Three Simple Homemade Christmas Gifts from the Kitchen

Nothing says I care then a Christmas gift from the kitchen. Homemade candy and marmalade make perfect gifts for those folks were want to remember at Christmas, but are not sure what to get. Giving homemade candy or marmalade is a great way to say thank-you to pastors, teachers, hair stylist, and neighbors for all the help they give us throughout the year.

Blueberry -Orange Marmalade

Go to the secondhand or dollar store and find some antique looking jars. Find some country looking ribbon at a craft or fabric store; gingham works very nicely. The following is a recipe for blueberry orange marmalade that makes a great gift.

2 c. of fresh not frozen blueberries (you can use cranberries if they are easier to find)

2 teaspoons of grated orange peel

2/3 cup orange juice

½ cup of sugar

Use a 2 quart saucepan to bring all of the ingredients to a full boil. Turn down to heat to a simmer until the berries split open and the whole mixture thicken up. This should simmer for at least 20 minutes. You should stir the mixture so it does not stick and is well blended. Put the marmalade in a heat proof jar in the refrigerator. This recipe makes about 1 ½ cups of marmalade.

Christmas Caramels

These homemade Christmas caramels should be given in a box lined with wax paper. You can tie the top of the box with some of the gingham ribbon you used on the marmalade jars.

½ pound of butter

2 cups of brown sugar

1 ½ cup of corn syrup

1 pt of cream (you will divide it)

½ cup of crushed black walnuts

Bring to a boil in a large saucepan the brown sugar, corn syrup, and half of the cream. Add the rest of the cream slowly stirring it in while the mixture is on a low boil. The mixture should become hard around 245 degrees Fahrenheit. You may utilize a candy thermometer. At the hard ball stage add your nuts and remove the mixture from the heat. While it is still soft enough pour the mixture into a greased cookie sheet and let it cool. When the caramels have completely hardened then cut them into squares and wraps them in wax paper.

Christmas Cinnamon Pecans

These pecans can be packed in small boxes with wax paper much like the caramels.

2 tablespoons of ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon of salt

1 teaspoon of nutmeg

½ teaspoon of powdered coca

¼ cup of water

3 cups of pecan halves

Combine your dry ingredients and water in a saucepan and cook over a medium heat. Set aside your pecans. You should stir until all of the sugar is dissolved. Cook the mixture until they are soft or reach a temperature of 235 degrees Fahrenheit. Remove your cinnamon syrup from the heat and coat your pecans in it. Spread your coated nuts on wax paper. You can separate nuts that stick together with a fork. You can give pecans in a decorative tin.