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Holidays are the time for Family, Food, Fellowship and of course, most importantly, Faith. 
We may celebrate different holidays and we may celebrate them differently, based upon our own upbringing or family and ethnic traditions, but in every culture, for every holiday, we can incorporate healthy and homemade foods and gifts to make our holiday celebrations healthy (or slightly healthier). I personally believe that special foods and special recipes are very appropriate for special times and we may have and serve foods during our holiday celebrations that we would not indulge in any other times.
However, any time of year gifts and special foods straight from the kitchen are always appropriate, budget-friendly and always appreciated. While it’s easy to buy a gift certificate or a new CD or DVD, it takes time, effort and care to make homemade gifts.
In our book (written with Shonda Parker of Naturally Healthy), entitled “Naturally Healthy Cuisine, Real Food for Real Families“, we have a chapter called Homemade Gift Giving. In this chapter we highlight some wonderful homemade gifts that wow your friends and family and say that you care.
Baskets – I love to buy baskets all year long when I find them inexpensively at yard sales, thrift stores or Goodwill. That way I have a good supply should a birthday, holiday or even a new baby or someone is sick need come along. I pick a basket, line it with pretty colored paper and stuff it with homemade goodies. I like to theme my baskets. Some years I have made homemade whole grain pasta baskets with 1-2 pounds of different homemade whole grain pastas, homemade sauces , a loaf of homemade crusty bread and a head of garlic. Other years it might be fruits and nuts, or homemade baked goods (see below), or breads, jellies, compound butters. You can decorate the baskets with ribbons, yarns or paints, or do like I do and leave them natural.
Jars and Bottles – Again, I try to find these very inexpensively throughout the year as I visit yard sales and Goodwill, and I have found some lovely bottle, jars and canning jars that are perfect for gift-giving. I fill the sanitized jars and bottle (depending on the jar size and shape) with homemade bath salts, homemade caramel sauce, jams, jellies, homemade herbal vinegars, home dehydrated fruits, layered beans for beans soup, layered whole grain cookie or cake mixes or even baked whole grain quickbreads right in the canning jars with instructions to refrigerate if not consuming right away.
Mugs – I have found lovely big mugs at the dollar stores, or again, my favorite places such as yard sales and thrift stores. In the mugs I pack homemade hot cocoa mix, or homemade candies, wrap the mugs and their contents in colored plastic wrap and tie with a bow tying the instructions to the bow.
Tea Cups (with or without saucers) – Fill these up with homemade herbal tea blends. To save money, buy these in bulk.
Decorated and Antique Plates – I look for these used and unchipped. I like to load these up with homemade cookies, muffins, scones and other baked goodies and wrap with colored wrap. It’s so much nicer than putting them on a disposable tray and the recipient gets to keep the lovely plate. I try to find ones that look interesting and old, but clean up nicely.
Bags – Fill these with homemade flavored and glazed popcorn, candies or cookies.
Last Minute?
If you haven’t had the time or the extra few dollars to pick up the mugs, plates, bottles, baskets and jars and find yourself at the last minute needing some homemade gifts to give, here are some simple ideas and recipes.
Pizza Party – Make up several Personal Size Whole Grain Pizza Crusts, 1-2 cans organic tomato paste and the recipe for Simple Delicious Pizza Sauce. Place these in any container, or simple wrap with instruction card. (Pictures)
Pasta Party – as above, homemade whole grain pasta, homemade sauce, wrap with cooking directions (fresh pasta cooks in 3-4 minutes) and instructions to refrigerate or freeze fresh pasta until ready to use. My Homemade Pasta recipes are here and pictures are here.
Homemade Whole Grain Breads
Vickilynn’s Absolute Best Challah 2-loaf and 6-loaf recipes
Award-Winning Whole Wheat Bread
For more ideas and recipes, check out this list of links to wonderful Real Food recipes and homemade gifts. I hope you check them out and tell them that Vickilynn from RealFoodLiving sent you!
Baking – Muffins, Breads, Cookies
Whole Wheat Gingerbread People
About Vickilynn Parnes
