Wouldn't that be nice for a change? Imagine the people on your gift list actually showing genuine excitement when they unwrap a gift that you've created with your own two hands. It's not a pipe dream, you don't really have to be "crafty" or incredibly skilled in the kitchen, and most importantly, you will NOT have to earmark one month's worth of income for the presents that you dazzle everyone with. The following collection of gift ideas will please almost anyone on your list and are far more original than what you could purchase (out of desperation) at Walgreen's...so why not give it a shot?
*************************************************************************************************** OREO Truffles Ingredients 18 oz. package of OREO Cookies Method Courtesy Of The Reluctant Entertainer ***************************************************************************************************
Homemade Irish Cream Liqueur Ingredients Method You can pour chilled mixture over ice cubes, pour over chocolate or coffee ice cream too. This recipe make about three cups with just a enough to leftover to have a nice cup of coffee (or two)! I used 8oz tall skinny bottles from Germany (sorry). I have tried to find them online with no luck, they were not expensive about $1.00 or so each. I did think these Round Ball Reed Diffuser Bottles would also make a beautiful presentation. They are 8.5 ounce, so if you forgo your cup of coffee it might work -- or you could add and extra 1/4 cup of cream and I don't think it would alter the recipe too much. There are many bottle supply companies online where you can find 8 oz bottles. You might also try World Market or the Dollar Store. Courtesy Of Bon Appetit *************************************************************************************************** Natural Air Freshener Combine the following ingredients in a recycled or vintage glass bottle: 2 drops clove essential oil The aromatic blend can be used in an electric or candle diffuser, or combine with enough water to fill an 8-ounce bottle and use as an air-freshening spray. Shake prior to each use. Courtesy Of Delicious Living Magazine ***************************************************************************************************
8 oz. package of Cream Cheese, softened
16 oz. Semi-Sweet Baking Chocolate, melted
Mix cream cheese and crushed (fine crumbs) Oreo cookies together.
Roll dough into 1 inch balls, putting on wax or parchment paper.
Refrigerate for 30 minutes
Dip balls, using toothpicks or a spoon, into melted chocolate (use double broiler or microwave on 50%)
Refrigerate another 30 minutes until chocolate hardens
Decorate and devour or package them up and give them away!
1 - 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk
1 cup Irish whiskey
1 tablespoon chocolate syrup
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon instant coffee crystals
1 cup whipping cream
1 tablespoon canned sweetened cream of coconut (such as Coco Lopez Cream of Coconut)
Combine first 5 ingredients in blender; blend until coffee crystals dissolve, about 1 minute. Add whipping cream and cream of coconut to mixture and blend 10 seconds. Pour into glass bottles, add a tag and you have a perfect gift. On the back on the tag include instructions to keep refrigerated and that it should last two weeks.
7 drops cinnamon leaf essential oil
4 drops ginger essential oil
10 drops sweet orange essential oil
Chocolate Bark with Pistachios & Dried Cherries
This delicious holiday bark is inexpensive, versatile, easy to make and can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks!
Ingredients
3/4 cup roasted, shelled pistachios, coarsely chopped
3/4 cup dried cherries or dried cranberries
2 teaspoons freshly grated orange zest
24 ounces bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped, divided
Method
Line the bottom and sides of a baking sheet with wax paper. In a separate bowl, toss pistachios with cherries or cranberries and orange zest.
Melt the chocolate in a double boiler over hot water or microwave on low in 30-second bursts. Stir often with a rubber spatula so the chocolate melts smoothly and evenly.
Add the pistachio mixture containing the orange zest to the chocolate; stir to mix well. Working quickly, scrape the chocolate onto the prepared baking sheet, spreading it to an even 1/4-inch thickness with a rubber spatula.
Sprinkle a few pistachios on top if desired, pressing them gently into the chocolate with your fingertips.
Refrigerate uncovered until just set, about 20 minutes.
Flip the baking sheet upside down onto a large cutting board. Remove the pan and peel off the wax paper.
Using the tip of a sharp knife, score the chocolate. Break bark along the score lines. Break the strips of bark into 2- to 3-inch chunks.
Courtesy Of Sunflower Farmer's Market
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Fringed No-Sew Blanket
Materials
1 yard of fleece
Yarn of any kind
Scissors with a sharp point
Crochet hook
Directions
Step 1: With scissors closed, punch holes in the fleece 1" from the edge of the fabric, and 1" apart. Punch them all around the perimeter of the blanket.
Step 2: Measure and cut your yarn, and group it into bundles. I used yarn 7" long, and gathered 6 strands into every bundle of fringe.
Step 3: Push the crochet hook into the first hole. Push it up from the underside of the blanket. Fold the fringe in half, and hook it in the center.
Step 4: Pull the hooked yarn through the hole, so that just the loop of the yarn is on the underside of the fleece. Use your fingers to reach through the loop, and grab the ends of the fringe. Tug the fringe through the loop into a snug knot.
Step 5: Pull fringe through each hole, repeating Steps 3 and 4. As you work, the knotted fringe will roll the cut end of the fleece into a nice edge that has a good finished look.
Courtesy Of Craftzine
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Cookie Mix In A Jar: Cranberry-Pistachio Oatmeal Lace Cookies
Makes about 3 dozen
Bright colors and fragrant spice make these cookies a particularly delicious gift. Layer the dry ingredients in a jar then use a ribbon to attach the simple instructions for finishing the dough and baking the cookies.
Mix up the nut and fruit combination if you like: dried cherries and walnuts or pecans would be a great pair.
Ingredients
3/4 cup whole wheat pastry flour
1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup granulated cane sugar
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1/2 cup shelled pistachios
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted and cooled slightly
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 egg
Method
In a large bowl, whisk together flour, cardamom, baking soda and salt. Carefully spoon half each of the flour mixture, oats, cranberries, sugars and pistachios into a (1-quart) jar to make colorful, even layers then repeat process to make the same layers a second time. Seal jar until ready to use.
To make the cookies, preheat oven to 350°F. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper; set aside.
In a large bowl, whisk together butter, vanilla and egg then add contents of jar and stir until combined. To form each cookie, drop 1 tablespoon dough onto a baking sheet, spacing cookies 2 to 3 inches apart. Bake until cookies have spread out completely and are deep golden brown and cooked through, about 10 minutes. Carefully transfer to a wire rack and set aside to let cool.
Courtesy Of Whole Foods Market Website
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Homemade Dog Biscuits
Ingredients
1 cup dry oats
2 cups whole-wheat flour
1 cup all-natural peanut butter
1 cup water
1/4 cup olive oil
1 egg, beaten
Method
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Mix together 1 cup dry oats, 2 cups whole-wheat flour, 1 cup all-natural peanut butter, 1 cup water, 1/4 cup olive oil, and 1 egg, beaten.
Sprinkle a bit of flour over a flat, clean surface, and roll the mixture out over the flour to about 3/4 inch thick.
Use cookie cutters to cut in desired shapes; place cookies on a lightly greased cookie sheet.
Bake for 20 minutes on one side; flip and bake an additional 20 minutes.
Remove to cooling racks and let dry thoroughly. Biscuits are ready after about two hours.
Courtesy Of dog-paw-print.com.
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Recycled Sweater Coffee Mug Cozy
Start with an old sweater. Measure from the base of the sleeve up the arm 6 inches and cut. Use a zigzag stitch to finish off the cut edge and keep the sweater from fraying.With a hand needle, sew a running stitch 1/2 inch from the finished edge. Draw the stitches up gently until the opening closes. Stitch so that the opening is securely closed. Slip over a travel mug and enjoy! No more burned fingers!
Courtesy Of CraftStylish
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Homemade Vanilla Trio: Vanilla Extract Recipe, Vanilla Sugar Recipe, Spiced Nuts Recipe
Vanilla Extract Recipe
Ingredients
16-ounce jar or bottle with tight-fitting lid
16 ounces vodka, top-shelf brands not required
6 vanilla beans
Method
Cut the six vanilla beans in half lengthwise, leaving about 1 inch connected at one end. Put the beans into the jar and pour in the 16 ounces of vodka. Cover tightly and store in a cool, dark place for about 8 weeks.
Give it a gentle shake about once a week.
Courtesy Of Instructables
Vanilla Sugar Recipe
Recycle the leftover beans from your vanilla extract adventures. Dry them a couple of days before adding them to the sugar.
Ingredients
1 vanilla bean, whole or scraped
2 cups granulated sugar
Method
If vanilla bean is whole, slice down side of bean with back of knife and scrape seeds into airtight container with the sugar. Bury bean in sugar and seal tightly with lid. Let sit for 1 to 2 weeks. Use as you would regular, granulated sugar.
Courtesy Of From Food Network.
Spiced Nuts Recipe
Ingredients
1 egg white, slightly beaten
1 tsp. vanilla extract
4 c. mixed nuts (or all pecans)
1 c. sugar
1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
Method
Combine egg white and water, add nuts and toss to coat. Combine sugar, pumpkin spice. Toss in mixture.
Place in single layer on slightly greased baking sheet. Bake at 300 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes. Remove and cool on wax paper and break up large clusters.
Courtesy Of Cooks.com.
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