Julie Burge asked:


Mixer blades a whirlin’, causing puffs of flour to dance and meld with the aromas of cinnamon and sugar and vanilla…oh my! Now add in the image of Elvis to this great little recipe. That’s right. Flour, sugar, butter, and a pompadoured, hip-swinging crooner singing Blue Christmas. I’m not what you would call an Elvis fan so imagine my surprise at the fact that thoughts of holiday cookie baking are forever linked with the sounds of “The King.” I give my sister all the credit. Anyway, in our family, holiday magic is made in the kitchen (with or without Elvis) and I am fortunate to come from a family of good cooks. From an early age, my favorite holiday memories revolved around time shared with my family singing Christmas Cantata music, bickering over silly things, and huddling around mixing bowls trying to follow recipes long since tattered, torn and covered with buttery smears from years gone by.

My mother is well-known for her Gifts of Christmas Cookies she gives out each year and in fact, begins getting calls from folks out of the blue in October reminding her not to forget to include them in the cookie bake that year. Operation Christmas Cookies is a big production. We made a lot of cookies. For a few days over Christmas break, our family of four would churn out about 14 different kinds of cookies totaling at least a hundred dozen cookies. It was not always easy or fun. We would find ourselves up into the wee hours of the morning still decorating cookies after mixing and baking all day. All of us covered in sticky icing and stuck with little red and green stars, the hour would get later and everyone’s patience would wane. Through it all, we always ended up with lots of spectacular cookies. This delicious tradition went on unchanged throughout my childhood until my sister contributed a gift she brought home from her college life. Things were going along smoothly with long familiar Christmas songs being sung and quick sneaks of cookie dough being savored. Then the world shifted and the above pompadoured, hip-swinging crooner began ,

“I’ll ha-ha-ve a blue (blu – hoo – hi -hoooo) Christ – mas (blu – hoo – hi -hoooo), without you….”

The little brat sneaked an Elvis CD into the changer! Did I mention that I am not a big Elvis fan? How dare she! I did fight this change for awhile but I have to say, when the album took its turn a second time, I found myself singing right along with everyone else. It was hilarious to me that listening to Elvis belt out Christmas music while we mixed up butter, sugar, and flour seemed…well, just like old times.

It has been fifteen years since my sister and I went off into the world to have families of our own and no longer get to share this most precious gift as a family. Coordinating difficult schedules left Mom and Dad with no choice but to go ahead and bake without us. My sister and I both bake a few of our favorites at the holidays but it will never be the same as when we were growing up. The incredible sense of love, connection and stability that my parents gave us with those holiday memories will always be treasured. I would give anything to experience it one more time.

You don’t have to make a hundred dozen cookies for it to be this special. Invite your family over for a pre-holiday weekend of sharing, baking, and re-connecting. Ask your son, daughter, or grandchildren into the kitchen and bake up some magic together. The cookies are really good, too!
Below are some of our family’s favorites recipes! Check out the recipes and give them a try!



Nut Yammers – my Mom and sister’s favorite

Erma’s Eight Day Honey Cookies – my grandmother’s spectacular, unusual cookie

Holiday Fruit Drops – 2nd most requested cookie – like little fruitcakes, that taste good!

Holiday Chocolate Sticks – my Dad’s favorite

Butter Balls – most requested cookie

Pineapple Coconut Bars – my favorite cookie – I love you Grandma!

Here’s a Happy Holiday tip: indulge yourself with a treat of hot cocoa and cookies for breakfast! You’ll feel like a kid again and smile all day!



Create a unique Chocolate Gift Basket…in minutes.

Sandy Powers asked:


A Return to More Simple Gifts for the HolidaysBy Sandy PowersThese are difficult economic times without any sight of change in the foreseeable future. We will return to pleasures in our lives that are unconnected to money. While our holidays will still be filled with gift giving, many of the gifts will come from the kitchen instead of the shopping mall. Giving a gift from the kitchen during the holidays is thoughtful and personal. It is a gift that truly is from you. One of my recipes that my family and friends look forward to receiving is my Pineapple Fruitcake. No one throws this fruitcake away!Fruitcakes date back to Roman times when pomegranate seeds, pine nuts, and barley mush were mixed together to form a ring-shaped dessert. Roman soldiers packed fruitcake with them on their long marches because of the fruitcakes long shelf life. During the Middle Ages, cooks added honey, spices, and dried fruits to fruitcakes. Crusaders, like the early Roman soldiers, carried the fruitcake with them to sustain themselves for long periods on their marches to the Holy Land. An interesting historical twist to the lore of the fruitcake occurred in the early 18th Century when a few European countries outlawed the fruitcake because they were considered “sinfully rich.”As a special touch to the Pineapple Fruitcake, jot a note that tells some of the history of the fruitcake and attach it to the gift.  Pineapple Fruitcake2 and ½ cup flour1 teaspoon salt1 teaspoon baking powder¾ cup butter½ cup white sugar½ cup brown sugar4 eggs, beaten3 tablespoons orange juice1 and ½ cup candied pineapple chunks½ cup candied cherries1 and ½ cup walnut piecesSift flour, salt, and baking powder. Cream butter and sugars together. Beat in eggs. Stir in flour mixture. Stir in orange juice. Mix well. Fold in fruits and nuts. Pour into well-greased and floured 9 inch tube pan.* Bake at 300 degrees about 2 hours or until toothpick comes out clean when inserted. Cool in pan.* To stretch gift giving, divide batter into two small bread pans. Adjust cooking time. Check with toothpick after 45 minutes, then 15 minute intervals.



Corsets for all Occasions

Karen Ciancio asked:


Many of us would love to give hand made holiday gift baskets. Christmas gifts from the kitchen are always welcome and Christmas gift baskets, especially home made food gift baskets, are a real treat.

It’s easy to become overwhelmed by the thought of making your own holiday gift baskets but with a few easy recipe ideas it is easy to create a personalized and thoughtful hand made Christmas food gift basket.

Any of these recipes make a wonderful gift packaged in a plastic or cellophane bag with a colorful bow or in a pretty jelly jar with a fabric covered lid. Add a hand made card with the recipe attached to it and your gift is complete.

Herbed Beer Batter Bread Mix

To make the mix you will need:

2 3/4 cups all purpose flour

2 tablespoons sugar

2 tablespoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon each of dried thyme and oregano

Dash of dried dill

In a large bowl, stir together flour, sugar, baking powder, salt oregano, thyme and dill. Pack this mixture into an airtight container or bag. The mix can be stored at room temperature for up to 1 month. It will make 1 loaf of bread.

Recipe to print on attached card:

For Herbed Beer Bread

Herbed Beer Bread Mix

1 can of beer at room temperature

1 teaspoon butter, melted

Place the Beer Bread Mix in a large bowl. With a wooden spoon, stir in beer just until incorporated. Scrape into greased 8″x4″ loaf pan.

Bake in 375ºF oven for 45 to 50 minutes or until crusty and golden brown. Let stand in the pan for 5 minutes then remove to rack and brush with melted butter. Makes 1 loaf.

Old Fashioned Oatmeal Cookie Mix

To make the mix you will need:

6 cups rolled oats

4 cups all-purpose flour

3 cups packed brown sugar

2 teaspoons cinnamon

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 pound shortening

2 cups raisins

1 1/2 cups shredded coconut

1 cup chocolate chips

1 cup chopped pecans

In a large bowl, stir together oats, flour, sugar, cinnamon, baking powder, salt and baking soda. With a pastry blender, cut in shortening until crumbly.

Stir in raisins, coconut, chocolate and pecans. This mix can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 10 weeks. Makes about 5 batches of cookies.

Recipe to print on attached card:

Old Fashioned Oatmeal Cookies

4 cups Oatmeal Cookie Mix

1 egg, lightly beaten

2 tablespoons milk

2 teaspoons vanilla

In a bowl, combine the Oatmeal Cookie Mix with egg, milk and vanilla until dough forms. Shape into 1 1/2″ balls and place on greased baking sheets. Flatten balls with a fork.

Bake in 375ºF oven for 15 to 18 minutes or until golden. Remove to racks and let cool. Makes 24 cookies.

Spicy Mulled Cider Mix

To make the mix you will need:

3/4 cup crushed cinnamon sticks

3/4 cup chopped dried orange rind

1/3 cup whole allspice

1/4 cup whole cloves

Combine all ingredients in a jar. Makes about 2 cups.

Recipe to print on attached card:

Spicy Mulled Cider

4 cups apple juice, apple cider, or half apple juice and half cranberry juice

2 tablespoons Spicy Mulled Cider Mix

In saucepan, combine juice and cider mix. Cover and bring to a simmer. Gently simmer for 20 minutes. Strain into mugs. Makes 4 servings.

Place a few of these gems in a wicker basket, Christmas tin or other fun and seasonal container. Fill in the spaces with wrapped chocolates, holiday napkins or a bottle of wine and you have beautiful and sure to be appreciated holiday gift baskets with that extra personal touch.



Hey Girls!… Time to Get Flirty and down right Dirty!

Shireen Aga asked:


Christmas time’s favourite phrase must be “do you remember when…?” as families catch up and remember past times with wry smiles, chuckles and the occasional foot stamp preceded by pantomimic exclamations of “oh no I didn’t!”.  The rush of memories flooding back as we dig into the purchased Christmas Cake of despair when the taste of an overly-sweet dry cake makes us hark back to stickier times when Christmas cakes were moist, moreish, fruity and baked at home, with love.

Barbara Walker, Co-Manager of the Jamaican boutique hideaway spot Hotel Mockingbird Hill, whose organic Restaurant Mille Fleurs has been acclaimed by Gourmet Magazine, believes this is the one time of the year that those who ‘don’t cook’ should take a Sunday afternoon to get back into the kitchen. 

Barbara says “I don’t have to go into the kitchen that often anymore and I am happy to leave the kitchen space to our wonderful trained Chefs, however the first Sunday of December is when I break that rule and the oven becomes mine, bearing in mind that I never bake.  There is nothing better than spending the afternoon stirring, whisking and beating whilst remembering my Mother’s wonderful Christmas Cake Recipe, which she is now passing on to her granddaughter. Just knowing that I can create something to share at Christmas, which is so good, that it is being handed down from one generation to the next without alteration – that is quite a rare accomplishment in today’s world.”

If you don’t have a family Christmas cake recipe to celebrate this holiday season why not try hers:



Barbara’s Rich Jamaican Rum Christmas Fruit Cake:

(for spices these are only guidelines – check and adjust to personal taste)

1.5kg finely chopped mixed dried fruit (use a blender or food processor if you prefer a smoother type of cake and preferably fruit that has been steeped in golden rum for a minimum of 2 weeks for before cooking date)

500 gm brown sugar

500 gm butter

750 gm flour (we use whole wheat but you could use white, if so you’ll possibly have to check the consistency) –if the mixture seems a little too wet add a little flour

1 tbsp. cinnamon powder

1 tbsp. nutmeg grated

1 tbsp.pimento powder (allspice)

1 tbsp. baking powder

1 doz. eggs

2 tbsp. vanilla essence 

Pinch of salt

Method:

Cream sugar and butter until it is white and fluffy.

Seive the flour and mix in the dried spices, salt and baking powder

Alternatively add one egg at a time followed by a few tablespoons of the spiced flour mixture

When all eggs and flour are thoroughly mixed add the vanilla essence

Add enough of the fruit mixture until it gets a rich brown colour.

Put into baking tins which are lined with grease-proof paper and bake at a very low temperature 100C for approx. 2.5 -3 hours (and enjoy the aromas in the kitchen while the cake bakes!)

This cake is a moist cake so when you test it with a needle or pin, it will always be a bit sticky but check that the mixture is cooked through.

When cake is done, take it out of the baking tins immediately otherwise it will sweat. Leave to cool.

When cool, return to baking tin or to a storage tin and pour about 12 cl. (about 3 pegs or double shot) of rum and close the tin. Repeat this once a week till Christmas – the longer the cake is stored, the better it tastes!

The fun part about this mixture is that it can also make the Christmas dinner’s Christmas pudding: instead of baking all the mixture put some into greased and floured pyrex dishes, cover firmly with greaseproof our brown paper and steam -1½ hours in a pressure cooker or 2½ -3 hours in a bain-marie. When done, open up, pour over about 12cl of rum and put away for Christmas day. Repeat this once a week till Christmas – the longer the pudding is stored, the better it tastes! On Christmas day just warm up the pudding for about ½ hour in a bain-marie and serve with rum butter.

So an easy gift for your family & Father Christmas in 3 easy steps:

1.    Steep you fruit in golden rum

2.    Bake the cake and steam the pudding

3.    Let the cake soak “golden sunshine” rum in a minimum of 2 weeks leading up to Christmas.

 

Recipe courtesy of Barbara Walker, Hotel Mockingbird Hill, Jamaica



Create a unique Chocolate Gift Basket…in minutes.

Kate S asked:


Pet ownership in the United States is on the rise. A recent survey by the American Veterinary Medical Association indicates that four in ten (43 million) U.S. households own at least one dog, and three in ten (37.5 million) households own at least one cat.  This increase in pet ownership reflects more people realize pets can truly enrich their lives.  Pets not only provide companionship, unconditional love and affection, research now shows they also provide significant health benefits. Pets can help to reduce stress, relieve loneliness and depression.  Moreover, pets can provide opportunities for exercise, outdoor activities, and socializaton.  Published scientific studies show that pets can decrease their owner\’s blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and feelings of loneliness. Older people who have pets tend to have better physical and mental health than those who don’t.

In parallel to the increase in pet ownership, gift-giving to pets continues to rise.  A recent survey shows eight out of ten dog owners buy dog gifts and 63 percent of cat owners purchase gifts for the family feline.  Moreover, the gifts are not just purchased at Christmas, but also for birthdays, Easter, Halloween, Valentine\’s Day, or for no special occasion. This article reviews some popular dog gifts and cat gifts available online.

Popular dog gifts include natural dog treats, dog gift basket, gift tower, and care package. The natural dog treats are bone-shaped biscuits that come in one pound gift bag and in three different flavors: peanut, carob chip and oatmeal cinnamon.  These crunchy delicious treats will be received by your pet dog with excessive tail wagging and plenty of kisses.  These inexpensive dog treats are ideal gifts for dog lovers.  

Another popular gift, the dog gift basket, consists of a chrome bone shaped wire basket filled with a chew toy, a package of chewy treats and special dog biscuit mix that the dog owner will bake. Dog biscuit mix comes with simple instructions and a bone shaped cookie cutter to cut out and bake the biscuits. Anyone feeding these treats to the dog can look forward to plenty of wet kisses from that pampered pet.

The dog gift tower consists of a set of adorable boxes stacked on top of one another and make great storage for doggie\’s toys later. Every box is filled with pleasant surprises, including doggie shampoo, plaster dog print kit, doggie chew ball, 2 doggie chew toy, washing mitt or brush, a paw print box filled with beef flavored dog bones, and an 8\” playful puppy toy. This gift will delight your favorite pooch or pooch lover.

Another fantastic gift to spoil the dog in your life or its owner is a pet care package designed specifically for the dog lover. This adorable dog paw print gift box comes filled with doggie ball, doggie chew toy, doggie shampoo, plaster dog print kit, doggie washing mitt or brush, and a paw print box filled with beef flavored dog bones treats.

Popular cat gifts include cat gift box and cat gift basket. The house shaped cat gift box is full of treats for a good kitty. It includes over a cup of tuna flavored snacks and a mouse play toy. These cat snacks are low fat and low calorie, so you don\’t have to worry about the cat\’s weight.  It is a perfect gift for any friend or family member who has a cat.

The cat gift basket consists of a chrome cat-shaped wire container as a keepsake.  It is filled with a seed mixture of herbs and cat grasses to grow in any sunny place, a cat toy, and a bag of kitty treats mix that the cat owner will bake after cutting out with a metal fish-shaped cookie cutter.  All the cat owner needs is a bowl, water and an oven to make these treats. This gift basket is sure to pamper any feline.

In conclsuion, gift-giving to pet dogs and cats is on the rise, probably as a result of increasing pet ownership, and scientific confirmation on the benefits of pet ownership. Great selections of dog gifts and cat gifts are available.  These gifts are not only ideal for showing your affection to your pets, but also make great dog lover gifts or cat lover gifts. 

Kate S. is the CEO of Gift Basket for All, LLC. You can visit her site by clicking on the link below:

Gift Baskets

Gift Basket for All.com offers sensational gift baskets for all occasions, including anniversary, holidays, new baby, birthday, corporate events, get well, sympathy.

For information on products reviewed in this article, please click on Dog Gifts, Cat Gifts





Chocolate Buttons Galore

Krista QQ(www.123giftfactory.com) asked:


It can be difficult to find a good and trustworthy dog walker, cat walker or dog sitter. But when a pet owner does find that perfect pet sitter or dog walker, many seek to give a nice holiday gift to their pet helper, though coming up with a good gift idea for a dog walker or pet sitter can be difficult.



Now check out following Christmas gift ideas for pet lovers include gift suggestions for every holiday shopper’s budget:

Gift Card to a Local Pet Store

Most pet walkers and dog sitters have a dog, cat or other pet of their own. Find out if the dog walker or dog sitter has a pet at home. If so, one great gift idea that the pet sitter or dog walker is sure to love is a gift card to a local pet store.

A pet store gift card will appeal to virtually all dog sitters, cat sitters or dog walkers, since the gift card can be used to purchase something more practical like food or supplies, or the gift card can be used to purchase a fun pet novelty item, like dog clothing or a cute new pet bed.

A Gift Certificate to a Local Athletic Shoe Store

Dog walkers spend a lot of time on their feet and a great pair of shoes can make all the difference. A gift certificate to a local athletic shoe store will allow the dog sitter to pick out a great new pair of walking shoes that will make those daily dog walks more comfortable and more enjoyable.

A Gift Spa Certificate or A Gift Massage Certificate



Pet walking and pet sitting can be physically demanding, stressful and mentally exhausting at times. So give the cat sitter, dog walker, dog sitter or other pet sitter the gift of relaxation and pampering with a gift certificate to a local spa or masseuse for a massage. Women may enjoy a relaxing facial, while both men and women can enjoy a leg and foot massage or a back massage.

For pet owners who like this gift idea, but who are looking to spend a bit less on a gift for the dog sitter or pet walker, consider a gift from The Body Shop or Bath and Body Works. Most female dog walkers and pet sitters will enjoy a bath and body-themed gift set of bubble bath, bath oils, scented lotion and a candle – all the items that are needed for a relaxing bath after a long day of dog walking or pet sitting.

Handmade Pet Clothing

For pet owners who don’t have a lot of money to spend on a gift for a dog walker or pet sitter, consider a handmade (or store-bought, for the less crafty folks) scarf, gloves, hat or sweater, to keep the dog walker warm during those winter dog walks.

There’s even crafters who can turn dog or cat hair into yarn, that’s then dyed and knitted into a scarf, sweater, etc. So those more eccentric dog owners can save the fur from those daily brushings and one day, there will be enough fur to create a knitted item like a hat, scarf or sweater. It’s a unique gift idea that’s literally “from the dog!”

Homemade Pet Treats or Baked Pet Foods

Another great inexpensive gift idea for a dog walker or pet sitter is Homemade Pet Treats or Baked Goods, why not? To bake some homemade dog treats or homemade cat treats for the dog sitter or pet walker’s own dogs or cats. Homemade pet treats are a thoughtful gift idea that’s inexpensive yet charming.

Most pet sitters and dog walkers have a pet or two (or ten) at home, but a few dog walkers and pet sitters work with animals because they don’t have pets at home and their work provides them with an opportunity to enjoy the companionship of dogs, cats and other pets. For a dog walker, dog sitter or cat sitter who does not have a cat or dog at home, give the gift of some homemade holiday cookies that can be placed in a colorful tin. This homemade gift is simple and inexpensive, yet thoughtful.



Create a unique Chocolate Gift Basket…in minutes.