Last weekend I put together a display of ideas for things you can make and give as gifts from your kitchen.
I got to thinking some of these would be fun family projects too. So try out one or two then give away (the best part) the results.
I think I may have posted this one before but this time, in honor of Super bowl, I made them in the shape of and decorated them like footballs. Who says real men don't eat truffles?!
Oreo Truffles (Kraft)
1 18-oz. pkg. Oreo cookies finely crushed, divided
1 8-oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened
2 8-oz pkgs semisweet chocolate chips or dipping chocolate, melted
Line a baking sheet with waxed paper.
Put cookies into (blender or) food processor and process until very fine. Measure 3 cups of the cookie crumbs saving the remainder for sprinkling on top of finished truffles. Add to cookie crumb in processor the cream cheese and beat/process until mixed and creamy. Put into refrigerator until set well enough to work with.
Roll mixture into 42 one inch balls (a bit smaller than a walnut). Put on tray and refrigerate for 1 hour or until firm.. Melt chocolate and dip balls. Sprinkle with remaining crumbs/chopped nuts, coconut, crushed peppermint etc. (Any leftover chocolate can be stored in a tightly covered container at room temperature and saved for another use.)
Refrigerate for 1 hour or until firm. Store any leftover truffles in a tightly covered container in the refrigerator.
Makes 42 truffles.
Easy, easy, easy and yummy, yummy, yummy. Peanut butter and chocolate filled cookies don't have enough flavor so we don’t recommend them. Peppermint or mint is great. You can also use Nutter Butter cookies instead of Oreos.
Rosemary Salt
(makes about 4 cups)
3 cups sea salt crystals
1 1/2 cups dried rosemary (cracked rosemary is best)
(If you don't have cracked rosemary, measure rosemary and put into food processor with steel blade attached. Process about 2 minutes, until rosemary is broken into small bits.)
Combine salt and rosemary in food processor and process with steel blade less than one minute, until salt and rosemary are well combined. Don't process too long. You want this to still have a slightly chunky texture.
Suggested uses: Use sparingly, as you would regular salt. Sprinkle on fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, or avocado. An excellent seasoning for eggs, potatoes, butternut squash, or chicken. Delicious on any type of roasted or grilled vegetables.
http://www.kalynskitchen.com/2006/12/gift-from-kitchen-rosemary-salt.html
Fruit / Veggie Bouquet
Cut up fruit and or veggies into chunks and put on bamboo skewers.
Arrange in a vase like a bouquet. Add ribbon and voila!
A healthy, edible bouquet.
Herbed EVOO Joy’s Herbed Olive Oil/Crouton Oil
The chef (Joy Templeton of Once Upon a Thyme)I got it from calls it crouton oil because she uses it to make her own croutons, but I use it for fish, meat, veggies and my favorite, roasted red potatoes/sweet potatoes.
4 cups extra virgin olive oil
1/2 cup minced garlic
1/4 cup dried oregano
1/4 cup dried basil
1 Tbsp. paprika
1.5 tsp black pepper
1.5 tsp salt
Combine and put in shakeable jars. I save and reuse jars from other food products/oils.
You can add more oil as it gets down from use and herbs settle to the bottom.) Lasts for a very long time and may uses
Marshmallow Eater Eggs by Taste of Home.com
Prep: 45 min. + standing Cook: 15 min.Yield: 36 Servings
Ingredients
25 cups all-purpose flour (about 8 pounds)
1 large egg
2 tablespoons unflavored gelatin
1/2 cup cold water
2 cups sugar
1 cup light corn syrup, divided
3/4 cup hot water
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 pound dark chocolate candy coating, melted
2 ounces white candy coating, melted
Directions
Spread 7 cups flour in each of three 13-in. x 9-in. pans and 4 cups flour in a 9-in. square pan.
Carefully wash the egg in a mild bleach solution (1 teaspoon chlorine bleach to
1 qt. warm water); dry. Press washed egg halfway into the flour to form an impression.
Repeat 35 times; set aside.
In a small bowl, sprinkle the gelatin over cold water; set aside. In a large saucepan,
combine the sugar, 1/2 cup corn syrup and hot water. Bring to a boil over medium heat,
stirring constantly, until a candy thermometer reads 238° (soft-ball stage).
Remove from the heat; stir in remaining corn syrup.
Pour into a large bowl. Add reserved gelatin, 1 tablespoon at a time,
beating on high speed until candy is thick and has cooled to lukewarm,
about 10 minutes. Beat in vanilla.
Spoon lukewarm gelatin mixture into egg depressions; dust with flour.
Let stand for 3-4 hours or until set.
Brush excess flour off marshmallow eggs. Dip each in chocolate candy coating.
Place flat side down on waxed paper. Let stand until set.
Pour white candy coating into a heavy-duty resealable plastic bag;
cut a hole in one corner. Drizzle over eggs. Yield: 3 dozen.
Editor's Note: For safety reasons, we recommend that you discard the egg and all of the flour.
Resurrection Rolls for Easter
Make you favorite roll dough or use
Rhodes rolls. Large marshmallows
Cut in half.
Shape the rolls around 1/2 marshmallow.
Let rise and bake.
It will be hollow inside
Just as the tomb was empty
on Easter Morning.
Sprouted Wheat Grass
Soak whole wheat grains in
water overnight. Drain and cover
with wet paper towel. Let it start
sprouting.
When green tops start to appear,
Place in pot of soil or on top of
wet paper towel in container.
Allow wheat grass to grow.
Snip off tops to use in green
Smoothies or put candies in
the grass. Give as Easter gift.
Lip Gloss by MarthaStewart.com
To make more than one kind of lip balm at a time, divide the recipe in half and scent and color the batches separately. For lip balms, we like to use essential oils that have an "edible" scent, such as citrus. Beeswax pellets are available at crafts stores.
Makes two .15-ounce tubes and two 1/2-ounce tins or pots
Tools and Materials
1 tablespoon beeswax pellets
2 tablespoons carrier oil
A few drops essential oil(s)
Lipstick shavings in desired color
Special equipment: heatproof glass jar, plastic pipettes, cosmetic-style plastic tubes, slide tins, or metal pots
Directions
1. Put beeswax and carrier oil in jar, and close lid. Heat the jar in a pot of water over medium-low heat until wax has melted. Remove jar from pot carefully.
2. Stir mixture with a metal spoon. Using a pipette, add essential oil, 1 drop at a time, until strength of scent is to your liking. Stir in lipstick shavings, 1 at a time, until desired shade is achieved and color is even throughout.
3. Using another pipette, transfer lip balm to containers. Let set for 1 hour.
Gift-Packaging Idea
Top cosmetic tubes and tins with custom labels: Water-slide decal paper is clear, making the design look as though it has been printed directly onto the container.
Homemade Sugar Scrub
Equal parts brown sugar and white sugar (ends up being about 1/4 cup each for a 6 oz. jar)
Fill to the top with olive oil (cover the sugars and then maybe an extra 1/2 inch)
Add about 1-2 Tbs of vanilla extract for some yummy flavor.
You could also add essential oils, but that is a little pricier.
www.homemadeginger.com/2011/05/homemade-sugar-scrub.html
http://petitelefant.com/how-to-make-homemade-sugar-scrub/
