Christmas Foodie Gifts

 Christmas Foodie Gifts (or keep for yourself )

Merry Christmas Jam is easy to make and tastes like Christmas

There is something homey and comforting about creating homemade gifts for the holidays. My favorite Christmas gifts are things that translate to a quiet, snuggled-in January. A time to relax and reflect after the holiday rush and festivities. Things like books, tea, cozy socks and jammies. Food gifts play right into that scenario. Here are some of my favorites. And don't skip over the jam recipe - it doesn't require canning skills. You've got this.

 

Merry Christmas Freezer Jam

This jam is super easy and tastes like the holidays. 

What You'll Need:

2 cups fresh Cranberries

3 cups of diced fresh Pear, peeled, cored and diced. I use a a variety of pear types. Good ones for cooking are Bartlett, Anjou and Bosc.

2 cups granulated Sugar

1 box of Sure-Jell for Less or No Sugar Needed Pectin (1.75 ounce box)

2 Tablespoons Grand Marnier (or other orange liqueur) Optional

1 fresh Orange - zested and juiced with water added to make 1 cup of liquid

1/2 teaspoon ground Cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon Nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon Ginger

Pinch of ground Cloves

Pinch of Salt

Cute jars with lids or plastic containers that you can freeze. The containers need to be clean, but do not have to be sterilized.

This will make about 6 1/2 cups of jams.

 What You'll Do:

 In a large Le Creuset Dutch Oven or other heavy, nonreactive pot, over medium heat, combine the pectin, sugar, and the orange juice/water and bring to a low boil. 

 

 

 Add the cranberries, pears and orange zest and continue cooking for about 5 minutes until the berries start to burst and break down. You can use a wooden spoon to help smash up the berries a little while they are cooking. Turn the heat down to low.

 Add the rest of the ingredients except for the Grand Marnier and stir for about ten more minutes. If you want a smoother consistency, use a potato masher (not a metal one in a Le Creuset, as you don't want to scratch it) 

Remove from heat and then add Grand Marnier. Let it cool for just a few minutes and then transfer into the jars, leaving 1/2 inch space at the top.

Let the jam sit at room temperature for about an hour and then refrigerate or freeze. It will keep in the frig for 2 weeks and for a year in the freezer. 

This jam is delicious on toast or any type of bread, on waffles or pancakes, with a charcuterie board, in oatmeal or ice cream or as a cheesecake topping. Also, try it on baked brie, on goat cheese or as a substitute for regular cranberry sauce with turkey or roasted chicken.

 

Pear Butter with Cardamom and Ginger

Pear Butter is like Apple Butter with a twist.

What You'll Need:

4 or 5 cups of Pears, peeled, cored and diced. I use a variety of pears. Bartlett, Bosc and Anjou are all good for making jam.

1/2 cup Brown Sugar

1/4 cup Honey

2 teaspoons Cardamom (more to taste, if you'd like)

1 teaspoon Ginger (more to taste if you like) 

Pinch of Salt

2 Tablespoons Lemon Juice

What You'll Do: 

  Combine all ingredients in a small Le Creuset Dutch Oven or sauce pan or another heavy pot. Cook on low or low medium at a very low simmer and stir occasionally for about an hour and then pureee with an immersion blender or in a food processor or blender. 

 

 

 

 

Let it cool a bit and store in jars in the freezer until you're ready to use and then thaw in the frig. This will keep in the frig for 2 weeks and in the freezer for a year.

 

 

Little jars of Pear Butter and Merry Christmas Jam ready for gifting

 

Maple Bourbon Spiced Pecans

Fast and easy and makes a perfect gift. These are delicious to snack on as is, or as a topping for oatmeal, yogurt, ice cream, or pie and also as a crunchy addition to salads.

 

What You'll Need:

1 cup of Pecan halves

2 Tablespoons salted Butter

1/4 cup Brown Sugar

4 Tablespoons Maple Syrup

2 Tablespoons Water

1/2 teaspoon ground Cinnamon

4 Tablespoons Bourbon 

Pinch of Salt

1/4 teaspoon Cayenne Pepper if you want to make them spicy

 

What You'll Do: 

Have a baking sheet or a tray lined with wax paper ready to go. Heat a Le Creuset Non Stick Braiser or other non stick skillet to low/medium and melt the butter. Add the pecans and stir frequently until they are toasted. This will take about 3 minutes.

Add the brown sugar and maple syrup and cook until the sugar has completely melted, while stirring. This will also take about 3 minutes.

Add the water and cinnamon and cook for another minute and then add the bourbon and continue cooking until the 'sauce' has reduced enough to stick to the pecans. 

Pour the pecans out of the pan and onto the wax paper lined tray, spreading them out evenly. Let them cool completely, they are hot!

These look really cute packaged in a mason jar or a clear cellophane bag with some ribbon. 

Lots of Holiday Foodie Gifts!

Stovetop Potpourri

You'll see this used at the Le Creuset stores all the time and it's such a wonderful and all natural way to fragrance your home. Did you know you can also make these as gifts? If you want to be extravagant and your gift recipient has been extra good this year, you could add a Le Creuset Sauce Pan or a Le Creuset Dutch Oven to the gift. 

What You'll Need: (per bag/gift)

1/4 cup fresh Cranberries

One whole fresh Orange per bag

Two whole Cinnamon Sticks

A handful of whole Cloves

One whole Star Anise

A sprig of fresh Rosemary

In a clear cellophane bag, place all of the ingredients and tie with a pretty ribbon. You can place the rosemary sprig in the bag or use as decoration with the ribbon. 

Speaking of rosemary, if you live where it will grow, plant one (or more)! Rosemary is super easy to grow and is the perfect addition to everything fall and winter related. I use it as a garnish on charcuterie boards, chopped on top of fresh baked bread, as an accent with ribbon on wrapped gifts, and as a stirrer for cocktails.  

Print out directions in a pretty font:

Stovetop Potpourri - Slice the orange into several rounds and place it, along with rest of the bag into a saucepan or pot with 6-7 cups of water. Simmer all day and turn off/cover at night, adding more water when needed. This can last up to a week and scent your house beautifully.  

 

Chocolate Candy Cane Marshmallow Pops

These little guys are festive and fun to hang on the side of a mug of steaming hot chocolate and stir it in. They make great gifts, delightful additions to a holiday Hot Chocolate Bar or just keep them all for yourself (super evil laugh).

These are the cutest

 What You'll Need: 

24 small Candy Canes

12 large Marshmallows

1 cup Dark Chocolate Melt Chips

What You'll Do:

Unwrap one of the candy canes and eat it. You need to keep up your energy level. Then unwrap the rest. Insert 12 of the candy canes into the marshmallows (one in each) at the top and place them on a wax paper lined tray and pop them in the freezer for about 15 minutes.

Put several of the candy canes in a plastic baggie and crush them using a meat tenderizing mallet or a rolling pin. This is therapeutic. Put the crushed candy canes in a bowl.

Place the chocolate in a small Le Creuset Saucepan and heat on the lowest setting, stirring often, until the chocolate is all melted and smooth.

*OR *Melt the chocolate in a heat proof bowl in the microwave in 15 second intervals, stirring each time, until smooth and completely melted.

 

Dip the marshmallows halfway into the chocolate, dip/roll in the candy canes and then place them on the wax paper tray to set. Easy peasy.

 

 

 

I want to be a Gingerbread Architect

 I make a gingerbread house every year because I think it's so much fun. This year I made a little Gingerbread Le Creuset Store, complete with interior lighting, tiny Le Creuset Dutch Ovens and it's own WIFI. Okay, not really the WIFI. The little store is now living at the Oklahoma City Le Creuset store and it's very happy there.

 

 

 Merry Christmas and may you have a healthy and happy New Year!