Whether you are giving a gift, or receiving one, chances are food could be involved.
Gifts of food have been on the rise in recent years — for all occasions, from birthday to holidays.
New companies have been popping up in the food niche, offering specialty gourmet food and gift baskets.
Gifts from these companies may be convenient, but there are many reasons to consider making your own homemade food gifts instead.
You may be wondering, what makes homemade food such a good gift?
The answer is simple: It’s because we love to eat.
It’s also one of those feel-good gifts that makes both the giver and receiver happy.
Just about everyone eats and nibbles on treats, so this type of gift typically can be enjoyed by all.
Homemade food also can be comforting — a practical, and a thoughtful expression of appreciation and love.
Christmas cookies and fruitcakes often come to mind, in terms of holiday food gifts. But, there’s a range of other flavorful and unique foods that can be made, with the recipient in mind.
Here are some other reasons to consider giving the gift of homemade food:
- It’s affordable: You can make recipes that will provide a number of gifts at one time. For instance, you can make a few batches of flavored popcorn and create individual bags of popcorn, with a card and a bow.
- It’s less wasteful: By giving recipients foods you know they enjoy, you don’t have to worry about giving them something they do not want.
- It can be unique: If the recipient has special dietary needs, for instance, you can personalize your gift by making a healthier version of a recipe. So, in addition to giving the gift, you’re conveying that you care, which may leave the recipient feeling appreciated.
- It can be fun for the giver and recipient: By sharing his or her passion, the giver can create a uniquely crafted food gift; the recipient, meanwhile can enjoy something other than a standard store-bought gift.
Some homemade food gift ideas
Mason jars and tins are two popular ways to present gifts.
If you’re crafty, you can dress up these packages, to add a special touch and give them a unique look.
Here are some ideas for gifts to present, in jars and tins:
- Mason jars holding the dry ingredients for a cake. Just add a card with baking directions.
This gift is ideal for friends and family who love your cakes or want to bake their own with a homemade recipe but don’t know how.
- Tins of cookies. A tin of soft chocolate chip or sugar cookies is a simple, but pleasing gift, for the afternoon snacker.
- Jars or tins of seasoned nuts. The type of nut and type of seasoning can vary. Nuts offer a healthier gift option.
- Jars of dry rub seasoning or herbed salts using homegrown garden herbs. This is a great gift for cooks who enjoy cooking with different flavors.
- Jars of flavored simple syrups. These are great for those who like to top off their favorite desserts, coffee or just fruit, with a dab of sweetness.
- Jars of handcrafted tea blends with common culinary herbs, spices and dried fruit. This is a big hit with tea drinkers.
- Jars of pickled treats that have been canned, such as okra or cauliflower. This can make a surprising treat, and a break from the norm.
Don’t forget about food safety
Food gifts can be enjoyable to make and receive, but care must be taken to be sure that they also are safe. Care must be taken when preparing food gifts and in storing perishable items.
Before sending a food gift by mail or delivery, be sure to check the USDA mail order food safety list for its limits on refrigerated foods.
The USDA’s Complete Guide to Home Canning has dozens of recipes for those that like canning.
You also can read the online version of the canning guide free here, broken up by chapter, at https://nchfp.uga.edu/publications/publications_usda.html.
By Shari Bresin
Shari Bresin is the Family & Consumer Science agent for the University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Cooperative Extension Pasco County.
Recipe: Bread-and-Butter pickles
Source: The USDA’s Complete Guide to Home Canning
https://nchfp.uga.edu/publications/publications_usda.html
Bread-and-Butter Pickles
Ingredients:
6 pounds of 4-inch to 5-inch pickling cucumbers
8 cups thinly sliced onions (about 3 pounds)
½ cup canning or pickling salt
4 cups vinegar (5%)
4-1/2 cups sugar
2 Tbsp mustard seed
1-1/2 Tbsp celery seed
1 Tbsp ground turmeric
Yields: About 8 pints
Directions:
Wash cucumbers
Cut 1/16-inch off blossom end and discard.
Cut into 3/16-inch slices.
Combine cucumbers and onions in a large bowl.
Add salt, cover with 2 inches crushed or cubed ice.
Refrigerate 3 hours to 4 hours, adding more ice as needed.
Combine remaining ingredients in a large pot.
Boil 10 minutes.
Drain and add cucumbers and onion, and slowly reheat to boiling.
Fill hot pint jars with slices and cooking syrup, leaving ½-inch headspace.
Remove air bubbles and adjust headspace, if needed.
Wipe rims of jars with a dampened clean paper towel.
Adjust lids and process for 10 minutes at 0-1,000 foot altitude.
Published December 09, 2020
