What goes in your Christmas baskets?

[slowtypinwoman]

We did this last year and it is fun to see what others do. I have some new items this year. What types of things do you make for gifts and/or put in baskets?
Mine this year will consist of;
~ apple butter
~ pumpkin butter (a very popular one)
~zucchini relish
~ salsa
~ coasters from my rag rugging collection
~ hand dipped pretzels
~ old world Santa
~sweet breads (pumpkin or zuch)
~spiced nuts
~book thongs (new this year)
~ purses (new this year)
~ jalapeno' jelly
~ flavored cream cheese (new this year)


I will be happy to give any of these recipes if you see one you'd like. What will you be doing in your baskets this year?

Marcia

[mommy2three]

wow, that sounds great!! i should make baskets, but time just gets away from me!
i would love to do this for my mil and my mom. baskets are so cheap at goodwill and you can find so many pretty ones!
they sound great marcia!

[Heather]

What great ideas Marcia, anyone who receives one of your baskets is VERY lucky!

I've also added homemade:

~fudge
~hot chocolate mix
~almond bark
~nuts and bolts (bits and bites)
~jams
~shortbread

I would love your recipes for the flavoured cream cheese, pumpkin butter and apple butter when you have time.

[Michele Annette]

I love doing baskets! Thanks for more ideas!

I also have:

pear chutney (homeade)
Apple Butter (homeade)
Pitzelle cookies (homeade)
pumpkin chocolate chip bread (homeade)
chocolate covered pretzles (homeade)

New that's added this year:

Neck pillows and eye pillows (homeade)
hot cocoa mix (homeade)
dip mixes (homeade)

[slowtypinwoman]

For the cream cheese I soften store bought and toast some nuts, add honey to flavor whip with mixer.
pumpkin butter
Sorry I do a lot of guess work and the measurments I do have are in cups and teaspoons.
*1/4c. brown sugar
*2 Tb. sugar
*1/4 c. H2O
*1/2 tsp. allspice
*1/4 tsp. ginger (ground)
*1/4 tsp cloves (ground)
*1/4 tsp nutmeg
*1/2 tsp cinamon
*1 1/2 c. pumpkin

Ok honset to goodness what I do is about fourple this and do it in the slow cooker I use pumpkin from my garden and I just make a puree with it. I cold pack it in little jelly jars and give them at Christmas. They go over really well.


I'll have to search for the apple butter recipe I have a really easy one that is done in the slow cooker.

[sunshine]

corn cob jelly
violet jelly
dandelion jelly
blackberry jam
gooseberry pie filling
apple pie filling
cherry pie filling
homemade cookies
homemade fudge and penuche
tomato bread
pumpkin butter
pumpkin bread
Christmas ornaments
potholders
gift certificates
home grown popcorn and flavorings
computer made stationary sets/cards/address labels

Obviously ALL these things don't go into each basket