I have been making my gift baskets this year and have been much too busy to post. I hope to list and link everything after the new year to give some ideas for next year. I feel pretty safe listing because no-one in my extended family ever reads this! I also made these adorable little recipe books but I'm hung up on which to include so those may not get out.
I wanted to say a word about those computer printing programs for making cards, labels, etc. I personally use Printshop. They may seem expensive to buy but they are essential if you are making gifts from scratch. Labels for your jars, gift tags, cards, and all kinds of other neat things are incredible easy. If you factor how much you get from these programs in, it's worth it.
I use the local Dollar store for 90% of my packaging. They have tons of great packaging and decorations for little money.
I hope everyone is healthy and happy and will have much fun in the new year!
The Aunt's Basket
French Vanilla Coffee Mix (in a jar)
Scone mix
2 boxes of tea from my grocery store
Candied Orange Peel
Cinnamon Sugar Biscotti
Uncle David's Basket
BBQ sauce
Spicy Rub
Double Fudge Brownie Mix (in a jar)
Peanut Brittle
Peanut Butter cookies
Uncle Peter's Basket
Handmade Laundry Soap
Reusable Cloth Produce bags
Lavender sugar scrub
Double Fudge Brownie mix(in a jar)
reusable travel coffee mugs
Homemade Granola
Monday, December 24, 2012
Monday, December 17, 2012
Candied Orange Peels
I remember these little tidbits from when I was a kid but had totally forgotten them. I came across a recipe for scones with them and decided to check out making them. They were very easy and came out perfect the first time. I just made a huge batch for Christmas presents. I've seen them dipped in chocolate on my web forays for recipes, yummy!
Candied Orange Peels
3 oranges
2 cups sugar
2 cups water
extra sugar for dipping, I used about 1 1/2 cups
Peel oranges carefully. Cut peel into small strips. Using a paring knife remove extra pith from peels(the bitter white part). Leaving a little is OK. They don't have to be perfect.
Place peel in a saucepan in cold water to cover. Bring to a boil. Drain off water and repeat process with cold water. Do this a total of 3 times to ensure your finished product has no bitterness. Set aside. DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP.
Bring water and sugar to a boil in saucepan. Add peels and turn heat to medium low, just barely a low boil. Simmer for as long as it takes for peels to become translucent. Mine took 50 minutes, I had read it could take as little as 30 minutes or as much as an hour. Keep an eye on them after 30 minutes.
Working fairly quickly roll peels in sugar and lay out on either wax paper or racks set over cookie sheets(to catch drips). Let dry completely. 4 hours is what most people said, I let mine sit for a couple hours and they were fine.
Package in pretty jars or tins. I think these are delicious eaten the way they are but they really kick up a nice batch of scones. These below were dipped in the sugar.
Candied Orange Peels
3 oranges
2 cups sugar
2 cups water
extra sugar for dipping, I used about 1 1/2 cups
Peel oranges carefully. Cut peel into small strips. Using a paring knife remove extra pith from peels(the bitter white part). Leaving a little is OK. They don't have to be perfect.
Place peel in a saucepan in cold water to cover. Bring to a boil. Drain off water and repeat process with cold water. Do this a total of 3 times to ensure your finished product has no bitterness. Set aside. DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP.
Bring water and sugar to a boil in saucepan. Add peels and turn heat to medium low, just barely a low boil. Simmer for as long as it takes for peels to become translucent. Mine took 50 minutes, I had read it could take as little as 30 minutes or as much as an hour. Keep an eye on them after 30 minutes.
Working fairly quickly roll peels in sugar and lay out on either wax paper or racks set over cookie sheets(to catch drips). Let dry completely. 4 hours is what most people said, I let mine sit for a couple hours and they were fine.
Package in pretty jars or tins. I think these are delicious eaten the way they are but they really kick up a nice batch of scones. These below were dipped in the sugar.
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