Ask the Cook
Jorj Morgan has 25 years of entertaining including owning and cooking for my catering company. She is in the process of publishing her first cookbook, "At Home In The Kitchen" due in Spring 2001.

Holiday Gifts

Sherrie writes, "I want to create some great holiday food gifts, what would you suggest? I was thinking of making some cookies and candy. But, I'd also like to make something like a muffin mix where you put in all of the dry ingredients and the recipient just needs to add an egg and oil to bake it. Do you have any suggestions and/or recipes?"

Answer: Some of the most wonderful gifts that you can give to friends and family during the holidays are those that are made with love. The bonus of course is the chance to keep a little of what you make for yourself!

Your muffin idea sounds perfect. Package the dry ingredients in a sack tied with a beautiful ribbon. Attach the text of the recipe and the baking instructions to the tip of the ribbon. (Easy muffin recipes) You can use the same method for cookie or bread recipes.

I also love to receive food that is prepared at home and ready to slice and eat the moment the package is opened. Both pumpkin bread and apple streusel snack cake would work well for this idea. Prepare any quick bread recipe using mini loaves instead of one large loaf. (Make sure to adjust the cooking time.) Wrap the cooled loaves in clear cellophane and tie with a beautiful ribbon. Place one loaf into a basket, box, or decorative bag. Add a small container of gourmet ground coffee and a package of beautiful cocktail napkins and you have a wonderful hostess gift.

Cookies and candies are a terrific sugarplum gift from your kitchen. Spend a couple hours mastering (the really easy) chocolate truffle. Or create homemade caramels and fudge in a matter of minutes. Use a friendship ornament to present your sweets. The ornament opens to house the delectable sweets and closes around the surprise. The plan is that your ornament will be returned to you next season with an equally unique gift from your special friend.

Other kitchen specialties lend themselves to holiday gifts. Examples are fresh herb infused oil presented in decorative bottles, roasted almonds, candied fruit peel, and fruit chutney. Use your favorite inspiration to create a personalized gift. Start with your best recipe and package the results in an appealing and create way.

Here is my favorite heirloom recipe for crunchy chocolate fudge. Please share your favorite gift recipes with other BlueSuitMoms by sending an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Holiday Gifts from the Kitchen:
Three-Citrus Barbecue Marmalade
Microwave Peanut Brittle
Crunchy Chocolate Fudge
California Apple-Walnut Bread
More gift ideas

Submit your questions to Jorj