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Advice & More November 2014

Health, Wellness & the Good Life

I Made It Just for You: Quick Holiday Treats from Your Kitchen

By Lynn Pribus

Remember, an attractive presentation can make a modest gift memorable. Your final touch could be a holiday basket with a lasting extra such as a kitchen whisk, a pretty kitchen towel, or a handsome pottery mug.  

You probably have people on your holiday list who rate something special though not necessarily pricey – the neighbor who waters your plants when you're away, members of your book club, or your yoga teacher. Here are some ideas that don't cost a lot in dollars or time yet still proclaim, "You're so nice I made this just for you."

Remember, an attractive presentation can make a modest gift memorable. Your final touch could be a holiday basket with a lasting extra such as a kitchen whisk, a pretty kitchen towel, or a handsome pottery mug.  

There is a real delight in receiving several varieties of homemade bread. Use mixes or dig out your own favorite recipes. (You can make ahead of time and freeze.) Bake in single-use foil loaf pans or well-scrubbed 10- to 16-ounce soup or fruit cans. Tuck a wax-paper circle in the bottom of each can to make it easy to remove the bread when it's baked. Fill cans 1/2 - 2/3 full of batter and shorten baking time for the smaller containers.

Wrap breads individually in clear film, label and secure with bright ribbons. For an extra special touch, tuck your mini-loaves into a pretty basket and add some special tea or coffee.

Another possibility is to take a favorite recipe for muffins or cookies, mix all the dry ingredients in a plastic bag and include directions for finishing such as "For tasty bran muffins, mix in one cup milk and two eggs. Bake 20 minutes at 375."  For a special touch, deliver the mix in an attractive canister and add holiday-design muffin papers.

Calorie-vigilant friends will welcome a sampler of fat-free salad dressings. Search out recipes that start with non-fat yogurt, frozen apple juice or canned tomato juice. Recycle glass containers from your kitchen or purchase pretty bottles for a lasting gift. An extra could be some attractive salad tongs.

Even if you have never made preserves, you'll be surprised how easy it is if you follow the directions exactly for commercial pectin products such as Cert-O or Sure-Jell. Some recipes require considerable preparation, but others using wine, juices or frozen fruit are speedy. Choose pretty jelly jars with self-sealing lids and add festive labels to identify the contents. For an extra touch, cover the lids with fabric circles secured with narrow ribbon or add an antique jelly spoon.

Flavored vinegars are welcome and easy to make ahead of time. Deliver in recycled salad dressing or specialty beer bottles or find interesting glass bottles. Tie a sprig of dried herbs on each bottle with a ribbon.

Chutney, a popular pickled condiment, is made from almost any combination of fruits and vegetables – from mangoes and apples to green tomatoes and onions. Vinegar and spices give chutney its nip and you can make it as mild or spicy as you like. Check your recipe source or make quick "Cheater's Chutney." Present in a half-pint or pint canning jar or purchase a pretty pot with a lid. Include a tag noting that chutney is traditionally served chilled with curries and meats and should be refrigerated.   

Finally, Mexican Hot Chocolate Mix is a great gift as well as a handy staple for your own kitchen. Present in pretty apothecary jar with a bright bow and a tag with directions. (Use about two tablespoons dry mix – depending on size of mugs – and add piping hot water. Adults will enjoy a teaspoon or two in coffee.) For a special friend, you could include some Mexican cookies or a set of pretty pottery mugs.


 

Cheater's Chutney

Mix 1 cup canned mincemeat, 2 cups chopped unpeeled raw apple, 2 tablespoons each raisins, chopped red or green pepper, chopped onion, and vinegar (either cider or white.) Add a dash of cayenne for extra zip.

 

Flavored Vinegar

Bring to a boil: one quart of white, cider or wine vinegar; 4-5 sprigs of parsley; a teaspoon of peppercorns and a garlic clove. Quickly remove from heat and let stand for 2-3 days. Strain into a sterilized bottle, add 2-3 sprigs of fresh herbs such as basil, chives, dill, rosemary, cilantro or others of your choice, then seal the bottle. Let age for 2-3 weeks.

 

Mexican Hot Chocolate Mix

Sift and thoroughly blend 1 cup instant non-fat dry milk, 1 cup non-dairy coffee whitener; 1 to 1-1/2 cups sugar (to taste); 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa; and 3-4 tablespoons ground cinnamon (to taste). Makes about one dry quart.

 

Fat-Free Honey-Mustard Dressing

16-oz container unflavored non-fat yogurt

1/4 cup honey

2 teaspoons cider vinegar

2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

 

Combine ingredients until well blended. Must be refrigerated.  Makes 2 cups.

 

Lynn Pribus prepares holidays treats in Charlottesville, Virginia.

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