Next time you are looking for that perfect gift, why not make edible gifts for that loved one or friend? When a gift is homemade just means so much more and shows you took the time and effort to make something truly extraordinary and they are unique and full of flavour.
Rosemary Infused Vinegar
Rosemary and citrus flavour dominate so many classic holiday dishes, and our recipe is super easy to make. And can be used to add flavour to slow-cooked meats, salads, and more.
Pour 2 cups of rice vinegar through a funnel into a glass bottle. Gently add 1 sprig of rosemary, 2 strips of orange zest, and 2 garlic cloves to the bottle until completely submerged. Add a tight-fitting spout with a rubber stopper. You can use the vinegar right away or refrigerate it for up to 1 month to allow the flavors to marry and infuse the vinegar. The longer the vinegar sits, the more the flavors will infuse. Decorate the glass bottle with sprigs of rosemary and some ribbon.
Sweet and Salty Popcorn Seasoning
Enjoy some of our favourite ways to enjoy popcorn by adding flavourful toppings.
· Pizza
Mix 1 tablespoon Parmesan cheese, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon oregano, and 1 teaspoon paprika. Spray popcorn with olive oil while it is still hot and evenly coated, then toss with the seasoning mix.
· Cocoa-Coconut
Combine 2 teaspoons cocoa powder with a teaspoon of sugar and 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon. Toss the popcorn with 2 teaspoons of coconut oil immediately after cooking, then sprinkle with the cocoa topping and toss until mixed.
· Garlic Chili Lime
Combine 2 teaspoons chili powder, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, and 1/4 teaspoon paprika. Spray popcorn with canola or olive oil while it’s hot and evenly coated. Squeeze the juice of 1/2 a lime over the popcorn and add the seasoning mixture, tossing until combined.
· M&M’s
Mix a handful of M&M’s with the popcorn while it is still hot add some salt for a sweet savoury taste.
· Cinnamon Sugar
Drizzle popcorn with 2 tablespoons of melted butter and toss to coat. Coat popcorn generously with cooking spray. Stir in 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 2/3 cup white sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon salt and sprinkle over the warm popcorn
Place the toppings in small containers, add a packet of popcorn and decorate with a sting of day old popped popcorn
Pesto
Homemade pesto is great on pasta for a quick sauce, dollop over baked potatoes, or spread onto pizza, crackers, or toasted slices of bread. It is the best way to enjoy fresh basil or any other greens that have similar properties, such as parsley, oregano, and mint. Leafy greens like spinach, kale, and even carrot or beet greens make great substitutes. Place 2 cups fresh basil and 1/3 cup pine nuts into the bowl of a food processor and pulse several times. Add 3 cloves, minced garlic, and 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Slowly add 1/2 cup of extra virgin olive oil in a steady small stream. Mix until creamy and add salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Fill the pesto into a medium-sized jar and add a gift label and package it with a spoon for easy enjoyment Lemonade Kit
Give a refreshing gift: a lemonade kit for home-made lemonade = lemon juice + sugar + water + ice! To make these fun DIY Lemonade Kits a mason jar just one lemon and 2 sachets of sugar. Add a recipe for homemade lemonade (which can also double as the gift tag) and decorate.
Cut 1 lemon in half & squeeze the lemon halves into the mason jar. Add 2 tablespoons sugar (to taste) and 300 ml water to the jar. Place the lid on the jar and shake until the sugar has dissolved. Fill the jar with ice. Enjoy a taste of summer
Onion Marmalade
As a topping for bruschetta or even pizza or as a compliment to grilled steak or chicken. Onion Marmalade especially works well with a ploughman’s platter with cheese and cold meats
Heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil in a large pan over medium heat for 2 minutes. Add 4 thinly sliced white onions, 2 pinches of salt, and 10 grinds of fresh black pepper, while stirring occasionally for 20 minutes, until the onions are soft. Add 1/2 cup of sugar and reduce heat to medium-low. Cook the onions, stirring frequently. After 10 minutes, add 2/3 cup balsamic vinegar and reduce the heat to low. Continue cooking the onions, stirring occasionally, for one hour until they are very soft and dry. Remove from the heat and let cool before transferring to clean sterilized jars and seal it.
Decorate the jars with a ribbon and a card with usage instructions.
Salted Caramel Sauce
It is essential to have a bottle of salted caramel sauce handy as it has so many uses. Pour it over ice cream, pancakes, or even a baked cheesecake. Sandwich your cookies and cakes together or use it as a filling for doughnuts and eclairs
Simmer 1 1/2 cups sugar and 1/2 cup water in a saucepan over medium heat, swirling the pan but not stirring, until dark amber, about 12 minutes. Remove from heat and whisk in 1 cup cream, 1 tablespoon vanilla, and 1/2 teaspoon sea salt. Let cool, then divide among jars and chill.
Put together a cute pack of a bottle of salted caramel, two apples, sosatie sticks, and crushed nuts to make your caramel apples.
Chocolate Truffles
If you are looking for a sweet treat that is easy to make and hard to resist, and look just as good as they taste
Bring 1 cup cream and 1/4 cup butter to boil in a saucepan, pour over 450g finely chopped chocolate in a bowl, add 1 teaspoon vanilla, and stir until smooth. Chill until firm. Scoop with a spoon and roll into balls, then roll in chopped nuts, cocoa powder, chilli, shaved chocolate, desiccated coconut, or crushed cookies
Plastic boxes, candy cups, and festive fabric are all you need to package these luscious treats.
Sugar Biscuits
This no-fuss, no-frills cookie can be enjoyed plain or decorated with colourful icing sugar, sprinkles or small sweets.
Beat together 3 eggs and 1 1/2 cups sugar. Add 5 cups of flour, 5 teaspoons of baking powder, cinnamon, and a pinch of salt and mix well. Add 250g butter, and mix well. Roll out and press into shapes with a cookie cutter. Bale at 180° Celsius for about 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from the oven and let cool a little, then place on a cooling rack to cool down completely. Decorate as you wish.
Package Homemade Biscuits
Now that you know how to make those homemade treats you want your handy work to shine and for your biscuit gifts to look and feel special. Here are some fun ways to package them up.
Stack in Mason Jars
The easiest way to package biscuits is to start with just stacking the biscuits in a mason jar. Then place a square piece of fabric between the lid and the ring before screwing it on, then finish with some festive ribbon and a cute tag.
· Stack on Coasters
Stack your biscuits and wrap them in cellophane. Place the stacked biscuits on a drinks coaster, it makes for the perfect decorative plate, and secure them with ribbon.
If you are looking for more easy edible gifts this festive season, look no further than the Fill your Cookie Jar fun cooking class at Steyn’s Culinary Schools on 2 November at 18h00.
During the class, our professional chef will teach you how to bake some biscuits to your heart’s desire and share some of their secret tips and tricks.
To find out more or to join our fun session contact us at info@steynscullinaryschool.co.za or WhatsApp us at 072 645 5167Next time you are looking for that perfect gift, why not make edible gifts for that loved one or friend? When a gift is homemade just means so much more and shows you took the time and effort to make something truly extraordinary and they are unique and full of flavour.