Gifts From The Kitchen

Delicious gifts from your own kitchen add a personal and meaningful touch to the art of gift-giving. Whether for holidays, birthdays, housewarmings or as a get-well gift, hand-made treats really show recipients how much you care. Gifts from the kitchen are gifts from the heart.

But forget the usual fruitcake cliché, today’s kitchen treats can range from fun Halloween goodies to elegantly prepared and presented jars and baskets. Many are economical to produce and some can even be made ahead of time, so anytime you need a gift you’ll always be prepared. If you’re a gardener, take advantage of a large harvest by canning, incorporating your aromatic herbs, using your fruit and more to share your bounty. If not, go ahead and buy ingredients.

Cookies are always a welcome treat. Baking around holidays can be a fun family activity too. Just remember, that most cookies have a short shelf life and need to be given to their recipient soon after baking. Biscotti, on the other hand, has a long shelf life.

Flavored Vinegars and Oils are very popular these days. Easy to make and quite beautiful to display, there are so many combinations of herbs, fruit and other ingredients to choose from. Use your choice of cider, wine, white or rice vinegar or olive oil and make sure your flavor ingredients are colorful.

Candied Fruit are a delicious and colorful gift. Good fruits for candying include pineapple, lemons, oranges and grapefruits. They can even be partially dipped in chocolate.

Spiced Nuts can be made in a variety of sweet and savory flavors. From hot to mild, curried to cinnamon coated, they are easy to make in quantity too.

Jams, preserves and chutneys are a perennial favorite. Great with tea and toast, they’re also wonderful to cook with. And you can also make a wonderful mix of savory and sweet here too. Place a beautiful ribbon around the neck of your jar and its ready to go.

Truffles, brittles and other candies are always a welcome treat. Try adding a twist to your recipes. Use pistachios instead of peanuts. Add an exotic flavor to chocolates. Even try a bit of pepper for a Mexican twist.

When you’ve taken the time to prepare such special gift items, you’ll also want to present them with the same amount of care. Jars, canning materials, and baskets are easily available in many choices of style and size. But don’t forget to dress them up with cellophane, ribbons, papers, gift tags and even theme ornaments will add just the right finishing touches.