Jenn (newto)

Er&JerLem

I know you mentioned you liked to give people canned homemade stuff for Christmas.  Just wondering what you like to give people, and what they like to receive?I was thinking of making a couple of things, and giving one jar of something to everyone.  But I'm having trouble deciding what to make.   (Especially because I have a couple of really picky eaters that I buy for)

New_to_PGH

Jams/Jellies/Butters are always a hit.I also usually make pralines, and put them in a basket/gift bag in a pack of a half dozen or soIn past years, we've made lots of liquors - kahlua (that recipe was "meh"), limoncello (which you have to begin in the summer to be ready by Christmas), and amaretto (the recipe I used was AMAZING). This year, I want to try a mint schnapps and maybe another round of amaretto.

Er&JerLem

You make liquors?  Now that sounds interesting!  Can you point me in the direction of that amaretto recipe?  And where you find liquor recipes in general?How do you package that?

New_to_PGH

Amaretto - http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Amaretto/Detail.aspx Lots of times, I just pick up a recipe while reading a blog. I have a massive folder of PDFs for recipes I save to my laptop!I bought my bottles here last time - http://www.sunburstbottle.com/glass-bottles/corkedIt's a tiny pic, but here's what our looked like all packaged up - http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b7ce03b3127ccebe10f4f8bb2f00000026108AcuWrNy1bt8 Oooh, and if I have time, I want to try this choc. syrup out too! http://ourredhouse.blogspot.com/2007/10/homemade-chocolate-syrup.html

KRMac

::butting in::Jenn, my DH is dying to make Limoncello - we even bought jars to make it in.  But he can't find uncoated lemons anywhere...did you find them somewhere or just used the ones with coating on them? 

daveys_baby

Can I butt in.  I'm also interested in the amaretto too, was it easy?  And just out of curiosity, what do you normally use mint schnapps in (I usually end up making shamrock shakes with it, but I'm sure that's not the common usage lol)?

New_to_PGH

KR, I last made limoncello 2 years ago - it's easiest to find uncoated lemons if you look in the organic produce

New_to_PGH

Jaime, I usually stick mint schnapps in cocoa! DH will pour it on ice cream sometimes

Er&JerLem

Sweet - thanks!  Do you have to do anything in particular when bottling it, or just sterilize the bottle and cork it? Does it keep for a while?  I'm assuming it wouldn't need refrigerated.

New_to_PGH

I run the bottles through the dishwasher to sterilize, then fill and cork. I store them at the back of my pantry until it's tipe to put them in gift baskets - no need to refrigerate alcohol.

daveys_baby

In cocoa sounds really good!  I'll have to try that.If anyone is interested, I have a few books at home on different recipes that you can put together in mason jars and whoever you give them to just has to add the wet ingredients.

KRMac

Yeah, we looked at organic, but they were still coated with an organic/vegetable coating, lol.  I think that is what we will end up with though because we aren't buying a lemon tree. 

New_to_PGH

I would think that if your organic lemons are still coated, the veggie coating will come off with a light scrub (potato scrubber perhaps?), but that waxy stuff is pretty much impossible!

king26

I like using mint schnapps in my hot cocoa!  YUM!  That Amaretto looks so easy and yummy too.  I love making edible gifts.  A big hit is chocolate covered Oreos-they are so easy and cheap to make and people love them.

daveys_baby

I did chocolate covered oreos for coworkers last year.  I bought a few different oreo flavors.  Fudge is also super easy, and if you get the ingredients on sale only around $2 per lb.  I just bought some walnuts today for baking, I'm thinking of doing a turtle fudge.

New_to_PGH

Jaime, I meant to pick up walnuts too! I found a recipe for a banana nut jam that I want to try out...

KRMac

Yeah, we should try scrubbing them!  I love edible gifts too.  I counted yesterday and we are making 22 loaves of cranberry orange bread for gifts.  OMG.

daveys_baby

Foodland has them onsale today only for $1.99 a pound, not sure if you have any near you Jenn.  I only bought one bag since I'm not really a nut eater (TWSS), but I thought I'd do some different varieties for coworkers/family.  I also want to do mini turtle cheesecakes.

daveys_baby

Cranberry orange bread is so good KR!  Dunkin' Donuts used to make muffins like that but I haven't had one in ages :-(

New_to_PGH

KR - how far in advance can you prepare the loaves? I'd love to bake some for gifts, but I also like to get everything done far in advance.

KRMac

We actually make them ahead of time and freeze them - works perfectly.  I've made them 6 weeks in advance and they taste great when defrosted.  We saran wrap them twice and then wrap them in foil.  After they defrost (24 hours on the counter) we throw them into gift bags - the ones that look like decorated brown paper bags, if that makes sense.I love Cranberry Orange bread french toast.  Mmmm!

Pirata13

new to Pgh--banana walnut jam sounds amazing!  my address is.....