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Gift Baskets are gaining in popularity each and every year. While they can be costly to purchase, making your own can be rewarding and much less expensive. While purchased items to be added to the gift baskets are wonderful, including handmade items with your basket can be more so appreciated.
I generally start with a purchased container, you can use just about any type of container. Look for interesting items at discount stores, flea markets and yard sales. I love the inexpensive plastic picnic baskets that you can purchase at discount stores. While there look for a nice bread knife and cutting board, these will be an appreciated item to include. If you know that the recipient owns a bread machine, there is a wonderful array of prepackaged bread mixes that you could include.
You can also include purchased jams, jellies, spreads, gourmet peanut butter and deli breads, but I choose to make my own items.
Here are some of my favorite breads, spreads, jams and jellies to hand make and include with your other items.
JUICE JELLY- you can use this recipe to make any type of jelly using commercial fruit juice.
2 cups juice
4 cups sugar
½ teaspoon margarine
1-6 ounce container liquid pectin- this can be purchased at any grocery store, found with canning supplies
Wash and sterilize ½ pint canning jars and lids.
In a large saucepan, combine the juice and the sugar. Stir well, add margarine. Bring to a rolling boil over high heat, stirring constantly. Stir in the liquid pectin after the boil has reached. Bring to a rolling boil again, stirring constantly and boil for 1 minute. Remove from heat, skim any foam from the top of the jelly with a large metal spoon. Fill the pre-sterilized jars to within 1/4 inch from the top, Wipe off jar rims carefully and seal jars. This will make 4 ½ pint jars of jelly.
SPICED HONEY- this gives honey a little extra zip
1 lemon
12 whole cloves
3 sticks of cinnamon
2 2/3 cups honey
Cut lemon into 6 thin slices. Place 2 cloves in each slice. Place lemon, cinnamon and honey in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Remove the lemon slices from the honey mixture, and place 2 lemon slices and 1 cinnamon stick in each jar. Pour honey into jars, leaving 1/4 inch space. Seal. Process for 10 minutes in a boiling water bath. This will make 3 ½ pints of honey.
BLUEBERRY BUTTER
1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
1 cup butter, softened
1/4 cup confectioners sugar
Combine all ingredients, blending well. Store in an airtight containers in the refrigerator.
PEACH JAM
6 pounds fully ripen peaches
1 1/4 cups lemon juice
15 cups sugar
1-6 ounce package fruit pectin
Pit peaches, but do not peel. Cut into small pieces or put into a blender or food processor and coarsely mash. Measure out 8 cups of mashed fruit into a large pot. Add lemon juice and sugar. Mix well, cook over high heat, and bring to a full rolling boil, stirring constantly. Boil hard for 1 ½ minutes. Remove from heat and stir in pectin. Let cool slightly, then pour into hot sterilized jars. Seal.
DAILY BREAD- this is a simple yet delicious wheat bread recipe.
4 to 4 1/4 cups whole wheat flour
1 package rapid rise yeast
1 ½ teaspoons salt
1 3/4 cups very warm water
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 egg white
1 teaspoon water
1 teaspoon sesame seeds
1 teaspoon sunflower seeds
In a large bowl, combine 3 cups of the flour, the yeast and the salt. Add warm water and oil. Beat with an electric mixer until a soft dough forms. With a wooden spoon, stir in enough of the remaining flour to make a stiff dough (about 3/4 cup). Turn dough out onto lightly floured board.
Wash, dry and lightly oil the mixing bowl. Knead dough, working in more flour if necessary, until the dough is smooth and elastic. This will take about 10 minutes. Shape dough into a ball, place in oiled bowl, then turn to coat all sides of the dough. Cover the bowl with a clean towel and let your dough rise in a warm place, until doubled in size. About 30 to 45 minutes.
Grease a 9x5 inch loaf pan. Punch dough down, shape into a loaf and place in the prepared pan. Cover with a clean cloth and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 20 minutes.
Heat oven to 400. In a small bowl, beat egg white with water, then brush onto the top of your loaf. Sprinkle with seeds. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove loaf from pan and cool on a wire rack.
APPLESAUCE SPICE BREAD
1 cup sugar
1 cup applesauce
1/3 cup cooking oil
2 eggs
3 tablespoons milk
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
3/4 & 1/4 cup chopped pecans
1/4 cup brown sugar
½ teaspoon cinnamon
In large bowl combine the first 11 ingredients along with the 3/4 cup pecans, mix well and pour into a greased 8 ½ x 4 ½ x 2 inch loaf pan. Combine the remaining nuts, brown sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle evenly over the batter. Bake at 350 for 1 hour, cap loosely with foil after the first 30 minutes. Remove from pan, cool on a baking rack.
You can attractively wrap loaves of bread, by wrapping in tin foil, then wrapping a bow around the loaf. Top with miniature pine cones or other decorative trims. The same can also be done with styrofoam plates with muffins if you wish to include those in your basket. Or simply place the breads or muffins in the loaf or muffin pan that you have purchased to be a gift.
While this is just an example of items to be added to a Gift Basket for Bread Lovers, do be sure any refrigerated item that you add, is added directly before giving. Also be sure to tell the recipient that the items will need to be re-refrigerated. When enclosing home made bread, be sure it is fresh or just removed from your freezer, again be sure to tell the recipient to either refreeze or use right away. Have fun creating your own, personalized gift baskets.
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