Inexpensive holiday gifts from your kitchen |
Attractive Cookie Mix
As a stay at home Mom I often seem to have more time to bake that the teachers in my children's schools. I pick my favorites and put together a gift basket of brownies of different flavors and jars of spiced tea or my homemade cocoa mix. I always put a basket together for the gals in the office too as they are often forgotten. This year I plan to add a cookie mix in a jar type of thing. They can bake at their leisure during the holidays.
The teachers have always loved this gift. I am sure not to bake ahead and freeze so that they have the option to freeze the goodies if they need to. Several have commented to me on how nice it was to have something ready to serve their drop in holiday guests.
— Karen P
Candy Pretzels
Roll pretzel rods in melted almond bark. Then roll covered rods in small broken bits of hard peppermint candy. Or roll in crushed candy canes. Let harden. Easy and pretty!
— Susan
Sugar Cookie Dough
Try sugar cookie dough. Sounds simple and somewhat over done, but as a mother of four small kids, I would love to receive this. Here's how to prepare it Use your regular recipe. Instead of rolling out the dough, form it into a log like the slice and bake cookies at the store. Wrap with colored Saran wrap and tie the ends with festive ribbons. Keeps in the fridge for a few days. All the chef has to do is slice and bake! Voila!
For a special touch, you can roll the logs in your favorite sprinkles!
— Teresa M Soup in a Jar
This is a great gift idea, I've used this many times. Collect used quart jars. Fill each jar with a mixture of dried beans and a baggie with powdered ham flavor (2tbs.) and some cajun spice (1 or 2 Tbs.) If you have some scrape material around cut large enough circle to cover lid, hold with rubber band and tie with gold ribbon. I painted holly leaves on top of lid. Makes a nice meal for a cold winters night. BR> — Kim
Tins and Oils
Home Made Cookie Tins
Make a few dozen of several kinds of home made cookies Decorate saved coffee cans with Christmas wrap Decorate the lid with a bow or a handmade bow with curling ribbon. Add white or colored tissue paper to the can, then pile in the cookies! (kids can help too!)
Cooking Oils
Empty bottles like you can get from Big Lots at local outlets for $1
Peanut or Canola Oil
Rosemary, Thyme, Basil, Oregano, Parsley etc. spices & spcie twigs
Put larger spice twigs into the bottle. Add oil halfway...then add smaller spices and finish adding oil. Cap with cork or lid and add ribbons. This will make a great stir fry or sautee oil great for beef, fish, or chicken! (It is also pretty to look at on the counter!)
— Lesile S
Bulk Spiced Tea and Hot Chocolate
Spiced Tea
2 26oz. Tang
1 3oz. bottle Instant Tea Unsweet
2 8 1/2 oz Red hots
1 6oz. Pkg. Lemonade (Wylers)
1 cup sugar
2 tsp. cinnamon
2 tsp. nutmeg
2 tsp. ground cloves
2 tsp. alspice
Mix all ingredients together well. I put in a sealed container until ready to assemble the gift. You can put into a small plastic bag, then insert into a small muslin bag, tie with a pretty piece of Christmas fabric. With each gift make sure you add a note that states One tablespoon + one teaspoon per cup of hot water. I also look for pretty cups and saucers, at garage sales, flea markets, etc and then you can package with the ingredients. Makes a great gift for neighbors, the elderly, school teachers, etc.
Bulk Hot Chocolate
3 cups powered Sugar
8 ozs. non-fat dry milk
1 16oz. Instant Chocolate Milk (I use Nestle's)
1 6oz Creamora ( or any non-dairy creamer)
Again as before mix well and store in air tight container. With each gift add a tag that says 3tablespoons per cup of hot water. This is wonderful hot chocolate, we get raves from it every year from grand-children. They seem to think this is the Best!
— S.
Coffees and More Coffees
My husband is a coffee lover and for Christmas this year I am making him a bunch of flavored coffees and coffee spoons. If you have someone who doesn't like coffee you can make flavored hot cocoa, too.
CAFE' MOCHA
2/3 cup instant coffee, 1 1/3 cups sugar, 1 cup non-dairy creamer, 1/4 cup nonfat dry milk, 3 TBSP unsweetened cocoa Mix in food processor or blender until you have a fine powder. Use 1 to 2 spoonfuls to one mug of hot water (to desired taste)
SWISS MOCHA
1 cup instant coffee, 1 cup sugar, 2 cups nonfat dry milk, 4 tsp. cocoa powder Combine all ingredients together. Store in airtight container. Use 2 to 2 1/2 teaspoons per cup of boiling water. Relax and enjoy!
CAFE' VIENNA MIX
1 cup instant coffee, 1 cup sugar, 1 1/2 cups non-dairy creamer, 1 1/2 cups nonfat dry milk, 4 TBSP cocoa, 2 tsp. Cinnamon Mix in food processor or blender until you have a fine powder. Use 1 to 2 spoonfuls to one mug of hot water (to desired taste)
BAVARIAN MINT COFFEE
1/3 cup instant coffee, 1/3 cup sugar, 1/3 cup non-dairy coffee creamer, 2 tbsp. Cocoa, 5 hard peppermint candies, crushed Combine all ingredients together. Store in airtight container. Use 2 to 2* teaspoons per cup of boiling water. Relax and enjoy!
AMARETTO COFFEE
3/4 cup non-dairy coffee creamer, 1 tsp. almond extract, 1 tsp. ground cinnamon, 3/4 cup confectioners' sugar, Combine all ingredients together. Store in airtight container. Use 2 to 2* teaspoons per cup of fresh brewed coffee. Relax and enjoy!
COCONUT COFFEE
2 cups half-and-half, 15 oz. coconut cream, 4 cups hot brewed coffee, Sweetened whipped cream Bring half-and-half and cream of coconut to a boil in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring constantly. Stir in coffee. Serve with sweetened whipped cream.
CAFE' AU LAIT
1 11oz jar non-dairy creamer, 1/2 cup packed brown sugar, 1/2 cup instant coffee, dash of salt. Use 1/4 cup mix to 2/3 cup hot water.
NIGHT CAP COFFEE
2/3 cup nondairy powdered coffee creamer, 1/3 cup instant coffee, 1/3 cup sugar, 1 tsp ground cardamom (I've made this - I'd use less), 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon Mix in food processor or blender until you have a fine powder. Use one heaping TBSP to 1 cup hot water.
CHOCOLATE MALT COFFEE CREAMER
2 cups instant hot cocoa mix, 2/3 cup nondairy powdered coffee creamer, 2/3 cup malted milk mix, 1/2 tsp. cinnamon (I've made this one - I like less hot cocoa powder and more malted milk powder) Mix in food processor or blender until you have a fine powder. Use to desired taste.
— Melissa F
These ideas contributed by The Dollar Stretcher
