Rice Heat Pads and Seasoned Rice Mix: Great Last-Minute Christmas Gifts

There are still a few items that can be made to finish that Christmas list. These all involve items that you probably have in your home. A wonderful gift that my niece has given in the past is a rice heat pad. I use the bag to heat my feet when I get in to bed, but my life partner has used it on bumps and muscle pulls that he got on the job. It is simple and a great idea.

Rice Heat Pad

Wash a 12-by-12-inch piece of cloth, you can make them from any size of square so if you have a smaller piece of scrap material, you can give it a shot using those. The heating directions will be shorter, the smaller the bag. Make certain that the material is clean first since the bag cannot be washed after it is complete.

Fold the material in half, wrong sides facing, and stitch all sides shut but one short end. Turn it right side out and fill it with uncooked long grain rice. I am being very specific about the rice since instant rice doesn't work as well. Leave enough room to fold the ends in and stitch across it to hold.

Make a casing for it, like a little pillowcase. Add 1/2 inch to the measurement that you used for the square for the width of the case and 1 1/2 inches to the length. Make this a soft material like a flannel. Stitch up the side as you did for the bag. Turn the edge under 1/4 inches and then again1/2 inch and hem. Slide the bag in.

Include a note with the bag,

TO USE: Heat in the microwave 1 1/2 to 2 minutes (test smaller ones at home to find the best time.) or until it is comfortably warm. Apply to sore and achy joints or cold feet.

TO WASH: Remove the casing and wash. Do not wash the bag containing the rice.

Sometimes my mind wanders and when I was making note about the washing, I could picture the rice plumping in the dryer. It then wandered onto a disaster movie where people all over the United States were boiling up macaroni pictures, bean displays in memory boxes, and rice bags for food. So, in addition to giving a soothing heat pad, you may have given a meal in time of desperation. Let's hope the scene never comes to fruition, unless it's in a movie

Since we're on the subject of rice, let's do one more gift that includes rice. You can give homemade seasoned rice and it is quite easy to create.

Seasoned Rice

Herbed rice and curried rice can be given and the cost is minimal if you have the additional ingredients at home. I suggest that you use the traditional long grain rice since I have never tried it with instant rice. If you choose to use brown or minute rice, try a batch at home first for your supper so you can make any necessary adjustments to the directions.

Herbed rice requires 1 cup of rice, 2 cubes of beef bouillon, 1 tsp of green onion flakes (You can substitute onion flakes but the color isn't as nice.), 1/2 tsp of each dried thyme, marjoram, rosemary, and 1/2 tsp of salt. Mix it together and package in an airtight container with the instructions. You can use the package directions on the rice or the ones below for traditional long grain rice.

To Make: Mix the contents with 1 tablespoon of butter and 2 cups of water in a covered saucepan. Bring to a boil and then reduce the heat to simmer, stirring once to mix. Continue to heat on simmer for 15-20 minutes until the water is absorbed. Makes 4 large servings.

Curried rice is also just as easy to put together. Use a cup of rice, 2 chicken bouillon cubes, 1/4 tsp of cumin, 1 1/4 teaspoons of curry powder, 1 1/4 tsp of dried minced onion, 1/2 tsp of dried parsley, and 1/2 tsp of salt. Package and include the directions as instructed in the recipe above.