A few years ago, our kids suggested eliminating all large gifts and now do only small ones, including homemade stocking stuffers for the adults. Money that would have been spent on our gift exchanges is now sent to a charitable donation. On Christmas morning, we share with each other where and why we have chosen our particular charity. The year our first grandchild was born, I chose to sponsor mother and baby medical kits for use in developing countries.
We are not only helping others and decreasing our accumulation of things but also reducing the holiday stress. I appreciate that the family can focus on being together and celebrating the true meaning of Christmas.
Read Also
Land crash warning rejected
A technical analyst believes that Saskatchewan land values could be due for a correction, but land owners and FCC say supply/demand fundamentals drive land prices – not mathematical models
GIFT IDEAS
• Create a breakfast basket lined with gingham and filled with homemade bread, jams and flavoured coffees.
• Make a family movie night snack kit with a variety of flavoured gourmet popcorn, multigrain snacks, almonds or chocolates and bottles of sparkling juice. For a special family gift, add a new release or classic family movie and a soft cuddly blanket.
• For someone who has a sweet tooth, tuck an assortment of homemade cookies into a decorative tin.
SNOWMAN SOUP
This is a quick and inexpensive gift. I start with a holiday mug with a happy snowman image and add these ingredients.
1 serving size package hot chocolate mix (regular or gourmet flavoured)
3 Hershey’s kisses candies
10 miniature marshmallows
1 peppermint candy cane
Wrap the marshmallows in plastic wrap. Place the ingredients, still in their wrappers, in a plastic bag and place in the mug along with the following verse on a gift tag.
Was told you’ve been real good this year
Always glad to hear it
With freezing weather drawing near
You’ll need to warm the spirit
So here’s a little snowman soup
Complete with stirring stick
Add hot water, sip it slow
It’s sure to do the trick.
Merry Christmas
SPICED NUTS
2 tbsp. butter, melted 30 mL
1/4 c. liquid honey 60 mL
1 tsp. ground cinnamon 5 mL
1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg 2 mL
pinch of ground allspice
pinch of ground cloves
3/4lb. assorted unsalted nuts (almonds,
Brazil nuts, cashews, hazelnuts, pecan halves, peanuts.) A 100 gram package from the baking section works well. 340g
3 mason 2jars and festive lids 236 mL
Melt butter and honey, then add spices and mix. Add nuts, stir to coat and spread onto greased cookie sheet.
Stirring every five minutes, roast coated nuts in 325 F (160 C) oven until evenly coated, about 15 minutes. Remove, cool completely. Pack nuts into jars and apply lids. Yield: three –236 mL jars.
Adapted from Bernardin Guide to Home Preserving.
TOMATO ALPHABET SOUP MIX
This soup mix in a jar makes a good hostess gift when a group is gathering for outside fun. Buy the ingredients in bulk and make several jars.
This recipe makes enough for a one cup (250 mL) jar.
3/4 c. dried alphabet pasta175 mL
2 tbsp. beef or vegetable bouillon base30 mL b2 tbsp. dehydrated 3 vegetable mix0 mL ve/2 tbsp. dried parsley 7 mL
1/2 tbsp. dehydrated minced 7 onionmL oni –8 oz. clean, dry glass 250r or canning jar with lid or plastic bag
I 250 mLn bowl, combine all ingredients and mix well. Pour into jar or plastic bag and close with lid or twist tie. Attach the following cooking instructions with a ribbon. Place a can of tomato juice and the jar of soup mix in a gift bag.
To prepare soup:
Combine contents of jar with 48floz. (1.36 L) can of tomato juice and three cups (750 mL) of water in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring frequently so pasta won’t stick to the bottom. Boil gently until pasta is al dente, about eight to 12 minutes. Add salt and pepper. Makes six to eight servings.
Adapted from Bernardin Guide to Home Preserving.
CHAMOMILE-MINT BATH SALTS
1/2 c. Epsom salts
1 125 mL/4 c. sea salt
4 60 mL tsp. or 2 tea bags peppermint tea
4 20 mL tsp. or 2 tea bags chamomile tea
1 20 mL
tsp. vanilla extract 2 mL
1/2 tsp. peppermint extract 2 mL
Break open the tea bags and mix the tea and salts together. Add the extracts and mix well.
Make bath sachets using six inch (15 cm) squares of cheesecloth or lightweight interfacing. Put two tablespoons (30 mL) of mixture in each square and close with a small elastic. Group three sachets in a plastic bag and add the following:
It’s time to relax.
Here’s how to do it.
To a warm bath,
Add a sachet to it.
Climb right in
To sooth the skin.
Betty Ann Deobald is a home economist from Rosetown, Sask., and a member of Team Resources. Contact: team@producer.com.
———
gift tag.
Was real
told year good
Always With
you’ve this glad to freezing drawing warm You’ll So
been
hear it weather
near the
need to here’s a little soup
Complete stirring
the
Merry spirit
snowman
with
stick
water, hot Add
sip it slow to do
sure It’s
trick.
Christmas
———
It’s time to relax. Here’s how to do it. To a warm bath, Add a sachet to it. Climb right in To sooth the skin.
