Gourmet gifts from your kitchen - recipes for culinary gifts

The words "simplify, simplify" influence the purchasing decisions of today. With shelves, closets, end tables, and walls reflecting years of gift receiving, we enter another season of gift giving. Perhaps those words "simplify, simplify" need to be a part of our gift decisions, too. As you head for the mall, ask: How many collectibles do your recipients want ... or need?

The answer for the thoughtful gift giver this season just might be "consumables." That is, literally, delightful, delicious, edible food gifts. Such items will please the taste buds of the recipients and will not demand shelf space for years to come. These items may make a dish or menu special. With even more immediacy, these gifts just might please a friend or the unexpected holiday drop-in guests.

Gifts that make the basic activity of meal preparation easier will be the gift that keeps on giving. A homemade mix for baked goods can shorten a cook's preparation time. A meal in a basket is the ultimate in time-saving convenience for the working mother. Frozen or dried foods that are ready or nearly ready to serve will be deeply appreciated--especially during the busy holiday season.

Begin early to collect the decorative glass or plastic containers that will be part of your food gift. Choose containers that match the needs of your family and friends. Wrap it in holiday cellophane--not only to be beautiful, but also so that it is clear the gift is to be consumed soon. Colorful bows and ribbons may trim your gift for a beautiful presentation. Choose your theme to be festive, elegant, playful, or practical.

Be creative this season with gourmet foods presented beautifully. The following recipes and gift-giving ideas might simplify your season of gift-giving, while simplifying life for your recipient.

VANILLA DROPS:

3 cups cookie mix (see basic cookie
  mix recipe on next page)
1 egg
1/4 cup milk
1 t. vanilla

Combine all ingredients. Drop on a
greased cookie sheet. Bake. Yield: 3
dozen cookies. Calories per cookie: 65;
protein: 0.9 grams; carbohydrate: 8.1
grams; fat: 3.1 grams; fiber: 0.2 grams;
cholesterol: 6 milligrams.

Variation: Add 1/2 cup chopped nuts, dates, raisins, candied fruits, or 2/3 cup chopped gumdrops or mini M&Ms, or drop plain and garnish with Decorettes.

LEMON TUMBLES

2 cups cookie mix (see basic cookie
  mix recipe on page 46)
1/4 cup dark corn syrup
1 egg
1 t. vanilla
1 lemon rind, grated
1/2 cup chopped nuts

Combine all ingredients. Drop on a
greased cookie sheet. Bake as directed.
Yield: 2 dozen. Calories per cookie: 85;
protein: 1.4 grams; carbohydrate: 11
grams; fat: 4 grams; fiber: 0.3 grams;
cholesterol: 8.9 milligrams.
PEANUT BUTTER
CRISSCROSSES

1 egg
1/2 cup peanut butter
2 T. oil
1 T. water
3 cups cookie mix (see basic cookie
  mix recipe on page 46)

Combine first four ingredients; add
cookie mix and blend. Drop or shape
balls about 1" in diameter on an ungreased
cookie sheet. Dip fork in flour
and make a cross on each ball to flatten.
Bake as directed. Yield: 3 dozen cookies.
Calories per cookie: 92; protein: 2
grams; carbohydrate: 9 grams; fat: 6
grams; fiber: 0.4 grams; cholesterol: 6
milligrams.
COCONUT MACAROONS

1 egg
1/4 t. vanilla
1/2 t. almond flavor
2 cups cookie mix (see basic cookie
  mix recipe on page 46)
3/4 cup coconut
1/2 cup chopped almonds
3 T. oil or margarine

Combine all ingredients; drop on a
greased cookie sheet and bake as directed.
Yield: 2 dozen cookies. Calories
per cookie: 107; protein: 1.6 grams; carbohydrate:
10 grams; fat: 7 grams; fiber:
0.6 grams; cholesterol: 8.9 milligrams.

A busy mother of cookie eaters will appreciate the shortcut to homemade cookies from this gift. Choose a practical 12-cup plastic, glass, or ceramic container. Wrap in holiday cellophane and tie with a bow. Type the recipes that use the basic cookie mix on decorative recipe cards, and attach to the bow or cellophane.

OATMEAL-NUT
CHOCOLATE-CHIP
COOKIES

1 cup margarine
3/4 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups flour
1 t. baking soda
1 t. salt
2 cups oatmeal
1 cup walnuts
1 cup chocolate chips

In a large mixing bowl, cream together
margarine, brown sugar, granulated
sugar, and eggs. Sift together
flour, baking soda, and salt. Add dry ingredients
to mixture until just combined.
Add oatmeal, nuts, and
chocolate chips. Do not overstir. May
be frozen * until ready to bake. Drop by
teaspoonfuls onto a cookie sheet. Bake
in a 375 [degrees] F oven 12 minutes or until
slightly browned. Yield: 5 dozen.
Calories per cookie: 93; protein: 1.5
grams; carbohydrate: 11 grams; fat: 5
grams; fiber: 0.3 grams; cholesterol: 7
milligrams.

* Place cookie dough in a plastic container
for freezing. Type card with baking
instructions and tape to lid. Wrap in decorative
holiday cellophane or gift bag. Be sure
to deliver frozen and prompt your recipient
to place it in the freezer.
WHOLE-WHEAT
SCONE MIX

3/4 cup flour
3/4 cup whole-wheat flour
1 1/2 t. baking powder
1/4 t. baking soda
1/4 t. salt

Mix dry ingredients. Place in a decorative
container. Type remaining ingredients
on a recipe card to include with gift.

1/4 cup margarine
1 large egg
  cup plain low-fat yogurt
  vegetable cooking spray
  margarine and/or jam (optional)

Cut margarine into dry mix. Beat
egg. Add egg and yogurt to mixture
until just moist. Turn dough out onto a
floured surface, and gently knead for
eight turns. Roll or pat dough to a one-inch-thick
circle. Cut into eight
wedges. Place 1/2 inch apart on a baking
sheet sprayed with vegetable cooking
spray. Bake at 400 [degrees] F for 12 to 15 minutes.
Cool on a rack. Serve warm with
margarine and/or jam, if desired. Yield:
8 scones. Calories per scone: 150; protein:
4.5 grams; carbohydrate: 18 grams;
fat: 7 grams; fiber: 1.7 grams; cholesterol:
28 milligrams.

For variety, add 1/2 cup dried fruit (cranberries, raisins, blueberries) or chopped nuts (walnuts, almonds, pecans). Include the following jam recipe with the scone mix and/or make a sample as part of your gift.

APRICOT-PINEAPPLE
FREEZER JAM

1 cup dried apricots
1 cup crushed pineapple

Blend apricots with the crushed
pineapple. Serve with scones, biscuits,
or other breads. Use immediately or
freeze in small containers. Yield: 2 cups.
Calories per 2 tablespoons: 27; protein:
0.3 grams; carbohydrate: 7 grams; fat:
0.1 gram; fiber: 0.7 grams; cholesterol:
0 milligrams.
GRANOLA

1 42-ounce box old-fashioned oats
1 cup brown sugar
2 cups finely chopped pecans
1 cup sesame seeds
1 t. salt
1 14-ounce package shredded
  coconut
2 cups chopped almonds
1 cup sunflower seeds
2 cups wheat germ
1 cup oil
1 1/2 cup water
1 1/2 t. maple flavoring
1/4 cup Karo syrup

Mix dry ingredients. In a separate
bowl, mix liquid ingredients and add to
the dry mixture. Stir to combine.
Spread in a thin layer on cookie sheets
and bake at 300 [degrees] F for 30 minutes or
until browned. Stir often. Yield: 24
cups. Calories per 1/4-cup serving: 152;
protein: 3.7 grams; carbohydrate: 16
grams; fat: 9 grams; fiber: 1.8 grams;
cholesterol: 0 milligrams.

Place in decorative glass, plastic, or ceramic containers to make several gifts. Wrap in holiday paper and/or tie with a bow.

SPAGHETTI SAUCE

3/4 cup fresh chopped mushrooms
3 cloves garlic, minced
4 green onions, chopped with 3
  inches of stalk
1 T. olive oil
1 8-Ounce can tomato sauce
1 15-Ounce can tomato chunks
1/4 t. Italian seasoning
1/4 t. basil

Saute mushrooms, garlic, and onions
in olive oil until tender. Add tomato
sauce and tomato chunks. Simmer with
herbs for 20 minutes. Serve over
cooked pasta of your choice. Yield: 3 1/2
cups. Calories per 1/4 cup: 21; protein:
0.5 grams; carbohydrate: 3 grams; fat:
1.2 grams; fiber: 0.3 grams; cholesterol:
0 milligrams.

Build a spaghetti dinner in a purchased basket lined with two holiday placemats. Include a package of matching holiday napkins. Food items could be: pasta, cans of tomato sauce and tomato chunks, olive oil, bottles of Italian seasoning, and basil. You may find jars of minced garlic and/or basil in oil. A baguette of French bread, and a bottle of sparkling fruit juice could complete the gift. Type the sauce recipe, and include it in the basket with your gift card.

FIVE-BEAN Soup

1/3 cup black beans
1/3 cup navy beans
1/3 cup kidney beans
1/3 cup garbanzo beans
1/3 cup split peas
2 quarts water
1 T. olive oil
1 small white onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 t. salt
1 t. McKay's seasoning
1 15-ounce can stewed tomatoes
3 T. parsley, minced

Combine beans, peas, and water;
rinse and drain. In a large saucepan,
place beans and peas in water; bring to
a boil. Turn off heat and let sit on
burner for 1 hour. Return heat to a simmer
until beans and peas are soft. In a
small frying pan, saute onion and garlic
in oil. When beans are soft, add to
beans sauteed onion, garlic, salt, seasoning,
and tomatoes. Continue to simmer
for 20 minutes. Serve hot with minced
parsley garnish. Serves: 10. Calories per
serving: 100; protein: 6 grams; carbohydrate:
16 grams; fat: 1.8 grams; fiber:
3.6 grams; cholesterol: 0 milligrams.

Colorful, festive food gift items could be: whole nuts (pecans, walnuts, almonds, cashews, macademias, pistachios) singularly or in layers in a tall glass container, crystal candy dish, or handy plastic container; whole dried fruits (cranberries, raisins, apricots, pears, dates, apples, papayas) singularly or in layers in one of the above listed containers; large, hand-shaped potholder filled with small jars of seasonings (garlic powder, onion powder, basil, cumin, regano, sage, tarragon, thyme, etc.); a recipe box with six of your favorite recipes typed on decorative cards. Perhaps a sample of one of the recipes could be part of the gift.

Basic Cookie Mix

4 cups flour
2 t. baking soda
2 t. salt
2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 cups vegetable shortening
4 cups oatmeal

Sift together flour, baking soda, and salt. Mix
in sugars, and cut in vegetable shortening until mixture
is crumbled. Blend in oatmeal. Store at room
temperature in plastic bags. Use as a basic cookie
mix for several recipe variations on pages 45 and
47. To measure cookie mix, spoon into a cup and
shake lightly; do not pack. Bake in a 350 [degrees]-375 [degrees] F
oven for 10-15 minutes until golden brown. Yield:
12 cups of mix; each 2 cups of mix yields 2 dozen
cookies. Calories per cookie of mix: 62; protein:
0.7 grams; carbohydrate: 8 grams; fat: 3 grams;
fiber: 0.2 grams; cholesterol: 0 milligrams.
French Apple Pie

1 cup flour
1/3 cup vegetable shortening
1/2 t. salt
2-3 T. cold water
3 cups peeled, diced apples
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 t. cinnamon
1/3 cup margarine
1/3 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup flour

With a pastry blender, mix together flour, vegetable shortening, and
salt until the mixture is of a cornmeal consistency. Add the water
slowly, stirring with a fork. Roll and fill a 9-inch pie pan. Crimp
edges. Fill crust with the diced apples. Sprinkle with sugar and
cinnamon. In a separate bowl, mix the margarine, brown sugar, and flour
to a crumb consistency. Cover the apples with the crumb mixture. Bake
at 425 [degrees] F for 30 minutes. Reduce to 375 [degrees] F and
continue baking for about 30 minutes or until apples test soft with a
fork. Serves: 8. Calories per slice: 356; protein: 2.9 grams;
carbohydrate: 51 grams; fat: 16 grams; fiber: 2 grams; cholesterol:
0 milligrams.

Choose a decorative pie plate as part of the gift. Wrap in cellophane, or place in a pie basket as an addition to the gift.

This season, share your creative talents with friends and family. In an era of "simplify, simplify," they will be ever so grateful for consumable gourmet gifts.

Georgia Hodgkin, Ed.D., R.D., F.A.D.A., is an associate professor, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Allied Health Professions, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, California.

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