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Here are 5 homemade treats that are perfect for gifting to your favourite people. Chocolate is involved!
Is there anything more personal than a homemade gift? It’s easy to spend money and buy something from the store but if someone gives you something that they have made themselves, it’s so special.
Homemade gifts don’t have to be complicated. Here are 5 that are super easy and they involve chocolate.
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This Candy Cane Popcorn is perfect for the holidays! Friends will love to munch on this at a party and who wouldn’t love to receive a batch as a gift. Easy and delicious.
Popcorn is one of our favourite snacks. It’s not just for movie watching. We love it for road trips and game nights and with this candy cane popcorn, we love it for the holidays.
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It’s the time for giving and there’s nothing better than giving something that you have taken the time to make. Around here, we do a lot of baking. From cookies to tarts to Christmas crack, there is something for everyone.
If you’re looking for something a little different, this Lavender Lemon Curd is the perfect thing! Lavender and lemon make a great combination and they work well together in this luscious curd.
Either on it’s own or paired with some shortbread, the floral citrus curd will definitely stand out. We love to eat it with fresh baked scones. This homemade gift is sure to please any citrus lover on your list!
Lavender Lemon Curd
3 lemons
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 tsp lavender
1/4 pound unsalted butter, room temperature
4 extra-large eggs
1/2 cup lemon juice (3 to 4 lemons)
1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
Using a carrot peeler, remove the zest of 3 lemons, being careful to avoid the white pith. Put the zest in a food processor fitted with the steel blade. Add the sugar and lavender and pulse until the zest is very finely minced into the sugar.
Cream the butter and beat in the sugar and lemon mixture. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, and then add the lemon juice and salt. Mix until combined.
Pour the mixture into a 2 quart saucepan and cook over low heat until thickened (about 10 minutes), stirring constantly. The lemon curd will thicken at about 170 degrees F, or just below simmer. Remove from the heat and cool or refrigerate.
It was fun putting together a holiday gift guide this year. These are some of our favourites and sure to be a hit with the foodies in your life.
Robert Rose Cookbooks
Can anyone really have too many cookbooks? Robert Rose has so many great titles out there for the variety of people on your list. From the Best of Bridge to Spiralizer Recipes, there is definitely something for everyone. These books are also filled with so much inspiration for holiday entertaining. Check out their titles: http://www.robertrose.ca/books
Urban Bonfire
Around here, outdoor grilling is a year round activity. We don’t let the snow stop us from firing up the bbq to enjoy a juicy steak and some beef short ribs. Urban Bonfire has you covered for all your grilling needs. From grill accessories to spices, they have your grillmaster covered.
We loved their spices! We tried their Tico, which was amazing on salmon and and we tried the Montreal Steak Spice which was so delicious. Check them out online at http://www.urbanbonfire.com/.
Yonanas
Let’s face it, the holidays are a time of over indulgence. Yonanas helps you enjoy a sweet snack without the guilt. The machine makes ice cream out of frozen bananas! No sugar, no cream, just plain bananas and you have yourself a sweet treat. The resulting ice cream is creamy and sweet and the kids loved it! Hubby loved that the soft serve was lactose free. Find out more here: http://yonanas.com/
Cococo Chocolatiers
The holidays require chocolate and only the best will do. Cococo Chocolatiers, owners of Chocolaterie Bernard Callebaut® is a real treat for anyone on your gift list. With a wide variety of award-winning chocolate available, anyone would be happy to receive a box. My favourite are the salted caramels. So delicious! The company is opening a new storefront in the international terminal of the Calgary airport allowing people from everywhere to taste their deliciousness. You can order online at http://www.bernardcallebaut.com/.
Edo Japan
Life is busy and sometimes between all the kids’ activities, we need to grab a quick meal. Edo is a favourite for all of us. It’s tasty, healthy and quick and the kids love it! I think anyone would be thrilled to get a gift card from Edo Japan: http://www.edojapan.com
Want to win a gift card for yourself? Enter below. Let us know what’s on your wish list this year! Contest closes on Sunday, December 13th, 2015 at 11:59pm. Good luck!
Unlike most recipes made in the slow cooker where you can just walk away until it’s done, this recipe requires a little extra attention, but not much. Cooked on high, these almonds are stirred every 20 minutes, to ensure that the nuts don’t get burnt.
These were delicious! They were super easy and super tasty. Put them in a little jar, and they make the perfect homemade gift for the holidays!
Slow Cooker Cinnamon Almonds
From Crockpot 365
cooking spray
1 1/2 cups sugar
3 tablespoons cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
1 egg white
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 1/4 cups whole raw almonds
Use a 4-quart slow cooker. Spray the stoneware well with cooking spray. In a mixing bowl, combine sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Set this bowl aside
In a larger mixing bowl, whisk together the egg white and vanilla extract. Pour the almonds into this bowl and stir well to coat. Add your cinnamon mixture to the top of the nuts and toss with spoons to fully coat.
Put the almonds into the slow cooker and cover. Cook on high for 2 hours, stirring every 20 minutes. After 2 hours, take the nuts out of the slow cooker and spread them on foil or parchment paper.