Instead of buying people more stuff this holiday season, why not buy (or even better, make) them something they can eat or drink? Think cookies, breads, candies (or our favorites) jams, salsas, and other home-canned goods...
If you do feel like going the consumables route this holiday season, we have a couple fun links that'll help you in your endeavor. If you'd like to can some things (think jam or salsa, like my mom does every year), we want to help.
These canning label templates generously provided by Merriment Design can help you up the personalization and cuteness-factor of your canned goods. Put one of these personalized labels on your can and you'll definitely impress friends.
If you need help finding recipes or thinking of something to put in those empty mason jars, try this long list of gifts in a jar from Craftbits.
What consumables do you give as holiday gifts?
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In the past we have given: roasted flavored nuts, cookies, chocolate covered pretzels, puppy chow, seasoned salts and spice mixes.
Your link to "gifts in a jar" from Craftbits is broken. It's easy to figure out what the correct URL is, but you might want to fix your HTML anyway. :)
Great suggestion. I would love to make hampers this year, but like stellato says it's good to get away from Christmassy things that people might have had enough of.
I'll be trying chutney, mulled wine sachets, special biscuits, posh bread but I'm not sure what else, so I'll be looking forward to reading everyone else's suggestions.
One year I made Limoncello for friends. It was a huge hit. It is easy to make, but you have to plan - it needs to sit for at least a month before you bottle it.
My mom made apple butter for all of us one year. She used a crock pot recipe then put it in small containers that were suitable for freezing. I think it was very cost effective for her, and it was a healthy and tasty gift.
I plan on making spiced nuts and a variety of barks this year. Does anyone have any suggestions for things that keep well and can ship from the east to west coast? I was thinking of Truffles but all the recipes suggest refrigeration.