It’s right around the corner—the C word.  When I think of it, the Jaws soundtrack plays in my head.  The dread. The fear.  The money spent. The pressure to buy the best gifts ever and on a budget—seems impossible.  Well, I have a few ideas and tips for you.  The best way to give gifts and save money is to make them.  You don’t have to be Martha Stewart to do it either.  First, I’m sharing some of my favorite recipes with you and then I will offer a few money saving tips for the season.

First, a little Christmas anecdote. I remember it was my last ‘married’ Christmas and I stressed about gifts. My ex husband and I had a circle of friends that cherished the gift giving season and you could say the gift giving got a little out of hand. For several years I had felt my gifts didn’t quite measure up.  The women were very particular about the gift wrapping as well. No pressure.  That year, I bought my ex’s best friend a red wine gadget. You put it on the top of the decanter and it filters out the tannins. It wasn’t a cheap gadget by any means. I thought about buying him a decanter to go with it but I also knew he and his wife had a few of them already. Plus, that would have taken the gift up to an exorbitant price range.

When he opened the gift his wife said something like how nice, did you get him  a decanter too?  The gift wrap had barely hit the floor—kind of rude. Always show gratitude for the gift rather than look around for another one.  My face turned beet red with embarrassment as I answered ‘no’.

Screw that. That’s not what Christmas is about. As a newly divorced woman or a single mom, the last thing we need to do is spend a bunch of money on gifts.  So, let’s make a few things…homemade gifts are made with love…

HOME MADE GIFT IDEAS;

Citrus Vodka

– One of my old recipes that was always popular with a few friends. They asked for it every year. It’s so simple to make, too.

-buy or reuse a pretty bottle or a clear wine bottle

-buy a 26 oz. vodka (it doesn’t have to be expensive)

-peel of 1 lemon around the width of the lemon making long, curly peels

-peel of 1 lime ”

-peel of 1 orange  ”

-Place peels in bottle, alternating lemon, orange and lime

-pour vodka into bottle

-seal with cork or twist cap and place in freezer for at least 7 days before giving away

Keeps 4 ever and best served chilled or from freezer, use in a martini or mixed with juice

Shortbread Cookies

-in a pretty tin or bag, with ribbons and bows–you’re good to go

2 c       butter (1 lb. at room temp)

1 c       fruit powdered sugar

3 1/2 c  flour

1/2 c   rice flour

cream butter in large bowl. Blend in sugar until smooth. Combine flours in separate bowl> Blend combined flour into butter mixture.  Shape into round balls, place on ungreased cookie sheet.  Press down with small fork. Sprinkle with green and red or chocolate topping. Bake at 275 degree oven for 45 mins. They will be done when faintly browned. Let them cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before removing to cooling rack.  Makes about 2 1/2 dozen cookies.

Homemade Bailey’s

This is a not to be missed recipe from Lynne Knowlton of Design The Life you Want to Live

Image source; Lynne Knowlton of Design the Life You Want to Live

image source Lynne Kowlton

Recipe

-in Lynne’s words

13 oz. vodka

1 can (300 ml) eagle brand condensed milk (the magic ingredient). I swear it says that on the can.  I can’t make that shit up.  It’s magic juice.

2 tbsp. chocolate syrup ( I use Nestle’s Nesquik )

1 pint ( 16 oz.) of table cream ( I even use the 5 % light version for fewer calories LOL)

Put it all in a blender.  BLEND.  Drink. 

For gifts: Pour in glass bottles.  Wrap it up.  I dare you to not drink it before you give it away.  Drink whatever is left in the blender.  You’ll be fine.

NOTE:  This recipe makes enough to fill a blender.  It will last as long as your cream ‘best before’ date shows.

Hot pepper Olive Oil

this recipe is from Emma of A Beautiful Mess Blog. It’s her dad’s recipe and it sounds lovely and spicy!

image source; Emma from A Beautiful Mess

Recently my dad gifted me a bottle of oil infused with ornamental peppers from his garden. Trey and I were so excited because we both like spicy foods and I cook with oil often.

My dad also hinted that this might make a good post for my blog. 😉

And I could not agree with him more.

image source; Emma from A Beautiful Mess

So this is really his method, and he also shared a couple of resources with me (here and here).

All you need to throw one of these together is a glass bottle that can be sealed, 18-20 dry ornamental peppers, and about 1 cup of olive oil. You could easily recycle any glass bottle you have/collect. I used a reusable one I had on hand. Whatever you use, just be sure to clean it first.

Slice each pepper so that the insides and seeds are exposed. This is usually the hottest part of any pepper. I prefer to wear gloves when I work with any type of hot pepper. I just keep a small package of disposable gloves under my kitchen sink. I don’t use them often, but when I do need them they come in really handy (pun!!!!)

After cutting the peppers, add them to the jar and fill with olive oil. Allow that to soak for 2-3 days before use (or before you gift the bottle to someone).

Kim’s Saltine Cracker Toffee

Oh, yummy. Thanks to kim of My Inner Chick this recipe is easy and a guaranteed hit. Makes a great gift in those cute Christmas tins.

-in kim’s words

Ingredients:

• 2 Sticks of butter
• 2 cups of Brown Sugar
• 1 ½ sleeves of Saltine Crackers
• Milk chocolate chips or Large chocolate bar.

Method:

1. Line long cookie sheet with tin foil and lightly spray
2. Cover entire pan with saltine cracker (usually a little over one sleeve)
3. Boil butter and brown sugar in pan (Watch & Stir constantly)
4. When the mixture bubbles, pour immediately over crackers. Spread.
5. Let sit for a minute, then pour chocolate chips or cut up candy bar. It will melt like silk!
6. Spread over mixture. I crush up a few crackers for the top, as well.
7. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
8. Some people break up the toffee, but I cut into squares like bars.

image source; Kim Robinson of My Inner Chick

 Peppermint Chocolate Bark

-so easy to make and so tasty. Just throw it in a festive clear bag with some ribbon and your friends will love you. I double this recipe if I’m making for gifts.

8            squares white chocolate (8 oz.)    OR 16 oz.

1/2 c      crushed candy canes                       OR 1 cup

1. In top of double boiler over hot, not boiling, water melt chocolate, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat; cool to room temperature.

2. Stir in crushed candy canes

3. Spread in thin layer on waxed paper. Cool completely in refrigerator

4. Break into chunks to serve. Store or gift in airtight container.

Makes 8 oz. OR 16 oz

Tip: -chocolate must be cooled before adding candy cane or it will not become firm.

-also, don’t let the chocolate boil as it will change the consistency

QUICK TIPS

-get your stocking stuffers now—big stores have sales early in the season

-if you’re having guests for Turkey dinner stock up on your dry/canned goods ahead of time so your dinner shopping won’t be so overwhelming

-stock up on paper towels, and food wraps, dishwasher soap as it’s inconvenient to run out of these necessities over the holidays

-check out your local thrift store as they dedicate the whole store to Christmas and you can find lights and decor(all the money goes to a local charity)

-if crafting or photography is more your ‘thing’ you must visit A Beautiful Mess, it’s a goldmine of ideas

-for creative ways to use your twinkly lights click here

Ho, ho, ho.  Happy Holidays and Happy preparations.

Do you have a favorite holiday recipe? Please share in the comments 🙂