Food Gift Recipes
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…
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…
Old-Fashioned Horseradish Pickles
Make crisp, tangy pickles just like your grandmother used to make them with these step-by-step instructions for naturally fermented pickles. It’s a truly simple process and you can taste and adjust as you go. What is the difference between pickling and fermentation? Pickling involves soaking food in an acidic liquid – usually vinegar-based –…
Blueberry Peach Pound Cake
A handful of basic pantry ingredients and fruit are all you need to whip up this fabulous pound cake. Plus, the flavors improve as the cake sits, so the recipe is ideal when looking for day-ahead preparation. On a recent trip to a local farm stand, a longtime employee mentioned that whenever she sees me,…
