Need frugal ideas for xmas

**Izzy0906** · 10-23-2008, 12:28 PM

Ok, I was going to make 30 jars of salsa for christmas gifts (last year did jams). Only problem is with tomatoes out of season, it's going to be alot more expensive then I was hoping for. anyone have anything CHEAP but great to can? I have the jars no problem. I was going to do jams again but with all the fruit and pectin, it got expensive last year.

Thanks!
Jen

**madhen** · 10-23-2008, 12:41 PM

I did a bunch of apple butter and apple sauce this year. You can use just about any apples, so I looked for anything under $1/lb. With the applesauce, you can do plain, or you can do some different flavours and give a variety pack.

If you have a dehydrator, you can accompany your jars with some apple chips or apple leather.

**guest002** · 10-23-2008, 12:42 PM

I don't know about canning, but can you use store bought canned diced tomatoes?

**nvmommyx6** · 10-23-2008, 12:53 PM

I am doing jam's because I got the berries for free this year, so it is costing me about 33 cents a jar!
I also have a recipe here for home made bath salts that would rock, I got some cool jars from yard sales and thrift stores to do those in!
5 lb. Epsom salts
10 drops Vanilla essential oil
1 Tbsp. glycerin
Yellow food coloring
Mix glycerin with Epsom salt. Add a few drops food coloring until salts turn the color You want them. Mix in a few drops of essential oil.

**Izzy0906** · 10-23-2008, 01:15 PM

Originally Posted by nvmommyx6

I am doing jam's because I got the berries for free this year, so it is costing me about 33 cents a jar!
I also have a recipe here for home made bath salts that would rock, I got some cool jars from yard sales and thrift stores to do those in!
5 lb. Epsom salts
10 drops Vanilla essential oil
1 Tbsp. glycerin
Yellow food coloring
Mix glycerin with Epsom salt. Add a few drops food coloring until salts turn the color You want them. Mix in a few drops of essential oil.

Jams are just too expensive since I have to buy frozen fruit and the pectin. Plus now I make them for people year round anyway. I just made a HUGE batch of apple butter and gave to everyone. I wanted to do the salsa but will be way too expensive and canned tomatoes won't taste as good. Bath salts are a good idea except that most of the people (uncles, brothers) are men. Not sure they would really enjoy that.

**Maine Girl** · 10-23-2008, 03:48 PM

What about making a chocolate sauce that you can put over ice cream or Caramel sauce.

Cocoa mixes
gifts in a jar

**Izzy0906** · 10-23-2008, 03:52 PM

Sauces sound good! I wonder if I can find some caramel and chocolate sauces to make that wont' cost me much.

**Momto2Boyz** · 10-23-2008, 04:02 PM

I would suggest giardinera, except that the peppers will be just as expensive as the tomatoes since they are out of season.

Gifts in a jar for men are tough. But what about soup mixes? Most men won't argue with a hearty soup or even a dry chili mix??? Dry chili mix, would be the dry chili beans, and seasonings...then they could add the tomatoes & gr. beef?

Here are some sites I found with recipes:
http://www.allfreecrafts.com/giftinajar/chili-mix.shtml
http://www.thatsmyhome.com/general/chili-recipe.htm
http://www.recipegoldmine.com/foodgi...-soup-mix.html

I haven't tried these mind you, but thanks for the idea! I think I will probably do a few of these for the men on my lists this year!

**mcphlips** · 10-23-2008, 08:33 PM

If anyone knows how to make the chocolate sauce in a jar, I would love to know how to do that. That would make a great gift for a few friends.
thanks!

**Patty A** · 10-23-2008, 09:28 PM

How about some of these easy frugal food ideas;

Chocolate dipped marshmellows

Peanut brittle

Chocolate dipped pretzels rolled in sprinkles

Caramel popcorn

Homemade cappuccino mix

Chocolate covered spoons

Coffee can sized cookies

Dip candy canes in chocolate and use them as coffee stirs

Homemade granola

Chocolate covered nuts

Haystacks made from dry chow mein noodles

these don't cost much and make great gifts

**steelergal** · 10-24-2008, 08:27 AM

For men I would think maybe a thing of chex mix and possibly beef jerky (I heard there is a way to do this in a regular oven).

**Maine Girl** · 10-24-2008, 08:59 AM

Sorry i don't have a recipe but i am sure if you google it you can come up with a recipe that works for you.

**quiltingmommy** · 10-24-2008, 12:00 PM

I made this last year. It is great on ice cream, pancakes, waffles, a spoon, etc

PECAN PRALINE SYRUP

2 cups dark corn syrup
1/3 cup dark brown sugar
1/2 cup water
1 cup chopped pecans
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Combine syrup, sugar and water in a saucepan. Bring to a boil; boil for 1 minute. Reduce heat.

Stir in pecans and vanilla extract. Simmer for 5 minutes.

Ladle hot syrup into hot jars, leaving 1/4 inch headspace. Adjust 2-piece lids, and water bath for 10 minutes.

Yields about 4 half pints.

you can also substitute walnuts for the pecans or do half & half.

**Izzy0906** · 10-24-2008, 12:24 PM

Originally Posted by quiltingmommy

I made this last year. It is great on ice cream, pancakes, waffles, a spoon, etc

PECAN PRALINE SYRUP

2 cups dark corn syrup
1/3 cup dark brown sugar
1/2 cup water
1 cup chopped pecans
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Combine syrup, sugar and water in a saucepan. Bring to a boil; boil for 1 minute. Reduce heat.

Stir in pecans and vanilla extract. Simmer for 5 minutes.

Ladle hot syrup into hot jars, leaving 1/4 inch headspace. Adjust 2-piece lids, and water bath for 10 minutes.

Yields about 4 half pints.

you can also substitute walnuts for the pecans or do half & half.

That sounds so yummy but may be out of my budget. I would have to multiply the recipe by 8 and I'm guessing pecans are going to be way expense

**jdr250** · 10-24-2008, 04:16 PM

I just started today, I bought stuff to make manacotti noodles for $1.00/box (14 noodles in each box), large jar of spaghetti sauce $3.00/jar, ricotta cheese 2.50, and a bag of mozerrella 2.20 my egg I got free cause I have chickens. Then I went to the dollar store and bought those metal cake pans small ones with the holiday decorations 2/$1.00. I made the noodles, stuffed them added the sauce then I sealed them in seal a meal bags and froze them. This way the people on my christmas list will have a quick easy meal to just throw in the oven and with the price of food I think they will all appreciate it. So it cost about $4.50/each.