Holiday Gift Ideas: Incredible Edibles!

What could possibly be better than a basket of homemade goodies for the holidays?

Last year I put together baskets of preserves, and other yummies, for the entire family. I started in June, picking and preserving local, organic (as much as possible!) in-season fruits throughout the summer and fall.



The baskets included jars of:
Strawberry Lemon Jam
Peach Butter
Walnut Maple Syrup
Balsamic Red Pepper Jelly
Autumn Pear and Cranberry Jelly
Organic Grainy Beer Mustard
Wild Blueberry Jam
Carrot Cake Jam (Sounds weird, tastes amazing!)
Raspberry Vinegar
Mustard Pickles
Thai Sweet and Sour Sauce

and jars of homemade White Chocolate and Cranberry Scones (just add milk and butter...I think? My memory is going....)

I bought inexpensive baskets, lined them with tea towels, topped each jar with pretty holiday fabric, a ribbon, and a tag labelling the item and giving ideas for how to use it (i.e. the walnut maple syrup was absolutely delicious served warm over Brie!)

I primarily used Bernardin's Complete Book of Home Preserving but Putting Food By, by Janet Greene is another amazing book for preserving the best of the summer and fall!




I know it's a bit late for a project this major but how about a jar of homemade jam and a jar of scone mix wrapped up in a holiday tea towel? Or jars of homemade cranberry sauce? Simple and perfect and full of homemade goodness!



A couple of other edible ideas:

Jars of Homemade Granola
I love the recipe for Rise and Shine Granola in "Where it all Vegan" but you can use any recipe you like.

Jars of Layered Cookies:
These are so simple and really gorgeous to look at!



Chocolate Chip Cookies in a Jar
Jar Ingredients:
2 cups flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
3/4 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup white sugar
Chocolate chips

Filling the Jar:
Use a small funnel to layer the ingredients in a quart size canning jar in the order listed. Use enough chocolate chips so the jar is full to the top. Pack down all ingredients.

Instructions for recipient (write or print on card & attach to jar)
1 cup butter softened
1 egg, slightly beaten
1 tsp. vanilla

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Thoroughly blend together the butter or margarine, the egg, and the vanilla. Pour jar of cookie mix into this mixture. Mix until completely blended. Drop teaspoons full of batter about 2 inches apart on cookie sheet. Bake for 8 - 10 minutes or until lightly browned.
[Squidoo]

Seasonal Quickbreads, Wrapped Beautifully!



These are quick and easy to make, and when wrapped with a little flair, make a perfect holiday gift. Check out Martha's website here for the recipes for:

Chocolate Marble Bread with Ganache
Carrot and Dried-Currant Muffins
Rosemary Cornbread

Homemade Baileys!

I've always wanted to make this. I think it would be an amazing gift paired with organic coffee beans.
[pic: Jamie Oliver]

I have some yummy gifts up my sleeve for this year too, but I'll be saving that post until after Christmas!

Have a wonderful weekend!