Easy Gifts From The Kitchen

Easy Oatmeal Crispies

2008-12-18T01:13:00.003-05:00

An easy gift from the kitchen is oatmeal crispies.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup margarine, softened
1/2 cup oil
1 egg
2 cups self-rising flour
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup chopped nuts
1/2 cup quick cooking oatmeal

Cooking Instructions:

Cream sugars and softened margarine or butter together in a large bowl until thoroughly mixed.
Mix in oil and egg.
Add flour a little at a time until mixed.
Stir in vanilla, nuts, and oatmeal.
Drop a teaspoonful of the mixture onto an ungreased cookie sheet.
Press flat.
Bake at 350° until browned.

Easy Gifts from the Kitchen: Berry Filled Ornament

2008-12-14T09:26:00.000-05:00

Supplies Needed:

Clear Glass Ball Ornament (Available at AC Moore or Michaels)
Small Artificial Berries or Artificial Berry Picks
18" of 5/8" wide to 7/8" wide ribbon
Glue Gun and Glue Sticks
Scissors
Wire Cutters

Instructions:

Use the photo as a guide

Separate the 2 pieces of the plastic ornament.
Use wire cutters to cut individual berries from the stems.
Fill the plastic ornament with the berries.
Replace other half of ornament and snap securely to close.
Hot glue a small cluster of berries around top of ornament.
Fold the ribbon in half and put a knot on the end, as shown.
Hot glue the ribbon in the center of the berry cluster. You may have to glue a few berries to cover where the ribbon was added.
Hot glue leaves or extra pieces from the remaining picks under the cluster of berries to give it an added accent.

Easy Gifts from the Kitchen: Christmas Candy Wreath

2008-12-13T12:46:00.004-05:00

Here is a great, free project you can do with your family. The simple step-by-step instructions are super easy to follow and you will be making a Christmas Candy Wreath in no time.

Look for hard candy that is wrapped up and don't use chocolate because it might melt if you front door gets a lot of direct sun. Your guests will be able to enjoy a piece of candy each time they visit. Fun for all and a special gift from the kitchen.

This Christmas candy wreath is very simple to make and something the kids can easily do. You'll find complete instructions on what to buy and how to make.

To get your free copy of this eBook visit Livingonadime.com

Easy Gifts from the Kitchen: Comfort Candy in a Jar

2008-12-02T01:36:00.003-05:00

We all have some type of food that we call "comfort food" and for many it is candy or something sweet. Most of the time you will find a drawer full of hard candy, chocolate, or chewy candy next to my computer. I guess you could call it my comfort candy drawer.

This is the easiest gift there is to make.

You will need:

Jar with a reclosable lid (screw on is a good choice)
candy of your choice
a cute poem or story

Instructions:

Type or copy and paste the poem or story into your favorite word processing program. Make the font small enough so that you can print it out and it will be approximately 4" x 6" and fit into your jar nicely. You might want to hand write the poem or story for a more personal touch.
Fill the jar with candy.
Add a bow on top.

Viola! Simple and easy gift from the kitchen.

If you need some ideas for poems or short stories ot add to your candy jar try this sources:

Easy Gifts from the Kitchen: Brown Sugar Cookies

2008-11-30T20:41:00.004-05:00

Brown sugar cookies store well for gift giving. Put them in a resealable plastic container, place a bow on top and add the recipe card.

Ingredients:

2 cups brown sugar
1 cup shortening
2 cup flours
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon baking soda

Baking Instructions:

Mix brown sugar and shortening, pressing out lumps with the back of a large spoon or the tines of a fork.
Stir flour and baking soda until well blended.
Mix in egg and vanilla.
Add a little bit of milk if the dough is too dry.
Preheat oven to 325°.
Spray cookie sheet with spray oil.
Place large spoonfuls of mixture on the cookie sheet.
Place in center rack in oven.
Bake for 5 to 10 minutes.

Easy Gifts from the Kitchen: Applesauce Muffins

2008-11-27T21:43:00.003-05:00

Easy Applesauce Muffins
Makes 24 Muffins

Ingredients:

2 cups self-rising flour
1-1/4 cups sugar
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 egg
1 cup buttermilk
1-1/2 cups applesauce
1 tablespoons apple pie spice
1 cup cinnamon chips

Cooking Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350°.
In a large bowl, mix flour, sugar, vegetable oil and egg until just blended.
Add buttermilk.
Stir in applesauce, spice and cinnamon chips.
Spoon batter into greased or paper-lined muffin pan, filling each cup 2/3 full.
Bake for 20 minutes.

Muffins make a great gift from the kitchen because they keep well for a week or more and everyone loves muffins. They are great for breakfast and as a midnight snack.

Easy Gifts from the Kitchen: Mini Cranberry Wreaths

2008-11-25T08:30:00.000-05:00

A great family or classroom project for young children. To make larger wreaths, use heavy-duty dinner plates. Experiment by using additional seasonal elements like twigs, leaves, acorns and other nature walk finds.

Supplies:

8 brightly colored, heavy-duty 7-inch paper plates
White craft glue
2 to 3 12-ounce packages Ocean Spray® Fresh Cranberries
Decorative ribbon or raffia

Directions:

With scissors, cut out the center of the paper plates, leaving rim about 2 to 2 1/2 inches wide. Squeeze a thick line of glue around plate, about 1/2-inch from edge Place cranberries, one by one, on line of glue. Squeeze another line of glue inside first row of cranberries. Place cranberries, one by one, on second line of glue. Let stand overnight to dry.

Thread ribbon or raffia through center of wreath and tie a bow. Hang wreath with ribbon.

This craft idea was taken from the Ocean Spray site. Please visit their site for more great cranberry Gifts from the Kitchen ideas. www.oceanspray.com

Easy Gifts from the Kitchen: Beef Jerky

2008-11-23T07:12:00.000-05:00

For many years people have made beef jerky for food, storage and necessity. Many new methods have been developed such as freezing, adding chemicals, etc.

We still love the taste and ease of Beef Jerky Original which is generally made from beef but has been enhanced by other flavors like caramel.

Campers and backpackers like jerky because it is easy to pack and requires no refrigeration. It can be used in cooking as well as for snacks. It makes a great gift from the kitchen because you don't have to refrigerate it. Put it in a zip bag for storage or stand the jerky up in a tall jar and then decorate the jar lid with fabric and ribbon.

When making jerky all the fat and moisture must be removed. Jerky is a very good source of energy. Sometimes these benefits are offset by the many chemicals added by processed jerky.

For Making your own health jerky follow these steps:

Marinade Ingredients:

Recipe #1:

2/3 cup Worcestershire sauce
2/3 cup soy sauce
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder

Recipe #2:

1/4 cup wine vinegar
1/4 cup ketchup
1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
1/4 cup olive oil
3 tablespoons honey or brown sugar
1 tablespoon dried onion
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon oregano
1 teaspoon garlic powder

You will want to experiment with your jerky marinade recipe to find just the right combination.

Cooking Instructions:

Three (3) pounds of meat will dehydrate down to about 16-18 ounces of jerky.

1. Select your meat. Lean beef is best. Choose a round or sirloin, brisker, flank steak, or even venison.

2. Cut your beef into thin strips less than 1/8 inch thick, with the grain of the meat. If you want to make slicing easy partly freeze your meat. Make sure you trim all the fat because this does not freeze and can turn bad.

3. Mix all marinade ingredients together in a large gallon size Ziploc bag.

4. Add sliced meat and refrigerate, turning and "squishing" the bag every hour or two. Hearty meats like beef and venison should be marinated overnight.

5. When you are ready to begin the drying process place a sheet of aluminum foil on the bottom of the oven to make cleanup easier. Drain the meat in a colander and dry with paper towels.

6. In a dehydrator use non-stick spray oil on the racks. In an oven set it at 200° allowing for preheating. The oven is not meant to cook but only get rid of the fluid by evaporation. Place meat slices directly onto oven racks. Leave the oven door open a crack to allow moisture to escape.

Drying times will vary due to oven differences and meat size and type. Perfect jerky is firm and dry and not at all spongy. However, if your jerky is so dry it breaks in two easily, it is probably too dry.

Store your jerky in zip bags and keep it in either a refrigerator or a freezer until ready to eat.

Easy Gifts from the Kitchen: Holiday Cranberry Kissing Ball

2008-11-22T08:19:00.000-05:00

In eighteenth century England, kissing balls were traditional decorations hung in doorways. Our version pairs vibrant Ocean Spray® Fresh Cranberries, ribbon and mistletoe for a memorable holiday decoration.

Supplies:

5" foam ball
Red acrylic craft paint
24-gauge beading wire
Hot glue gun/glue sticks OR wooden toothpicks
1 2 12-oz. bags Ocean Spray® Fresh Cranberries
Desired holiday trim: ribbon, mistletoe, holly, ivy, bells

Directions:

Paint foam ball with red craft paint. Set aside to dry.

Cut an 18" piece of wire and fold it in half. Push folded wire all the way through the center of foam ball, leaving a 1" wire loop extending at bottom of ball and 3" of wire extending at top.

Using hot glue gun or toothpicks, attach cranberries to ball, covering it completely. Twist wires at top of ball into a simple hook for hanging. Use ribbon to tie mistletoe and other desired holiday trim to wire above and below ball, and hang with hook.

Kissing ball will last several days. Discard once berries begin to soften. To extend the life of your decoration, you can spray with an even coating of shellac.

This craft idea was taken from the Ocean Spray site. Please visit their site for more great cranberry Gifts from the Kitchen ideas. www.oceanspray.com

Easy Gifts from the Kitchen: Chocolate Turtles

2008-11-21T03:01:00.002-05:00

Ingredients:

1/4 cup evaporated milk
1 package of caramels (approximately 14 oz)
2-1/2 cups pecan halves
1 package milk chocolate chips (approximately 12 oz)
1/2 cup paraffin wax

Cooking Instructions:

Melt caramels and evaporated milk in a double boiler over low heat, stirring until creamy.
Stir in the pecan halves.
Spoon the caramel mixture onto a cookie sheet which has been covered in wax paper, making small piles.
Cool in the refrigerator.
Melt the paraffin and milk chocolate chips in a double boiler until smooth.
Using tongs dip the caramel pecan pieces into the chocolate mixture one at a time.
Drop chocolate covered pieces onto wax paper.

Store turtles in a plastic container at room temperature.

-----------------------------------
What is paraffin wax and why is it in my chocolate candy recipe? Is it edible?

Answer: Paraffin wax, classified as a chemical preservative, is widely used on fruits, vegetables, and candy to make them shiny and pretty as well as to retard moisture loss and spoilage. Waxes are made from vegetable oils, palm oil derivatives, and synthetic resins, as well as other materials. Some people, notably those who are allergic to aspirin, may be sensitive to many waxes, depending on their ingredients.

Yes, it is edible. Paraffin wax is often added to chocolates. The addition of paraffin to the chocolate candy gives it a nice, glossy finish and helps it remain solid at room temperature. Be aware that paraffin is flammable when overheated, so warm it gently in a double-boiler or microwave only to the point where it is melted.

Where can I find it?

You can find paraffin wax, also sometimes called baker's wax or canning wax, in your grocery store where canning jars and supplies are sold. Paraffin is still commonly used (although not recommended) to seal home-canned jellies and jams. However, some paraffin is not intended to be ingested, such as that sold for candlemaking, so check the label.

Gulf Wax Paraseal Canning Wax, Household Paraffin Wax is a popular brand of paraffin used for canning and chocolate-making.

From: homecooking.about.com/od/cookingfaqs/f/faqparaffin.htm

Easy Gifts from the Kitchen: Cheese Biscuits

2008-11-16T02:28:00.002-05:00

Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
4 teaspoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup margarine or butter
2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese (mild, medium or sharp)
1-1/3 cups water

Cooking Instructions:

Combine flour, baking powder, sugar and salt in a large bowl. Mix in margarine with a fork until crumbly.
Add shredded cheese and water. Blend with a fork until completely mixed.
Drop by spoonfuls onto a greased baking sheet.
Bake at 400° for 20 minutes or until lightly browned.

This recipe makes 24 cheese biscuits.

Easy Gifts from the Kitchen: Apples on a Stick

2008-10-28T13:01:00.000-04:00

Here is a fun and easy gift from the kitchen that you can make with your children. Apples on a stick is generally considered a harvest, Thanksgiving or Fall gift but you can change the sprinkles and color you use to make them anytime of the year.

This easy gift from the kitchen comes from Joann Stores. To view the instructions click on the picture to the right and you will be able to download the PDF file and print it out for reference while you are making your easy apples on a stick project.