It’s a tradition in my neighborhood to deliver gifts, mostly the edible kind, to each family on the block on Christmas Eve.

The first year my husband and I lived in our house, we were caught off guard by this. Without warning, our neighbors began appearing at our door with baked goods and candies in baskets and gift bags.  

            Thankfully, we had just joined my husband’s family in the annual holiday making of opera cream candy and had plenty to share.  We divided the various flavors among plates covered with plastic wrap and headed out to return the favor.

            We are better prepared these days and enjoy planning how to creatively give to our neighbors and friends what we raise in our garden or make in our kitchen. Sometimes it’s a favorite homegrown product purchased from others, such as a jar of honey from our beekeeper friends.

Gift ideas from home with the personal touch

            If your budget is tight and you’re looking to save money on gifts this holiday season, consider making them in your kitchen. Homemade food gifts are often remembered because they are one-of-a-kind, have a personal touch, and can show how much you care.

            Some ideas for homemade food gifts include breads, jams and spreads, granola, spices, party mixes, soup mixes and baking mixes.

            You can package these gifts in canning jars, upcycled glass jars, boxes or baskets to showcase their special qualities. Consider wrapping baked goods in a decorative tea towel or pretty fabric scrap left over from a project.

            Here are a couple of food gift ideas from Extension sources.

            Gingerbread Cookie Mix

            Creating the Mix:

            Ingredients

            3 ½ cups all-purpose flour

            1 teaspoon baking powder

            1 teaspoon of baking soda

            1 cup packed brown sugar

            2 teaspoons ground ginger

            1 teaspoon ground cloves

            1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

            1 teaspoon ground allspice

            Directions: Use a quart-sized wide-mouth jar. Mix 2 cups of flour with baking powder and baking soda. Mix remaining 1 ½ cups flour with the spices. Layer the ingredients in the jar starting with the flour and baking powder mixture, followed by the brown sugar and ending with the flour and spice mixture. Attach a gift tag with instructions for the final product. Note: Use the mix within six months.

            Cooking The Recipe:

            Ingredients

            1 jar Gingerbread Cookie Mix

            ¼ cup butter

            ¾ cup molasses

            1 egg

            Directions: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Empty contents of jar into a large bowl. Mix well. Add softened butter, molasses, and egg. Mix completely until well blended. The dough will be very stiff. Cover and refrigerate for one hour. Roll dough to ¼-inch thickness on a lightly floured surface. Cut into shapes with a cookie cutter. Place on lightly greased cookie sheets, about 2 inches apart. Bake for 10-12 minutes. Decorate as desired.

             

            Salt Substitute Mix

            3 teaspoons dry mustard

            3 teaspoons onion powder

            3 teaspoons paprika

            1 teaspoon garlic powder

            ½ teaspoon white pepper

            ¼ teaspoon ground basil

Directions: Mix thoroughly. Store in saltshaker and use in place of salt.

 

            Simmer Pot Kit

            Here’s another idea that is a favorite of mine. I made simmer pot kits to give to my Thanksgiving guests. Simmer pot kits are sometimes called stovetop potpourri. To make them combine ingredients like cinnamon sticks, cloves, star anise, citrus peels, ginger, pine sprigs or tea bags in water and simmer on the stove for a few hours.

I used a recipe that included 1 teaspoon whole cloves, 3-4 star anise, 3-4 cinnamon sticks, 1/3 cup cranberries, and one orange. I put the ingredients in a clear plastic bag, tied the bag with ribbon and attached these instructions: Cut orange into slices, add all ingredients to two cups water. Simmer on stove and enjoy! Be sure to replenish the water every 30-45 minutes.

            For additional food gift ideas, visit livehealthyosu.com.

           
Laurie Sidle is an Ohio State University Extension Family and Consumer Sciences and 4-H program assistant and may be reached at 330-264-8722 or sidle.31@osu.edu
CFAES provides research and related educational programs to clientele on a nondiscriminatory basis. For more information, visit cfaesdiversity.osu.edu
This article was previously published in The Daily Record.