This holiday season, you may find your gift list a little more extensive than your budget. So many people have been affected by the recession…..What to do?
Why, cook, of course!
By baking and cooking your own gifts, you can save money AND keep everyone on your list happy this season. You may even be able to give a gift to the teachers, mailmen, and bus drivers that you thought would have to wait until next year. Something as easy and simple as a small bag of cookies, or a tin of fudge can go a long way to say how much you appreciate someone this holiday!
What to make?
Over the years, there has been a revival of sorts. More and more people are cooking and baking, which means, there are more ideas available than ever before! Here are just a few to get your mind churning:
- Jar mixes: Now, not only can you layer cookie ingredients in a jar, but soups and even breads as well! Just be sure to evenly distribute any given dry ingredient evenly before adding the next layer. Don’t forget the tag that describes any extra ingredients and prep needed for the finished product.
- Speaking of breads: many different kinds of sweet breads make excellent gifts. I personally love making a special banana bread recipe for all my friends. After cooling and wrapping in foil, you can go ahead and even add a second layer of gift wrap. Just make sure that you deliver your gift soon after making, and that it doesn’t end up sitting under a tree for a week.
- Specialty chocolates and candies: The possibilities are endless! Everything from simple chocolate suckers (in any kind of shape you can think of), to gourmet decorative confections. One year, I made homemade peanut butter cups—my family’s favorite candy. I found a recipe easily enough online, and everyone was dazzled by the fact that I made them myself (what they didn’t realize was how easy they were!). Put time into the wrapping and you’ll have a gift that people won’t stop talking about.
- Gourmet popcorn: You can use caramel, chocolate, nuts, dried fruit, even powdered jello to jazz up some plain popcorn and make it an exceptional gift. Colored popcorn balls are an all-time favorite for children. You can try recreating the very expensive popcorn flavors from well-known gourmet shops. No matter what you end up putting together, make sure you’re not using microwave popcorn. Air popped popcorn or oil popped corns work the best for creating different flavors.
Speaking of food-based gifts, let’s not forget our service men and women this holiday season. Many different edible items can be shipped overseas, and there are plenty of online sites that can direct you on how to go about it. Also, if you know of a needy family in your area, a homemade meal would make a much appreciated gift. Any of these ideas will generally be less-costly than traditional store-bought gifts, and the time you put into them will be a good reminder of how much you care about your friends and family.
