edible gifts

gifts from the kitchen.

a good rub.

07/26/2008 | 1 Comment | Topics: edible gifts, entree, food., freezer

We all love a good rub: especially in the form of a nice comment or a compliment.
But this isn’t about verbal love: it is about well-rubbed steak. Ideally, a steak that beckons gratuitous verbal rubs after it travels from fork to palate.
Latin Spice Rub… [more]
1 T packed dark brown sugar
1 1/2 tsp kosher salt
1 1/2 tsp coarse pepper
1 1/2 tsp ground ginger
1 1/2 tsp

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preserving: grandma’s strawberry jam

07/04/2008 | 6 Comments | Topics: edible gifts, farm., food., freezer, preserves

Happy Fourth! What better day to share with you our tradition of making strawberry jam this time of year? What better recipe to share with you, than the one we refer to as ‘Grandma’s Strawberry Jam’? The color alone is patriotic, showing up even the brightest of fireworks. I just made a batch and it happily resides in my freezer. Though I confess, I cringe a bit when making this… [more]

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a pinch of: default herbs.

04/12/2008 | 4 Comments | Topics: edible gifts, food.

I love these herbs. I mean, really. You know how I love default dinners… [more]? Well, if ever there was a pile of herbs at my side, ready to join the ranks of my tomato sauce and creamy soups, roasted vegetables and hand-made meatballs: here they are. The herbs on my hip. I should probably invest in a holster.
I now make them in bulk. Yes, I use them that

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the gamut on granola

01/29/2008 | 5 Comments | Topics: edible gifts, food., recipes, snacks

Gamut is a great word. On June 19, 1999 it was the official word of the day. Did you know there was an official word of the day? The word originally referred to the full musical scale (1529); later it was used to explain a range of colors… [more]/hues in a similar way. Now, we use it to describe a full range—or reach—of things from human emotion, to political

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A slinky, a birdhouse, a pile of rocks and a plate of cookies.

12/24/2007 | 5 Comments | Topics: edible gifts, food., holidays, recipes, snacks

It is Christmas time. And my [extended] family, probably not unlike others, struggle year upon year about whether to give big gifts or little gifts, pile grab bag gifts or make homemade gifts. Are the gifts getting too expensive? Is the family getting so big that we still buy gifts for everyone? How about an exchange? Couple gifts? Family gifts? No gifts? What does your family do?
And yet, it… [more]

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a spoonful of sugar… a spoonful of special.

12/14/2007 | 4 Comments | Topics: edible gifts, food.

You have seen them out there: individually cellophane wrapped chocolate covered nut-sprinkled spoons. But for the price of $10 each, I figured it worth my time to make my own. Besides, it isn’t that difficult to melt chocolate and cover a spoon. And if you do—and present it as a hostess or teacher gift—you will certainly gain accolades. Oh, it was nothing, you will say. They will be impressed and… [more]

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things to do today: make eggnog

12/10/2007 | 17 Comments | Topics: edible gifts, food., libations, recipes

Things to do today: buy Christmas gifts for kids’ coaches & teachers, buy packaging tape and boxes, call eye doctor, clean out email in box, make eggnog. Top priority: make eggnog.
When I read Brandon Eats‘ message to make your eggnog now… [more] or it is too late, I knew I had to put it on top of my ‘to-do list.’ It takes a minimum of three weeks for the

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coveted, frosted sugar cookies

01/01/2007 | 13 Comments | Topics: dessert, edible gifts, food., holidays

I have hidden, sneaked, stuffed and murmured this recipe. I have not shared it. In fact, to this day I recall being asked for it and conveniently ‘forgetting’ the request. It is so good, such a shoo-in for hitting hero-like status—that one does not want to share the spotlight.
I made this recipe this Christmas for Santa, along with my kids who were decorating fiends, because the existing cookies we… [more]

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Loving Peppermint: BARK, ice cream & cake

12/01/2006 | 12 Comments | Topics: edible gifts, food spotlight, food., holidays

I love peppermint! I was so glad to find Megnut’s recommendation for Peppermint Cake; it is already on the docket for this year’s Christmas dessert.

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Ginger Sugar Pecans

11/05/2006 | 6 Comments | Topics: edible gifts, food., snacks

I have to eat these in private because I cannot get them in my mouth fast enough (the resulting fist-in-mouth can be quite embarrassing). If you make enough to share, these ginger-infused pecans are awesome for pre-dinner munching with cocktails.
I sometimes package them in cellophane with twine, colorful ribbon or handmade labels for a nice hostess or holiday gift. I would tell you they keep well for a week… [more]

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