place the Beer Bread Mix in a large bowl. With a wooden spoon, stir in beer just until incorporated. Scrape into greased 8"x4" (1.5L) loaf pan.
Bake in 375?F oven for 45 to 50 minutes or until crusty and golden brown. Let stand in the pan for 5 minutes then remove to rack and brush with melted butter. Makes 1 loaf.
2. Old Fashioned Oatmeal Cookie Mix
To make the mix you will need:
- 6 cups rolled oats
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 3 cups packed brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 pound shortening
- 2 cups raisins
- 1 1/2 cups shredded coconut
- 1 cup chocolate chips
- 1 cup chopped pecans
In a large bowl, stir together oats, flour, sugar, cinnamon, baking powder, salt and baking soda. With a pastry blender, cut in shortening until crumbly.
Stir in raisins, coconut, chocolate and pecans. This mix can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 10 weeks. Makes about 5 batches of cookies.
Recipe to print on attached card:
Old Fashioned Oatmeal Cookies
- 4 cups Oatmeal Cookie Mix
- 1 egg, lightly beaten
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
In a bowl, combine the Oatmeal Cookie Mix with egg, milk and vanilla until dough forms. Shape into 1 1/2" balls and place on greased baking sheets. Flatten balls with a fork.
Bake in 375?F oven for 15 to 18 minutes or until golden. Remove to racks and let cool. Makes 24 cookies.
3. Spicy Mulled Cider Mix
To make the mix you will need:
- 3/4 cup crushed cinnamon sticks
- 3/4 cup chopped dried orange rind
- 1/3 cup whole allspice
- 1/4 cup whole cloves
Combine all ingredients in a jar. Makes about 2 cups.
Recipe to print on attached card:
Spicy Mulled Cider
- 4 cups apple juice, apple cider, or half apple juice and half cranberry juice
- 2 tablespoons Spicy Mulled Cider Mix
In saucepan, combine juice and cider mix. Cover and bring to a simmer. Gently simmer for 20 minutes. Strain into mugs. Makes 4 servings.
Place a few of these gems in a wicker basket, Christmas tin or other fun and seasonal container. Fill in the spaces with wrapped chocolates, holiday napkins or a bottle of wine and you have beautiful and sure to be appreciated holiday gift baskets with that extra personal touch.
About The Author
Karen Ciancio is a cook and lover of all things food and cooking related. Her website www.cookingnook.com contains easy dessert recipes, plus lots of other recipes, cooking tips, measurement conversions and kitchen ideas.
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Christmas Gifts Advice
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by: Chris Unsworth
Yes its that time of year again. So what's your plan this year? Where you just going to leave it to the last minute again and compete with the rest of the country for the last few items on the shelves come Christmas Eve? I know that with this little guide you can help save yourself from a lot of stress this Christmas so take a few minutes to read on.
1) Its always best to make a start with a list of people you want to buy presents for. Do not feel pressured into buying big gifts for everyone. As the old saying goes 'its the thought that counts' so you can just buy small gifts for some people. Lots of family members come to an agreement prior to Christmas not to exchange gifts. If money is maybe a bit tight for you this year then maybe you should consider this option.
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Christmas Gifts Advice
Gifts > Christmas Gifts Advice
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Traditional Scottish produce and ideal in a box or tin for a christmas gift.
Christmas recipe makes: 2 to 3 dozen
Calories per biscuit: 180-270
Preparation time:
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Cooking time: 20 minutes
Not suitable for freezing
Christmas recipe ingredients:
butter, 450 g (1 lb)
sugar, caster 225 g (8 oz)
flour, plain white 450 g (1 lb)
rice, ground or flour 225 g (8 oz)
salt, pinch
sugar, colored granulated or golden
sugar, caster for sprinkling
All these recipe ingredients must be at room temperature.
Christmas recipe instructions:
1. Mix the sugar and butter until a creamy and fluffy consistency. Mix together the salt, rice flour and flour. Now blend with the creamy mixture and mix until it is breadcrumb like.
2. Take some mixture in your hand...
Christmas Recipes: Edible Gifts. No.2 of 8 ? Shortbread
Gifts > Christmas Recipes: Edible Gifts. No.2 of 8 ? Shortbread
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The tradition of gift giving appears to originate from the Roman practice of presenting the Emperor, and each other with good luck tokens. At first these gifts were simple, such as a few twigs from a sacred bush, or a variety of foods. As it ultimately happens, this practice broadened in an effort to receive special favors or to impress, so that more precious gifts were given, clothing, gold or silver items. While most of this giving was done on a voluntary basis, history has had its share of leaders who did their best to make gift giving mandatory. By the late nineteenth century the simple and non-materialistic gift giving tradition had began to dwindle away. Gift giving had begun to take on a very commercial face, and was becoming a booming industry. Today, the gifts and decorative accessories market reached sales of $35.97 billion.
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Use this approach to maximize your investment of time.
1. First, create a new 12days folder to hold all of your goodies. You can create it on the desktop or in your My Documents folder. Just remember where you put it. You'll be using it a lot in the next few days!
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4....
How To Benefit From The 12 Days of Christmas
Gifts > How To Benefit From The 12 Days of Christmas
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The choice of products is vast and developments in security make it safe.
Add in a variety of shipping options and you or your recipient can receive your purchases on a day you request.
Shopping online also means that you can purchase items you may feel uncomfortable buying in a store.
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You can do it in the...
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by: Paul Curran
Christmas recipe serves: 4
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 15 minutes
Calories per serving: 640
Not suitable for freezing.
Christmas recipe ingredients
Onion, 175 g (6 oz)
Green pepper, 125 g (4 oz)
Garlic clove, 1
Turkey, cooked 225 g (8 oz)
Mango, 1 fresh or mango pieces 400 g (14 oz)
Oil, 30 ml (2 tbsp)
Lemon grass, chopped 15 ml (1 tbsp)
Green Thai Curry Paste or Mild Indian curry paste, 20 ml (4 tsp)
Coconut milk, 450 ml (15 fl oz)
Salt and pepper
Double cream, 30 ml (2 tbsp)
Coriander (optional), chopped fresh 45 ml (3 tbsp)
Christmas recipe instructions
1. Make strips of turkey, chopped and deseeded pepper, peeled and crushed garlic, pelled and chopped onion.
2. Make chunks of mango flesh having peeled...
Christmas Recipes: Main Dishes. No.6 of 12 - Turkey and Mango Curry
Gifts > Christmas Recipes: Main Dishes. No.6 of 12 - Turkey and Mango Curry
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