Holiday Gift Ideas
It’s that time of year again where gift giving can be made from the heart. Gift giving doesn’t have to be expensive. These gift ideas are fun to make and taste good. They are fast and easy, and will surely keep the kids busy.
Christmas Wreath
INGREDIENTS
1/2-cup butter
40 large marshmallows
1 1/2 teaspoons green food coloring
1-teaspoon vanilla extract
4 cups rice crispy cereal
1/2 cup small red hard candy or candy of your choice
DIRECTIONS
Melt the butter in a large saucepan over low heat.
Add marshmallows and cook until melted, stirring constantly.
Remove from heat, stir in the green food coloring, vanilla, and rice crispies.
Quickly drop large spoonfuls of the mixture onto the waxed paper.
Fairly quickly, form into a wreath shape with lightly greased fingers.
Immediately decorate with the red hard candies or candies of your choice and gently press into place.
Allow to cool completely before removing from the waxed paper.
Store in an airtight container.
Wrap in clear plastic wrap and tie with a colorful ribbon for a unique and tasty gift.
Holiday Taffy Pull
This is an easy and fun recipe. Put into small jars or bags, tie with a colorful ribbon and give it as holiday gifts to friends and family. Colorful, taffy makes a great tasty holiday gift.
INGREDIENTS
1 cup white sugar
1/4-cup light corn syrup
2/3-cup water
2 tablespoons butter
1-tablespoon cornstarch
1-teaspoon salt
1-teaspoon vanilla extract
2 teaspoons almond extract
5 drops green food coloring
5 drops red food coloring
DIRECTIONS
Grease two 8inch square pans. Set aside.
Place a medium saucepan over medium heat.
Combine the sugar, corn syrup, water, butter, cornstarch and salt.
Mix together well and bring to a boil.
Heat without stirring until a smooth and thin liquid consistency.
Remove from heat.
Stir in vanilla, and almond extract.
Pour half into one pan and the other half into the other pan.
Quickly stir the red food coloring into one of the pans, and the green food coloring into the other pan.
Let stand until cool enough to handle. It should feel warm throughout.
Pull the taffy until the color is light and the taffy becomes stiff.
If the taffy starts to stick, lightly grease fingers with butter or oil.
Cut taffy into bite size pieces.
Wrap the pieces with plastic wrap. For a decorative, festive look, wrap over plastic wrap with colored wrapping. Place in small jars or candy bags tied with colorful ribbon.
