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

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

HomemadeCrème de Menthe

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

ChocolateDipped Festive Pretzels and Treat boxes

BrandiedCranberries

HomemadeMaraschino 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.

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.

Comments

thedustybaker.com says

December 28, 2011 at 2:03 am

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

Peggy says

December 23, 2011 at 9:18 pm

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

Molly @ Toffee Bits and Chocolate Chips says

December 23, 2011 at 7:48 pm

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.

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