Give a Healthy Christmas Food Gift to the Boss: An Alternative to Office Snacks

There are always snacks in every business office or factory. Most of the snacks come from the machine but several are hidden in drawers or kept in the refrigerator. You can create a healthy alternative for your boss by giving a gift box with yogurt cheese, bagels or whey muffins, and homemade marmalade.

Make the Yogurt Cheese to Substitute for Cream Cheese.

Depending on how much cheese you are going to make, the type of strainer that you will be using will vary. If you are going to make a small amount then you can use a hand strainer lined with a coffee filter and put a small container under it. If you are going to make enough for yourself and several people you need to line a colander or drainer with several layers of cheesecloth and use a larger bowl beneath.

Use any type of yogurt that doesn't contain any gelatin or fruit. Check the ingredients. Simply put the yogurt in the strainer, cover it with plastic wrap and allow it to sit in the refrigerator for 10-24 hours. The longer you let it sit the thicker the cheese will be. If you use an 8 oz container you will get about 1/3 cup of yogurt cheese. You may want to add a little salt before you drain it.

About 1/4 tsp per container gives additional flavor. You can also add any herbs that you choose before you drain the yogurt. Store the cheese in the refrigerator. Make this at the last minute for gifting, since it only lasts about a week. Include a note with the use by date. The taste is like a strong cream cheese, so you may want to experiment a little.

This cheese is low in fat, lactose, calories, salt, and high in calcium and protein. If you make it with vanilla flavored yogurt a lot of the calories from the sugar are sifted out with the whey. Include a note with the benefits.

Use the whey to make muffins or give a package of bagels. To make the muffins put 1 cup of unbleached or whole grain flour, 1/4 cup of sugar, 1/4 tsp of both baking soda and salt, 1/2 cup of pecans, and 1/2 tsp of baking powder in a plastic bag and shake well. Mix together 1 egg, 2 tbsp of vegetable oil, and 1/2 cup of the whey that you drained from the yogurt.

Whip this together completely. Blend in the dry ingredients being careful not to over mix. It won't take long, less than 1/2 minute. Pour into lined muffin cups until they are 2/3rds full and bake in a preheated oven at 425 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes.

Make Some Easy Marmalade.

This recipe makes 8 cups of marmalade. You can use self-sealing jars or seal the marmalade with hot wax. I always feel more secure using self-sealing jars.

Boil your containers 20 minutes before you use them. Turn them upside down on a clean towel to drain dry. You can do this while the marmalade is cooking the last 50 minutes.

Use a pound of dried apricot halves that you have chopped into very small pieces or have put into a food processor. You can use a blender but must do 1/2 cup at a time. Put the apricot into a large saucepan and add 1/2 cup of raisins and 3 cups of water. Cover the pan and bring to a boil on high heat. Lower the heat and allow it to simmer for about 10 minutes.

While the mixture is simmering grate the skin from two lemons (lemon zest) making certain that no white gets into the grating. Cut the lemons in half and juice them. A juicer is best for this, but it can be done by hand. Make certain no seeds fall in the juice.

Add the juice, the lemon zest, 4 cups of granulated sugar, and the contents of a 1 lb can of crushed pineapple to the apricot mixture once it has finished simmering. Stir the mixture until all the sugar has dissolved. It is best to use a wooden spoon to mix.

Leave the lid off the pot and bring the mixture to a rolling boil over high heat. Lower the temperature and allow the mix to boil very gently for the next 50 minutes. Stir occasionally and check to make certain that the bottom is not burning or fruit sticks. This is of utmost importance.

The temperature is too high if this happens turn it down immediately. Once the water has boiled away the mixture will be very thick, almost sticking to the spoon. If you found it sticking, you may have to boil a little longer.

Remove it from the heat and add 1/2 tsp of ground ginger and 1/4 tsp of cinnamon. Mix it well. Fill the jars close to the top and screw on the lids. The lids will seal as the jars cool. Add a date to the jar of marmalade. It will keep for several months once it seals.

You can give a small basket with bagels or muffins, a small crock of yogurt cheese, and a jar of marmalade. Include a note atop the gifts. "A Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year."