Food Gift Recipes
Blueberry Lime Jam
Homemade jam is a breeze with these clear, simple instructions － even true beginners will feel like a pro. And thanks to the hint of lime, the end result is worthy of a specialty store! One of my fondest memories from my grandmother’s dinner table is, silly as it may sound,…
Shortcut Soft Pretzels
Roll these clever pretzels into letters and spell out names for special occasions or twist them into the traditional shape. Either way, they’re a fun project and a crowd-pleasing snack! Throughout all my years of being a mom, I can say with 100% certainty that my favorite gifts have been homemade. A handcrafted…
Crunchy Amaranth Granola Rounds
I loved to collect the mail when I was a child. The thought of a special letter or magazine waiting for me fueled the anticipation. Now, letter writing is practically an ancient art form and most of the mail goes directly into the recycling bin. But when a new cookbook arrives unexpectedly…now that’s a good…
Healthy Peanut Butter Buckeyes
Everyone in my family thinks Chocolate Peanut Butter Eggs are the be-all-end-all…the piece de resistance….the bomb! From a nutritional vantage point, they are a bit of bomb. (Of course, we just ignore this fact from time to time!) When I saw a recipe for healthy peanut butter buckeyes from my friend Brianne of Cupcakes and Kale Chips (who,…
No-Bake Energy Bites
Chewy granola bar meets cookie batter in these easy-to-make bites, which include whole oats and a whopping half cup of heart-healthy flax meal. In a bold moment a few years back, I decided to give up ice cream for Lent. It was a test of sorts, as I seriously wondered if I had the discipline…
Fudgy Yogurt Brownies (egg-free)
Brownies with no eggs, no oil, and lots of protein… Hmmmm. Believe it or not, they taste great, too. These homemade treats are just as decadent as “regular” brownies and can be made with ingredients you likely have on hand. And if you, like me, adore a thick, chewy, moist, fudgy brownie, these have your…
Maple Tamari Roasted Almonds and Cashews
These tasty little bites are a sweet-and-savory spin on my classic recipe for Tamari Almonds. People often use tamari as a gluten-free option to soy sauce, but after reading the label of the bottle of tamari I had in my cupboard–and seeing wheat as an ingredient–I did a little more investigating. By way of The Kitchn, I found…
Honey Lollipops — a Natural Sore Throat Remedy
A 2-ingredient, natural sore throat remedy that’s easy to make and helpful to have on hand. Fun to give away too! In the past few months, I have read several times about the antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-fungal properties of honey and cinnamon. I am certainly not a doctor, but when I saw the idea from my…
Pancakes in a Jar
The following recipe may be used as a gift but also as your go-to biscuit mix. Economical to make, it tastes fresher than store-bought, too. When presenting as a gift, a small container of maple syrup makes a fitting accompaniment. Who doesn’t love to start a weekend morning with a tall stack of pancakes? In…
Pumpkin Bran Muffins (with optional 2-ingredient frosting)
The classic bran muffin meets a whole can of pumpkin in this wholesome recipe that the whole family will love! Bran muffins are a seemingly wholesome way to start the day, yet so many bran muffins rely on sugar and oil to create moisture and flavor… Enter pumpkin! These satisfying muffins offer the health…
Homemade Vanilla Extract
Vanilla extract is easy to make at home with just two ingredients. The following how-to offers helpful details on which beans and liquor to use and how to store for practical use and gifting. Every year, I tell myself that I’m going to do my Christmas shopping early—and wrap the gifts too. In September,…
No-Sugar Homemade Jam (choose your favorite flavor－even use frozen fruit－in this easy, small batch recipe)
This flexible, small batch recipe doesn’t use pectin as a thickener, so there’s no need for a copious amount of granulated sugar as is used in traditional jams. Instead it relies on heart healthy chia seeds and a small amount of maple syrup or honey. Healthy jam that tastes great…really? The perks of…
