It only tastes expensive

When I was younger, I made presents for my friends and family. Now I am older and I make presents again. Here are a couple of popular items to make and give away in jars. Nice for watching budgets but still feel extravagant.



Homemade Granola
I adapted this recipe from my parents' older version of the More with Less Cookbook

Preheat oven to 350ºF

1 large roaster (I use a large aluminum turkey roaster)
2.25 kg oats (you can reduce for your wants)
1/2 cup skim milk powder
up to 2 cups each sliced almonds, broken pecans, or other nuts that you enjoy
1 cup unsweetened medium coconut (optional)
1 cup roasted green pumpkin seeds (optional)

In a saucepan melt together:
1 cup molasses
1 cup honey
1/2 cup olive oil

Watch that the molasses and honey don't boil over but it is ready to pour into the oats mixture when it bubbles and foams up.
Mix well into oats and nuts and bake for 20- 30 minutes or until browning on top. Stir and bake for at least another 20- 30 minutes. While it is baking, soak dried fruit.

Dried Fruit (I always round quite up on these items and don't really measure at all)

1 cup dark raisins
1 cup craisins
1 cup cut dried apricots
1 cup pitted cut dates
All optional or what you may have on hand. At Christmas I use dried cherries. I also often use currants.

After turning and baking the granola, turn off heat and stir in drained fruit. Leave in oven until all dried.

Fill small sealer jars with granola for gifts.

Enjoy!

Chocolate Almond Biscotti


Check out an earlier post for Chocolate Almond Biscotti and try the options. One option that I made today was Lavender Saffron Almond biscotti. I made lavender syrup and used chopped up lavender in the dough as well.

Fill small sealer jars or decorative boxes for gifts.

Enjoy!