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LAST UPDATED: • FIRST PUBLISHED: By 13 Comments

DIY Food Gifts in Less than an Hour, Make-Ahead Mexican Breakfast Casserole and Cool Gifts

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Homemade Maraschino Cherries in white bowl with spoon

This Christmas season has borne a different signature to me and others around me it seems.  It feels to have snuck up without the usual holiday nostalgia and excitement as in past years; like a house guest arriving well earlier than planned.  After feeding myself on a constant diet of Christmas Carols and a bit of sparkly gift wrapping, I finally feel I’ve synced up but with reduced fanfare, decorations and time for reflection.

I’ve also found my gift ideas for others are revealing themselves much more close to the finish line than usual.  It’s not been a year of long-term planning, early procurement or gift creation but more so a lot of bowing to the cyber Gods in thanks for saving my bacon.  It’s surprised me how late I have been able to order with no penalty on shipping and guaranteed Christmas delivery  though there are always a few gifts that slip my mind and catch me flatfooted.  I’d guess I’m not alone!
With mere days to go I wanted to share some recent recipes I’ve made fit for gifts, all of which can be created in an hour or less.  Great things to have on hand for unexpected visits and celebrating or perhaps a gift recipient you had not planned for.
homemade creme de menthe liqueur and cocktail
mulled wine in glass mugs

  Glogg (ScandinavianMulled Wine) Mix Kit.  The dry ingredients for Glogg can be packaged up in a basket with a bottle of wine and an orange for a beautiful, seasonal gift.

holiday treat boxes with homemade treats
A box filled with different types of food, with Chocolate and Peppermint
brandied cranberries in a silver bowl
homemade maraschino cherries
Great sources for decorative bottles and jars:  World Market, Sur La Table, Thrift Stores, Flea Markets, McGuckin Hardware (Boulder).
Treat boxes:  Craft and/or Baking supply stores such as Hobby Lobby.
A plate of food and a cup of coffee, with Casserole and Bacon

My family has always had a very specific Christmas morning food and gift opening protocol.  We begin the morning with coffee and coffee cake while stockings are opened (which is done by each gift recipient opening a package while other’s watch).  When this is completely done a more hearty breakfast is prepared before moving along to the under-the-tree gifts.

To be frank if I never see something sweet again I would not miss it.  I’m at that saturated end point  before Christmas where I’m dreaming of carrots or anything fresh and cursing the hold chocolate has taken over my life.  Coffee cake, even my Grandmother or Great Grandmother’s recipe feels like cruel and unusual punishment (though it IS delicious).
I had to supply an ‘egg casserole’ to a function last week.  Being one who loves protein for breakfast I appreciated the sentiment over mass carbohydrates but knew this casserole would sit on a buffet table potentially for hours to be picked at.  Cold eggs sounded brutal.  I asked chef friends, scoured recipe books and finally found what I was hoping for; a Mexican Breakfast Casserole by Emeril Lagasse.  The flavors are fantastic starting with roasted Poblano chile’s to chorizo to the light egg custard intermingled with all the spicy flavors.  The best part?  It must be made beforehand and is suggested to be made the night before, refrigerated and baked in the morning leaving it perfect for Christmas morning (or frankly New Year’s Day).  I have not altered the recipe one bit so will not reproduce the recipe here but rather share a link to the original recipe (click here).  This one is a real find.
mexican casserole and breakfast items
Some other things I’m obsessed with this Christmas (all available at Sur La Table who will still guarantee Christmas delivery with Overnight shipping orders placed by December 22; Boulder residents can now visit the new Boulder store). Click on photos for more product info.
Brightly colored Kuhn-Rikon paring knivesin every color of the rainbow as well as a Swiss dot and animal prints
Zak resin rose mini colanders
Tovolo Bowl scrapers with measurement equivalents printed on them

I’ve put my foot forward on my Culinary Bucket List: my first Whoopie Pie, Chocolate Peppermint Whoopie Pie (gluten free) to be specific.  It was made from a mix so I will not be checking this item off until I make it from scratch but I was so enchanted by its beguiling stance I had to share.

whoopie pies

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

TONI DASH
Toni Dash head shot

Toni Dash, is the writer/blogger, photographer, recipe developer and creator of Boulder Locavore®. She has been developing easy to make, well-tested recipes since 2010. Her seasonal recipes bring excitement to the dining table for both gluten-free and gluten diners. Toni has been featured in numerous publications and on culinary websites for her creative, delicious recipes and travel features. For more details, check out her About page.

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  1. thedustybaker.com says

    What amazing ideas!!! Bookmarking the Glogg idea for the future 🙂

    Reply

  2. Peggy says

    All of these are such great gift ideas! Merry Christmas to you and your family =)

    Reply

  3. Molly @ Toffee Bits and Chocolate Chips says

    how fabulous! and i can't agree with you more. Sweets are starting to become a little too much which is absolutely crazy for me! Would love to try the casserole and how wonderful is it that you can make it ahead of time.

    Reply

  4. Lisa @ Tarte du Jour says

    Wow, these are such special and creative gifts! I'd be delighted to give (or receive) any of them!! You have been a very busy girl indeed. And I love the make ahead Mexican breakfast casserole for Christmas morning…perfect. Toni, my friend, have a very Merry Christmas with your family!

    Reply

  5. Emily says

    I love the Zak rose colanders. I have their bowl sets but have never seen these. Christmas morning always comes with coffee cake for us but I am with you on the sweets. I went way over board on the whole cookie aspect this year. Extra for Santa I guess.

    Reply

  6. celiacasaurus.com says

    Beautiful as usual. I'm turning into a big fan here 🙂
    The homemade creme de menthe looks heavenly. I'll try that out for sure. Have a very merry christmas in Boulder

    Reply

  7. Rebecca Subbiah says

    awesome foodie gift ideas Merry Christmas sweet lady

    Reply

  8. Christine says

    Great post! I totally perused through all your cocktail recipes, since I'm a bit of a booze hound! 😉

    Reply

  9. Toni (Boulder Locavore) says

    Claudia: Thank you so much and the best of the holidays to you and your family too!

    Eliotseats: Thank you and love the tip! Love repurposing.

    thelivelylittletraveler: The Whoopie Pie was made from a Stonewall Kitchen's mix that I sadly can't recommend. It was lovely to look at but the cake was too light and required eating it with a fork since it fell apart so easily. I sent you a separate email about ideas for good gluten free recipes but I'd do a google search or search on Foodgawker.

    Jeanne: Thank you! The breakfast casserole is really fantastic and who doesn't love the 'make it the night before' part. I think that really let's the flavors blend well. Happy Holidays!

    Reply

  10. Pegasuslegend says

    What gorgeous photo's Merry Christmas may you have a healthy blessed New Year ahead!

    Reply

  11. Jeanne says

    What a festive post! Thank you for sharing some diy gift inspiration. And that breakfast casserole looks absolutely delicious!

    Reply

  12. thelivelylittletraveler says

    Beautiful photos! Hope you and your family are enjoying all the snow! Is there any chance I can wrangle the Whoopie Pie recipe out of you? Z is on a two week gluten elimination diet, he has been having constant stomach aches everyday for almost two months. I took him to the doctors yesterday and she wants us to cut out gluten, I am looking for a good christmas dessert the boys would like and Z can eat 🙂

    Reply

  13. Eliotseats says

    Great gift ideas. I am saving some of them for next year. I love the brandied cranberries! Another great (and cheap) idea for decorative bottles: wash, sterilize, and reuse bottles that contained vinegars, olive oils, and even wine. Some liquor bottles are quite unique too! I echo Claudia—great pics!
    Happy Holidays!

    Reply
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