I do like to make gifts from my kitchen. One of my favorites is a sweet hot mustard that is delicious with holiday turkey and ham. I put it in a pretty jar, and tie on the recipe with a ribbon (also instructions to keep it refrigerated, and ideas of what to serve it with, such as turkey sandwiches, ham, pretzels, roasted vegetables). I also like to make and give cellophane bags of cookies (Russian Tea Cakes, Gingersnaps) and fudge. A great gift for snacking, or for serving on a cheese and fruit platter, is spiced nuts. This is a recipe that my grandfather used to make at Christmas:
Cinnamond Walnuts from Francis Miller
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon cream of tartar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 1/2 cups walnuts
Boil sugar, cinnamon, water, and cream of tartar until it forms a soft ball in cold water (the sugar syrup will be about 230 degrees). Remove from the stove and cool slightly, add vanilla and nuts, and beat with spoon until nuts separate. Cool on wax paper. Store in airtight container.
I really don’t give gifts of things I have cooked, but I do love getting them! I am not sure if I don’t think to cook something and give it as a gift because I didn’t grow up with friends and family that did that, or because I associate homemade gifts with baking — and I don’t really like to bake. I realize they don’t always have to be baked goods, but I still haven’t gotten into the mindset to make something in my own kitchen to give as a gift. I have received some really great homemade gifts from others though, including some great ones from Sharon. Aside from cookies or baked goods, I enjoy getting ingredients and a recipe for things like comforting drinks to make in the winter, like a hot toddy. We’ve also received some lovely baskets of items to have the day after hosting an event. For example, we once received a lovely homemade quick bread that we could toast up in the morning and have with a cup of special tea that is included in the basket as well. Until I get truly inspired to cook it myself, I will probably still be getting fun, local specialties that I can take to friends instead.
