How to Make Holiday Gifts from Your Kitchen

With the poor economy and over stretched budges, we will be tightening our holiday belts this year. There's never been a better reason to step back and take a serious look at how we approach gift shopping. Instead of loading up that charge card at the mall, why not take a greener approach and try handmade gifts this season?

While cookies and candies are quick and easy to make, there are other great ideas for homemade gifts this holiday season. Homemade gifts are a nice way to say "you are special" and thought of during the Christmas holiday gift-giving season. Dress up your gifts in pretty holiday packaging and these simple holiday treats will taste even sweeter since they were made by you!

Idea #1: Pack mixed dried herbs in colorful drawstring bags with an attached card for how to using them. Try bags of sage, rosemary, thyme or a pretty bag of lavender.

Idea #2: Make bottles of infused oils or vinegars. Put infused oils and vinegars in little antique bottles, affix labels, and wrap with tissue paper and ribbon. Arrange in a pretty box full of colored tissue paper.

Idea #3: Prepare jams and jellies, such as wine jelly, blackberry, or strawberry jelly. Attach a tag with serving suggestions. Wrap with tissue paper and ribbon.

Idea #4: Make a box of mini cakes. Cranberry, fruit and nut, and orange spice cakes are great for mini holiday cakes. Wrap the mini cakes in colorful saran wrap and ribbon. Line a box with colorful tissue paper and arrange the cakes in the box.

Idea #5: Make bottles of liquors. Like orangecello or limoncello made from vodka. Use large bottle with stopper-caps, such as European beer bottles or French lemonade bottles.

Idea #6: Pack mixes of beans and spices for soups in Ziploc bags. Wrap the Ziploc bags in colorful holiday drawstring bags with an attached recipe card.

Idea #7: Pack canning jars with homemade trail mix. Wrap with holiday ribbon and add a recipe to refill the jar. To add extra holiday cheer, paint the jars with a holiday scene, such as a snowmen family.

Idea #8: Pack mixes of Spiced Mocha in Ziploc bags. Wrap the Ziploc bags in holiday drawstring bags with recipes cards attached. Add a holiday cup or candy canes for added cheer.

Idea #9: Fill small jars with a favorite fudge sauce. Fudge sauce is a favorite gift that can be saved until the summer when dishes of ice cream and your fudge sauce will be the hit of the party. Dress the jars with tissue paper and ribbon and a card on how to use the fudge sauce.

Idea #10: Fill small jars with mixed homemade bath salts. Decorate the jars with holiday ribbon and add a card with a list of the essential oils used. This prevents possible allergy issues.