Edible Giving
Amidst all the holiday hustle and bustle, searching for the perfect gift for neighbors, teachers and co-workers can be tricky. Finding quality time to spend with friends can be even more of a challenge. At Cooking With Friends, we combine the two and make edible gifts with our friends. Whether it's a batch of festive cookies, a jarred spice blend or homemade granola, nothing beats the gift of food. The gratitude we get in return is the icing on the cake for this winning recipe of gift giving.
Making homemade gifts is really very simple to accomplish, especially when you have a friend to do it with you. You may have so much fun that it marks the beginning of a yearly tradition. We've seen that happen more than a few times among the Cooking With Friends community.
Here are a few tips to make your edible gift making a success.
- Choose a friend who you think would like the idea of making something homemade.
- Invite her to make gifts with you.
- Schedule a date or two. (Write it down in the calendar so that it happens!)
- Decide what you'd like to make. Choose something simple that can be made in large quantities: granola, biscotti, candied nuts, mini loaves of bread or a spice blend are a few of our favorites.
- Choose a kitchen. Size doesn't always matter, especially if there's room to spread out into an adjoining room. If one of you has two ovens and you're baking, that'll probably be a good bet.
- Think about some logistics. Is there anything that can be done in advance? Perhaps your cookie dough can be made ahead of time. Who is handling the shopping? Are you going together or separately? Make sure to split the costs evenly. Will you be packaging the gifts together? If so, remember to bring ribbon, jars, cellophane, etc.
- Have fun! That's the most important part of your experience. Enjoy and savor the time together. If you're spending several hours together, think of something to serve your friend for a quick breakfast or lunch.
For a delicious holiday treat, try Alison Bermack and Shannon Henry's Pumpkin Biscotti with White Chocolate Drizzle recipe. These won't stay in the cookie jar for long!
Alison Bermack and Shannon Henry
Cooking With Friends Club
www.cookingwithfriendsclub.com