Thursday, December 18, 2014

A Few Quick And Easy Homemade Treats For Those Last Minute Holiday Gifts

Who doesn't love to receive a homemade, yummy treat during the holidays? To me, that's the best kind of gift!  I love when someone thought so much of me to take some of their time during this busy time of year to make  something homemade just for me !   

First, I want to share this quick and easy recipe for these Homemade Ornaments!

Here's what you will need:

1 Cup of Ground Cinnamon

3/4 Cup of Applesauce

2 Tablespoons of Liquid White Glue


You just simply mix all of the ingredients together and roll out to about 1/4" thick.  Then cut out your different shapes with your favorite cookie cutters.  Make a hole in the top of each ornament using a drinking straw so that you can attach a ribbon later to hang on the tree.  Let them sit at room temperature for 48 hours.  They will harden and smell so good! I made mine last year and they are still holding up well and still smell like cinnamon!  

I just love these ornaments!! I made a little "primitive tree" just for them! 
 
 









Speaking of Homemade Ornaments, I can't pass up the chance to share the special ornaments that I won at a recent ladies get-together! My friend Beth crocheted these little snowflake stars!  I am so glad that I was the one who got her gift!  They are perfect for my country tree!!





The next recipe I want to share is for Homemade Caramel Sauce!

I got this recipe from my favorite tv chef, The Pioneer Woman!!! It is wonderful and so easy!!

Here's what you will need:

1 Cup of Brown Sugar

1/2 Stick of Butter

1/2 Cup of Half-and-half

1 Tablespoon of Vanilla

A pinch of Salt



Mix all of the ingredients together over medium-low heat.  Cook while whisking for 5 to 7 minutes, until thicker. 



Turn off the heat.  Let cool enough to taste.  If it's too thin, just cook a little longer.  

I like to put mine in a mason jar until I'm ready to use it! 


This would make a great gift to give to your family or friends along with a basket of apples!  I also wrapped up a little teacher gift idea!


This would be such a cute gift for your child's school or Bible class teachers!! 


I want to share one more gift idea recipe today!  I want to share my recipe for 

Homemade Pecan Pralines!!

These are out of this world!!

You will need:

2 Cups of Sugar

1 Cup of Heavy Cream

1 Tablespoon of Butter

3/4 Teaspoon of Baking Soda

2 Cups of Pecans, Halved



Put parchment paper over a couple of baking sheets.



Then in a LARGE saucepan, mix together your sugar and baking soda with a fork.



Then, mix in your cream and cook at medium heat.





Cook, whisking often, until golden brown and the mixture reaches 235 degrees on the candy thermometer.  I cooked mine for about 25 minutes.   You must have a large pot and a candy thermometer!  This mixture boils up high in the pot as it heats and will make a terrible mess if your pot is too small! Trust me, I learned the hard way!! 







Once your cooking is completed, remove from the heat and add your butter and pecans! Stir for about a minute to melt your butter throughout.



Using a tablespoon, drop spoonfuls onto your parchment lined cookie sheets and let cool at room temperature.




Just perfection!!



These would make a beautiful and delicious homemade gift!! 



I hope you'll give these a try as you finish up your gift giving this season!  If I don't run out of time, I will share more homemade gifts soon!  

Until then...  enjoy this cozy and  wonderful time of year!



~ <3 ~  "Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away."  KJV Matthew 5:42
 

No comments:

Post a Comment