Today I invite you into my kitchen as I create a savory and a sweet(but healthy!) gift that can outlast the holidays and be enjoyed by its recipient long after the last present has been unwrapped.
These non-commercial, homemade and inexpensive edible gifts will make personal gifts for a chef on your list or for a lucky hostess. For each gift, I will take you through each step, provide the recipe and demonstrate two presentation ideas. Winter citrus infused salt and a nutty granola are 2 gifts sure to please any hostess.
WINTER CITRUS INFUSED SALT
This infused salt can be made ahead and can last 2 months. It may be tweaked to your liking by changing the zest mixture or the seasoning( eg: cumin-lime). It will add a bright finishing note to soups, stews, fish or poultry.
Preheat oven to 300F
1/2 cup flaky sea salt of medium coarseness
1 T grapefruit zest
2 tsp orange zest
1 tsp lemon zest
1/2 tsp freshly ground fennel seed
Mix all ingredients together. Spread out on a parchment-lined cookie sheet and bake for 15 minutes until the zests are dried and crumbly. Cool and store in an airtight container. Makes 3/4 cup.9
For gifting, I portioned the infused salt in small Bell jars. For one presentation, I topped the lid with a fabric round, tied on a raffia ribbon and added a tag. For the second presentation, I glued a label tag on the bare lid and added a wider ribbon and glass berries. ( recipe courtesy of Heidi Swanson, author of Super Natural Every Day)
The second edible gift is granola. It is a perfect gift for overnight guests or for a hostess to enjoy at a later date. It is healthy with just a hint of sweetness coming from honey. This recipe was shared with me by my dear friend Deedee who had made it for me. She obtained the recipe after enjoying the granola at this inn in Utah( all I got was the recipe!!!). Over the years we have both tweaked the recipe and the ingredients denoted as “optional” are our modifications from the original. If you like your granola more like muesli, bake it 10 minutes less. No matter how you make it, it always turns out great, the recipe always gets requested and it lends itself to creative combinations of ingredients. I make it year round and in the summer like to substitute the pecans for walnuts and use blueberries.
DEER VALLEY INN GRANOLA
Ingredients:
3 cups old fashioned oats
1 cup instant nonfat dry milk powder
3/4 cups shelled, unsalted sunflower seeds
3/4 cups sliced almonds
1/3 cup sesame seeds
1/3 cup shredded coconut
1/4 cup canola oil
1/2 cup honey
1/2 tsp vanilla
3/4 cup pecan halves(optional)
1 1/2 cups dried fruit(optional) (I used cranberries and apricots)
Directions: Preheat oven to 300F. Combine dry ingredients except the fruit. Coat measuring cup with oil, add vanilla and honey then pour over the dry ingredients and mix with your hands or a wooden spoon. Spread 1/2 inch deep on a lined, rimmed cookie sheet and bake for 30 minutes, stirring half way through. While the granola is still warm, add the fruit. Makes 9 cups.
Presentation ideas:
Fill a large Bell jar with granola. Top with a fabric round, add a ribbon and tag. To underscore the origination of this recipe from Utah, I used a suede topper, a tag made out of birch bark(use a metallic gel pen to inscribe), and fresh greenery. The second presentation is a cellophane bag tied with a sugar snowflake ornament and a winter wonderland tag. This wrapping could be suitable for New Years or anytime over the winter months.
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However you choose to wrap your edible gifts, they will be delicious and elegant offerings that will fill you the joy of giving a homespun delight from your kitchen! Happy edible gifting!
I set out to find the recipe and make it for him at home. Several recipes I researched contained Eagle Brand Condensed Milk and cream which would really limit shelf life and the sending of it as gifts and also require cold storage. After much digging around I finally found the decadent Belgian hot chocolate sticks Sebastien raved about. This recipe will rival Brussel’s Wittamer Café beverage which is considered to be the best hot chocolate in the world! Continue reading 
French Gardener Dishes 