Between work, family, friends and the different organizations my family is wrapped up in—we have a long list of people to be thankful for. Being a die-hard DIY’er, our house has quickly begun to resemble Santa’s workshop. The workbench in our garage trades wood and tools for ribbon and paper. I’ve been using a few great ideas to bring cheer to my friends without taking it out of my wallet. Enjoy these suggestions for great gifts that can be made cheaply.
Recipe Jars
Give a man a cake and he snacks for the day, teach a man to bake and he snacks for a lifetime—or something like that. Recipes are like currency. The best ones are hard to come by and some old recipes are kept so secret that you’d have to marry into the family to get them. Making someone a delicious dish is a great gift, but giving her or him the recipe takes it a step further.
To create a recipe jar simply combine the correct amount of dry ingredients for your favorite recipe into a mason jar. Add instructions to the top or the side of the jar. The jar recipient should be able to simply dump the contents into a mixing bowl, add the necessary wet ingredients and have something delicious in no time.
Recipe jars are especially beneficial for dishes that call for a less common ingredient. It is easier for you to buy an entire bag of rice flour or xanthan gum and give it to a few people than expect everyone to acquire ingredients they’ll only use a few times.
Personalized Wine Glasses
Plain wine glasses can be found cheaply and glass paint is available in any craft store. You don’t have to be incredibly crafty to create these. Simply print a stencil or design off the Internet and cut out the pieces you would like to be painted on.
Clean the glasses and attach your design using tape. With a small brush, fill in your stencil with glass paint. You can get creative with painting the stem or the bottom of the glasses. Paint around the rim, however, is more likely to rub off. Place your glasses on a cookie sheet and allow them to dry completely.
To set the paint, put the glasses in a cold oven and set it to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Once it reaches that temperature, let them bake for 30 minutes and then turn the oven off. Let the glasses cool completely before using. With treatment, the paint will be dishwasher safe.
Dog Biscuits
If you have a few canine lovers on your Christmas list, then baking some homemade dog biscuits is a fabulous and cheap gift. Not all of the items needed are “everyday” ingredients, but most well stocked kitchens should have all of them.
After preheating your oven to 325 degrees you should combine
3 whole eggs
3 tbsp fat (vegetable oil, shortening, or bacon grease)
¾ cup liquid (broth, leftover gravy, or water with a bouillon cube dissolved in it)
3 tbsp dry milk powder
3 cups whole wheat flour
½ cup wheat bran
1 tsp salt
and
1 tsp garlic powder
into a large mixing bowl.
Knead the dough for a few minutes until all the ingredients are thoroughly mixed. The dough can be rolled out into an 11 X 15 pan or divided into shapes with cookie cutters.
Bake the treats for one hour and then turn off the oven. Having the biscuits stay in the oven as it cools (about 30 minutes) will allow them to crisp up. Crispy treats are easier to keep in your pockets, etc. These treats will surely wag some tongues.
Author Bio:
Holly Watson, who blogs on behalf of Sears and other prestigious brands, is a stay at home wife and mother of 4 beautiful children. She was a financial adviser until she ‘gave it all up’ to stay at home with the kids.
