Homemade Food Gifts: Baked Goods

The most frugal way to make these foods is from scratch. Admittedly, I often use boxed items when I’m able to purchase them on sale, with a coupon. They can be pretty affordable just before and during the holidays. The trick to doing this in the most frugal manner possible is by figuring out whether it is cheaper to bake from scratch or a box when all factors are added in, or deducted 🙂 Be sure to factor in home preserved produce for the food items that have fruit as an ingredient.

Just a note: These are not healthy baked-goods. But most people on my gift list won’t likely eat healthy versions. They like what they are used to. So yes, I give sweets at the holidays. Also, I don’t think it is necessarily bad to treat yourself once-in-a-while. You just don’t want to make a habit of it.

Fill baskets with one or more of the following:

• HM (Homemade) quick breads
• Quick breads from a box: Lemon poppy seed, apple cinnamon, pumpkin and cinnamon swirl are all tasty options.
• Brownies
• HM pumpkin chocolate chip cookies or bars.
• HM sugar cookies decorated with colored sugars or icings.
• HM apple or zucchini bars with chocolate chips.
• HM mints

Tips

• To save money on electricity, I bake multiple items at once.
• To save time, I mix up multiple batches at once in large bowls.
• To save a few more pennies, when mixing up multiple batches I delete and egg or two.
• To save more money, I use small or medium eggs – or large depending on what is on sale. You can use any size eggs in baking, even if large eggs are specifically called for. 1 small or medium egg = 1 large egg.
• Use mini loaf pans, if possible.
• Use mini decorative cake pans for breads, bars and cakes.

What homemade baked goods do you make to give as holiday gifts? Please share with us in the comments below.

Shannon

 

Homemade Food Gifts: Dried Herbs

Throughout the summer and autumn months, you’ve harvested and dried organic herbs to use in your culinary ventures throughout the winter. As is usually the case, you have far more of these dried herbs than you’ll be able to use before the next harvest season. Why not share your bounty with family and friends?

Hopefully, throughout the year, you’ve been cleaning and saving the glass jars from your food purchases. Perhaps you have purchased canning jars, lids, and rings frugally at yard sales and thrift shops. You may also have fabric and twine and/or raffia from the projects that you’ve been working on throughout the year. If so, you have the makings for great holiday gifts.

Single Herb Examples

Basil

Bay leaves

Parsley

Rosemary

Sage

Herb Mix Examples

Basil, oregano and thyme

Basil, thyme and parsley

Dill, mint and parsley

Lemon balm and mint

Parsley and rosemary

1. Sterilize all the jars, lids, and rings. Dry completely. It is important that no moisture is evident when packing the dried herbs.
2. Fill the jars with single herbs, or herb mixes.
3. Tie squares or rounds of fabric over the cover of each jar with twine or raffia.
4. Add a tag or sticker to the jar with the name of the herb, and with ‘From (Your Names’) Garden.’

How do you package your dried herbs for gift giving? Share your ideas in the comments below.

You may also enjoy:

Candy-Filled Ornaments or Tags

Food Gifts for Yule and Christmas

Shannon

Reference:

Rodale’s Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs (1987, Rodale Press)

Homemade Food Gifts: The Cooks’ Gift

If you’ve taken the time to make the homemade vinegars, oils and butters that have been featured here on the Frugal Recipes blog, then you have a great base for a cooks’ holiday gift. If you have made dried herb gifts, you will be able to add them to this. All of these items, combined with some homemade baked goods, will make a great gift.

Place a combination of these items in a large gift basket, over a dish or tea towel, or other fabric. Tie a bow on, and add a tag.

You can add to this gift if you have affordable ways of obtaining certain other items. For instance, why not add some homemade knitted or crocheted dish cloths to the gift. (My sister makes me a couple of these each year, and I just love them.) A dollar store will net you wooden cooking spoons and rubber spatulas, or even dish towels. I once found two large metal pots at a yard sale for .50 each. They were used, but looked almost new. A thrift shop may net you a hand grater for a quarter, or a couple of whisks. If you’ve been lucky enough to find such deals, create gifts with them.

This would be an easy project for children to put together, as they aren’t really preparing any of the foods themselves.

Tips

• Combine in a container. No need to wrap.
• If you choose to use a basket, they can be found affordably at thrift shops.
• I once found four large baskets at a yard sale for $1.00 each.

What food gifts do you give at the holidays? Please share with us in the comments below.

Shannon

Note: I know sweets and many baked goods are not healthy, and that we really shouldn’t be eating them, but I have family members who don’t limit such things. So yes, I give these items at the holidays. Also, I don’t think it is necessarily bad to treat yourself once-in-a-while. You just don’t want to make a habit of it.

Homemade Food Gifts: Herbed Butters

Purchase sweet butter in large packages, preferably on sale. Generic and store brand butter is fine. Use a coupon if you have one.

Herbed butters are simple to make, and can be made up to three months before the date they will be given as gifts. Simply freeze them in 1/2 or 1 pint canning jars, or other thick jars that have been saved and cleaned for this purpose. Be sure to sterilize the jars before using them.

Two days before you wish to give the gifts, take the butters out of the freezer and place them into the refrigerator. The next day, you will want to tie a square or round of fabric over the jars’ lid with raffia or twine. Add a tag or a sticker with the name of each butter and its’ ingredients, as well as a line that reads ‘From the Kitchen of (Your Name).’

RATIO: 1/2 cup butter to 1 Tablespoon of herb or herb combination. Mix it all up well. (May need to be remixed before giving as a gift.)

USE: Herbs fresh from the garden or pot. Wash and mince them before use.

Variations:

• Dill and mint
• Garlic and marjoram
• Parsley

Experiment with different herbs and combinations of herbs.

NOTE: These jars of butter do not need processing.

What combinations of herbs do you use when making butter? Please share your experiences with us in the comments below.

Shannon

References:

Rodale’s Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs (1987, Rodale Press)

Related Articles

• Cinnamon Butter (frugalrecipes.wordpress.com)

Autumn Turkey Soup

This is an easy recipe that can be served on a cold, autumn evening. Served in a pumpkin bowl, this recipe will add a decorative touch to the dinner table.

Ingredients:

water and/or vegetable stock or broth

bite size cubes of pumpkin

bite size cubes of two different kinds of squash

bite size cubes of potato

bite size cubes of sweet potato

chunks of leftover turkey

1 or 2 cloves of fresh garlic

fresh or dried parsley

fresh or dried rosemary

1. Pour the liquid into a pot, and add the pumpkin, squash, and potatoes, as well as the diced garlic.
2. Allow to cook most of the way, then add the turkey.
3. Add the parsley and some rosemary to taste.
4. Pour into pumpkin bowls and serve.

Tips

• Purchase stock or broth on sale, as store brands.
• Better yet, make your own.  This will save even more money.
• Use leftover turkey from Thanksgiving to save more money.
• Use organic herbs and produce from your garden for the ultimate savings.
• Roast the pumpkin seeds and sprinkle them over the stew once it is poured into the bowls.

Serving Suggestions:

• Serve with a fruit salad.

What autumn stews are favorites of your family?

Shannon

Homemade Food Gifts: Herbed Vinegars

Herbed vinegars are not difficult to make. They add flavor to salads and other recipes, such as meat marinades. These are best made during the herb harvesting seasons of summer and autumn, when the herbs can be used fresh.

NOTE: These vinegars will last up to a year if stored in a cool, dark place.

You’ll need jars or bottles to pour the vinegars and other ingredients into. These can be washed and saved throughout the year, and should be sterilized just before using.

The basic preparations work like this:

1. Place three 2-inch sprigs of herbs/leaves into each jar or bottle, per each cup of vinegar that the container will hold.
2. Put one garlic, shallot, or other ingredient into the necessary jars as well, per cup of vinegar that each jar will hold.
3. Heat the vinegar; do not boil.
4. Pour the vinegar into jars, over the other items.
5. Let cool.
6. Cover each jar.
7. Tie a tag around each bottle, with raffia or twine, with its’ ingredient list and ‘From (Your Names’) Kitchen.’ Also note how long the vinegar will last (once given as gift). Mention how each vinegar may be used.

Variations:

• Rosemary, orange peel, garlic and white vinegar.
• 1 tablespoon honey, mint, cardamom seed, and white vinegar.
• Blossoms from chives, savory, and cider vinegar.

Tips:

• Keep marinade and other sauce type jars from purchased foods to save money. Or have friends and family save them for you.
• Other cheaply purchased glass jars will work as well, including canning jars.
• Purchase white and other vinegars in large bottles, on sale.
• Purchase vinegars that don’t come in large bottles as cheaply as possible.
• Purchase store or generic brands, if possible.
• Experiment with your own variations.

What vinegar variations have you tried? Please share the results with us in the comments below.

Shannon

Reference:

Rodale’s Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs (1987, Rodale Press)

Flower Petal Ice Cubes

These are simple to make using organically grown flowers. Try making them in season using the petals from flowers such as:

• Carnations
• Johnny Jump-Ups
• Lilacs
• Roses

Simply place the petals into ice cube trays and cover with water. Freeze and use in water, iced teas, or lemonade.

Shannon

Strawberry Cream Surprise

I love strawberries, and I love coconut. I love mixing coconut cream with pure extracts to come up with different flavorings. This recipe uses pure mint extract.

Add add different toppings to this for variety, choosing something different each time you make it.

Ingredients

Serves: 1

sundae cup

long-handled tea-spoon

coconut cream flavored with pure vanilla extract to taste

3 large sliced strawberries

1 teaspoon baker’s cocoa

1. Put a few tablespoons of cream into the bottom of a small sundae cup.
2. Sprinkle with the baker’s cocoa and give it just a little mix.
3. Add the sliced strawberries.

Tips

• Grow and/or pick your own strawberries to save money.
• Try using a different type of pure extract, such as almond or vanilla.

Serving Suggestions

1. Serve for breakfast with a turkey based egg scramble.
2. Serve for dessert or a snack.
3. Serve for lunch or dinner with a casserole.

Shannon

 

Fruit Parfaits

I love Parfaits. I put them into the sundae cups for a nice treat. I have real tea spoons with long handles that I place in the cups to add just a little fanciness to this treat.

Ingredients

any type of fruit that you like, and you can mix and match them

coconut cream flavored with pure vanilla, citrus, or mint extract

toppings such as cherries, crushed almond slivers, or unsweetened coconut cream.

1. Put a tablespoon of cream in the bottom of the cup.
2. Layer the cream and fruit until you get to the top.
3. Add your choice of topping(s).

Tips

• These parfaits are great for daycare children to make, though adults may need to cut (or supervise the cutting of) the fruits.
• They are refreshing on a hot summer day.
• And they make great party treats.

Serving Suggestions

• Serve at breakfast with an egg scramble.
• Serve for a dessert or snack.
• Serve as a side with lunch or dinner.

Enjoy!

Shannon

P.S. If you have any other parfait ideas that you would care to share, please post them in the comments section. Thank you.

Edible Flowers for Your Frugal Garden

Not every flower is edible, so it’s important to identify each correctly before consuming. Many flowers can be eaten raw or used in cooking, and quite a few are excellent for cake decorating. They are even said to have health benefits, particularly for emotional health.

This list will be helpful when deciding which flowers to grow for culinary purposes. Be sure you are purchasing the plants or seeds from organic sources, and using organic methods of planting and caring for them.

Carnation

Carnations are often used by cake decorators. Candy and wine can be made using them as an ingredient. Some carnations tend to have a spicy flavor that may seem peppery. Others have a sweet flavor.

Day Lilies

Also used in cake decorating, they can be used in salads as well. Some may be bitter, but many have a mild flavor. Their unopened buds can be steamed, and can be used in a stir-fry.

Johnny Jump-Ups

These add a decorative touch to desserts, and can be used in salads as well. Freeze them with water in ice cube trays and use the cubes in your lemonade and iced tea.

Lilac

The lilac has pretty purple or white flowers. Use these in ice cream for a nice treat. This will go very well sprinkled over Paleo banana ice cream.

Rose

Rose hips are members of the apple family, making them edible as well as beautiful. They will provide your body with vitamin C. Use these in jams and teas.

References and Resources:

What’s Cooking America: Edible Flowers