Luscious Joys: Unique Christmas Presents

The Newsy Neighbour Magazine

www.thenewsyneighbour.com

December Issue #110

By Kathryn Hartwell for The Newsy Neighbour Magazine

Don’t you just love receiving homemade Christmas gifts? I sure do – they are way better than anything else you could receive. It just makes you feel so special that your friends or family have taken the time to make you something really special - to give you a little bit of their heart. Instead of going to the mall to try to find that something special for your family this year, try something new. The following gifts can be given individually, or a theme developed and then grouped in a large basket wrapped with cellophane and ribbons. If you're giving cookies, for instance, tie a big bow on a beautiful basket and include several kinds of cookies along with some cookie cutters, a few recipes, and a cookie mix in a jar. Gifts of homemade liqueur would be great in a beautiful wooden box with a few pretty glasses, a shot glass for measuring, and some homemade snack mixes. Wrap up a few quick breads along with some beverage mixes, a few mugs, and a cutting board or give a crock-pot, filled with soup mixes and lots of different recipes. Find decorative jars at the dollar store (make sure they are food safe). Purchase some holiday recipe cards for the recipes. There are many recipes available, from salad dressings, puddings, soups, sauces, gravy’s and dips. So, grab a pencil and notepaper and start making your list of friends and family who would love to receive a gift of mixes from your kitchen and your heart.

White Chocolate Mix

This makes a fabulous and inexpensive gift. I would add a couple pretty Christmas mugs, stirring spoons, and napkins in a pretty Christmas basket. How wonderful!

2 cups grated white chocolate                       

1 (3-ounce) package white chocolate pudding mix                2 tsp vanilla powder

1-2 tsp dried orange peel, finely ground, if desired

In a small bowl, combine all ingredients. Store in an airtight container in a cool dark place.

To make White Hot Chocolate for Two:

1-1/2 cups milk

1/4 cup White Hot Chocolate Mix

In a small saucepan, heat the milk until bubbles form around edges. Add the White-Hot Chocolate Mix and whisk until the chocolate is melted and beverage is blended.

Thousand Island Salad Dressing

1/2 cup dried parsley flakes                            1/4 cup finely crushed saltine crackers

1/4 cup dried minced onion                            3 tbsp garlic salt

3 tbsp onion salt                                              1 tbsp garlic powder

1 tbsp dried dill weed                                                 1/8 tsp white pepper

In a medium mixing bowl, combine all ingredients and mix well. Store in airtight container in a cool dry place. Makes enough Thousand Island Salad Dressing Mix to make 12 batches of salad dressing. This recipe is perfect for people who love Thousand Island Dressing but are allergic to MSG – like me – most of the salad dressings you buy in the stores have MSG.

To make Thousand Island Dressing, combine 1 tablespoon of Thousand Island Salad Dressing Mix with 1 cup mayonnaise, 1 cup buttermilk, 1/2 cup chili sauce and 1/4 cup pickle relish and blend well. Store leftover dressing in refrigerator.

Butterscotch Pudding Mix

Butterscotch Pudding Mix is a delicious and easy way to make pudding from scratch.

1-1/2 cups brown sugar                                   1/3 cup granulated sugar

3/4 cup nonfat dry milk powder                     1 cup cornstarch

1/2 tsp salt                                                       2 tsp vanilla powder

Combine all ingredients and store in container with tight-fitting lid. Makes 3 cups mix.

For two servings, combine 1/4 cup Butterscotch Pudding Mix, 2 tbsp butter, and 1 cup milk in a small saucepan. Heat over low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture boils. Boil gently, stirring constantly, for one minute. Pour into serving dishes and chill until thickened.

Surprise Cookie Mix

These cookies are incredibly luscious and with this mix they are super easy to make.

2-1/2 cups flour                                               1 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt                                                       1 cup sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

2 packages chocolate mint wafer candies

In large bowl combine flour, baking soda, salt, and sugar and mix well. Pour into the bottom of a screw top glass jar. Place brown sugar into a small bag and place on top of the flour mixture. Unwrap the mints and place in another small bag; place on top of the brown sugar. Screw jar closed and include this recipe:

1 cup butter, softened                                     2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla                                                     1 jar cookie mix

In large bowl, combine butter and brown sugar from cookie mix and beat until fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla and mix until blended. Stir in remaining dry ingredients from cookie mix until blended. Cover and chill dough for 2 hours.

Preheat oven to 375°F. Shape about two teaspoons of dough around each chocolate mint wafer, making sure to cover the candy completely. Bake on ungreased cookie sheets at 375°F for 9-12 minutes until light golden brown. Let stand for 1 minute, then remove from cookie sheets and let cool on wire racks. Glaze with melted chocolate if desired, or top with nuts before baking. Makes 4 dozen cookies.

Onion Soup Mix

Make your own onion soup mix to use for soups or dips.

3/4 cup instant minced onion                          1/3 cup beef flavored instant bouillon

4 tsp onion powder                                         1/4 tsp celery salt

1/4 tsp sugar                                                    1/8 tsp white pepper

Mix all ingredients together well, and store up to 6 months in cool, dry place. Stir before each use. Five tablespoons of the mix equals 1.25-oz. pkg. of purchased dry onion soup mix.

Merry Christmas and have fun sharing your homemade creations with your family and friends this special Christmas season.

Kathryn Hartwell