My Christmas Gift Ideas article from The Telfair Enterprise

Spicy pomander balls create a wonderful aroma for Yuletide but can be used at any time of the year.

Ribbon tied Christmas spice bundles make colorful, fragrant Christmas gifts.

Give of Yourself this Christmas

Remember, if Christmas isn't found in your heart, you won't find it under the tree. ~ Charlotte Carpenter

The practice of giving gifts at Christmas can be traced directly to the Magi who brought gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh when they came to Bethlehem to greet the baby Jesus as he lay in the manger. Their gifts were emblematic of tribute, worship and the future death of Christ and while they tend to be associated more with the Feast of Epiphany on January 6, they were the real pioneers of the Yuletide gift giving tradition.

Christmas Day comes with its own message of peace for our homes, our nation and the world. Jesus taught about giving peace and happiness to others and while we cannot equal what he gave, exchanging holiday gifts is our way to give to others.

Selecting a favor for a special person can be the most delightful aspect of the Christmas season if it is given and received in the right spirit. It may be as unpretentious as a few nice flowers, a small basket of seasonal fruits, some homemade goodies, or it can be as expensive as one wishes to make it. The list is endless but ideally, the best choices will rest on the tastes of giver and receiver, their relationship, age and other personal factors. Ultimately though, it should be something the giver can afford to give and something the receiver can use.

The late journalist Oren Arnold penned a wise list of gift-giving ideas. His advice was, “To your enemy, forgiveness. To an opponent, tolerance. To a friend, your heart. To a customer, service. To all, charity. To every child, a good example. To yourself, respect." And I concur heartily.

Appropriate gifts given in the right spirit, however small or simple they may seem, add to the effervescence of the day. Or they should anyway. I’ve never believed in giving something for the sheer sake of giving nor do I think anyone should go into debt to try to please and/or impress someone else. If they are not already impressed with you, you certainly can’t buy it with material stuff. Most of all, I don’t believe in giving a present with the expectation of receiving one in return. That is so wrong in so many ways! You should give for the sheer joy of giving or not give at all.

With the current state of the economy, most of us need to make the best use of our money but we don’t have to forgo tradition completely. It’s better to give a one-dollar gift someone can use than a fifty-dollar one that will be put on the shelf. It’s always a good idea to look towards something you create yourself. These are more thoughtful, affordable and useful. Your friends will appreciate your effort and love you for remembering them. The others don’t count.

It isn’t too early to start working on self-created gifts ~ those truly from your heart. The following suggestions are thoughtful, easier on the budget and should work equally well for those difficult to decide for, those who are not physically able to prepare complicated recipes or do not like cooking just for themselves or those you want to know you haven’t forgotten them.

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Spiced tea mixes have been around for a very long time. Liquid versions are easy to make but they do not have a long shelf life and I recommend this for gift giving so its recipient does not have to use it in a hurry. I recall a customer on my mail route at Eastman giving me a large container of this for Christmas about 20 years ago and it lasted a long time. It’s tried and true, easy to prepare and as good as ever.

Friendship Tea

1/2 c. instant tea powder

1 c. orange flavored drink mix

1 c. sweetened lemonade mix

1-3/4 c. sugar

1/2 t. cloves

1/2 t. cinnamon

Combine all ingredients together and store in an airtight container. To serve, add 3 to 4 teaspoons to one cup of hot water and stir well. This was originally made with Tang and while I’m sure other brands will do just fine, that’s the flavor I remember most.

For gifting: Fill a jar with the mixture, tie a pretty bow around it and attach instructions for gift appreciated by most spicy tea aficionados.

Vanilla sugar also makes a nice gift. I keep a vanilla bean in my sugar canister all the time but for those who don’t, you might want to give them a small amount so they can see how good it really is. You need to make this early to let the flavors blend. If you don’t have time, be sure to tell the recipient to let it rest a few days before using.

Vanilla Sugar

1 fresh vanilla bean

3 c. white sugar

Cut a vanilla bean into 1-inch pieces. Combine and store in airtight container. When you dip it into containers to share, leave the bean pieces in the sugar to help retain the flavor. This is great for baking or decorating or just to stir into steaming mugs of coffee or tea. You can easily multiply this just by remembering to use one bean per 3 cups of sugar. For stronger taste, add more beans.

Cocoa Mix with Marshmallows

1 25-oz. pkg. nonfat dried milk

1-1/2 cups non-dairy coffee creamer, about 6 ounces

3 c. instant chocolate drink mix

1-1/2 c. powdered sugar

1-1/2 cups miniature marshmallows

Combine all ingredients and store in an airtight container. Yield: 16 cups. This is enough mix for 4 one-quart jars or 8 1-pint jars or it may be split into smaller portions and packed in seasonal packaging or mugs. Include these directions with each gift: Combine 1/2 cup of mix with 1 cup of boiling water. Stir and serve.

Malted Chocolate Drink Mix

1 25-oz. pkg. nonfat dried milk

6 c. mini-marshmallows

1 16-oz. pkg. instant cocoa mix for milk

1 13-oz. pkg. malted milk powder

1 c. sifted powdered sugar

1 6-oz. pkg. non-dairy creamer

1/2 t. salt

Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl. Store in an airtight container in a cool place. Yields 20 cups. For 10 gifts, divide equally in 10 bags or decorative containers. Attach following instructions to bag: Pour 6 oz. hot water over 1/2 c. of mix. Stir and serve.

Peach Crumb Cake would be a nice gift for a larger family or if the recipient is expecting guests. It makes too much for just one or two people but leftovers could be frozen for later use.

Peach Crumb Cake

3/4 c. sugar

3/4 c. quick oats

3/4 c. brown sugar

2 c. flour

2 t. baking powder

1/2 t. salt

Layer ingredients in the order given into a wide mouth quart-size, packing each layer into place before adding the next ingredient. Attach a gift tag with a can of peach pie filling and the following mixing instructions:

Instructions:

1 jar Peach Crumb Cake Mix

3/4 c. butter or margarine, melted

1 29-oz. can peach pie filling

Empty contents of jar into a mixing bowl, stirring to combine. Melt butter and stir into dry ingredients to form a crumbly mixture. Press half of the crumbs into a greased 9 x 13 inch pan and top with peach pie filling. Sprinkle remaining crumb mixture over filling. Bake in preheated over @ 350 for 30-35 minutes.

Chocolate Spoons

20 heavy-duty plastic spoons

4 oz. semisweet or dark chocolate baking bar, chopped

2 T. heavy cream

1 T. chocolate or almond flavored liqueur

4-6 oz. vanilla flavored candy coating, melted, opt.

Line a cookie sheets or flat pans with waxed paper and set aside. Combine chocolate baking bar, cream and liqueur in a 1-cup glass measuring cup. Microwave on 50% power for one minute, stirring halfway through, until melted and of desired consistency.

Dip spoons in melted chocolate so that the bowl of each one is completely covered. Allow excess to drip off and lay on waxed paper. Place in freezer for 15 minutes to allow chocolate to set. If desired, drizzle spoons with melted white chocolate for extra decoration.

Wrap spoons individually in plastic wrap and tie with ribbon. Ribbon that can be curled looks good on these. To use, place the spoon into coffee and stir until chocolate is melted. Note: This recipe is not necessarily one for a budget but good for someone you know is a real chocoholic. It can be given alone or packed with hot cocoa or coffee mixes and a seasonal mug.

For those cold days ahead, a quick soup mix will be welcome. You may use different spices as you prefer, but follow the same measurements for major ingredients.

Potato Soup Mix

1-3/4 c. instant mashed potatoes

1-1/2 c. dry milk

2 T. instant chicken bullion

2 t. dried minced onion

1 t. dried parsley

1/4 t. ground white pepper

1/4 t. dried thyme

1-1/2 t. seasoning salt

Dash of t. turmeric, opt.

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix. Store in airtight jars. Makes 6 individual servings. Attach these instructions to gift jars: Add 1/2 c. mix to a soup bowl, pour 1 c. of boiling water over mix, and stir until smooth.

Pudding mix is good to have on hand for quick and individual desserts. I have other flavors but since I have been known to overdo chocolate recipes, I will share a different flavor.

Coconut Cream Pudding

3 c. nonfat dry milk

4 c. sugar

1 t. salt

3 c. cornstarch

1 t. coconut extract

1-1/2 c. shredded unsweetened coconut

Combine milk, sugar, salt and cornstarch in a small bowl. Add coconut extract and continue mixing until flavoring is completely absorbed. Stir in coconut and store mix in airtight containers. Attach these instructions: Add 2/3 c. mix to 2 c. milk. Heat and stir constantly until it reaches a rolling boil. Cool and serve.

Christmas Spice Bundles

4 cinnamon sticks

2 t. ground allspice

2 t. ground ginger

20 whole cloves

2 T. pickling spice

Dried orange and or lemon peel, opt.

Tie the spices into bundles for mulling cider or place in a decorative jar and attach a card with these directions: Pour spices into a kettle or pan, add a quart of water and cook until hot. Turn heat to low and simmer for slowly until you house smells nice and Christmassy. These spice bundles are versatile and these can be used either in a beverage or as potpourri.

Even though you don’t see very many old fashioned Pomander Balls anymore, they really add a fragrant holiday aroma when placed around one’s home. (Remember though that while they are made from food items, they are not edible.) The amount of fruit needed will depend on how many of these you want to make.

Directions for Pomander Balls

Oranges

Lemons

Limes

Whole cloves

Nail or skewer

Ground cinnamon

Arrowroot

These emit a wonderful holiday scent when placed around and also make excellent decorations or centerpieces. First, cover thin-skinned firm oranges, lemons or limes with whole cloves, using a nail or skewer to start holes for cloves. Add row after row until fruit is completely covered.

Combine 1 t. ground cinnamon and 1 t. arrowroot and roll clove-studded fruit in mixture. Allow to dry for two weeks. Note: You should use more than one variety of fruit for different sizes if you plan to use these in a centerpiece or on a wreath.

A peach crumb cake under construction.