Herb Vinegar

  • 2 cups white wine vinegar
  • 1/2 cup firmly packed fresh herb of choice (basil, chives, dill weed, mint, oregano, rosemary or tarragon)
  • Shake vinegar and herb in tightly covered glass jar or bottle. Let stand in cool, dry place 10 days. Strain vinegar. Place 1 sprig of fresh herb in jar to identify if desired. Makes 2 cups vinegar.
  • Berry Vinegar: Substitute 2 cups berries, crushed, for the herb.
  • Garlic Vinegar: Substitute 6 cloves garlic, cut in half, for the herb.
  • Ginger Vinegar: Substitute 1/2 cup chopped peeled gingerroot for the herb.
  • Lemon Vinegar: Substitute peel from 2 lemons for the herb

Easy Holiday Centerpieces

These are so easy and pretty, your guests will give you more credit than you might deserve!

Grapevine Wreath with Pillar Candle: Place 12-inch grapevine wreath on table. Place 9-inch pillar candle (any color) in center of wreath. Cluster 2 miniature artichokes, 3 bunches red grapes and 5 pinecones on wreath. Add 1 stem fresh bay leaves, cut into 6-inch sections. Weave 1 yard sheer ribbon, 1 inch wide, loosely throughout wreath.

This attractive holiday centerpiece can be easily adapted using items found around the house. Instead of coffee beans and hazelnuts, try some of these items:
  • Tiny Christmas ball ornaments in any color
  • Gilded pinecones and fresh evergreen sprigs
  • Seasonal red and green candies
  • Fresh cranberries
  • Coarse decorating sugar or salt, which will glisten like snow
  • Wrapped candies and ribbon
  • Red and green pistachio nuts
  • Red and green dried pasta in various shapes
Cranberries and Orange Slices in a Vase: Place 1 bag (16 ounces) fresh cranberries in a vase. Fill vase 3/4 full with water. Place orange slices (1/4-inch slices cut from 1 medium orange) in vase between cranberries and side of vase. Arrange bouquet of flowers in vase, keeping flowers shorter, so they don't obstruct the view for guests seated at the table.

Homemade Food Gifts

There is no gift to be purchased anywhere that equals the one that comes from the heart and is made with the hand that unmistakably says, "You are very special." Consider making your choice from these easy food gifts, such as decorated sugar cookies, decadent ice-cream sauces or herb vinegar, for those on your guest list.

Decorated Sugar Cookie Gift Ideas

Display or give scrumptious Cookies on a Stick (below) in little holiday pots to make them even more tempting! Cut pieces of floral foam (available at craft stores) to fit snugly inside flower pots to within 1/2 inch of tops. Glue or tape foam pieces securely in pots. Carefully poke bottoms of sticks into foam. Cover foam with shredded coconut to look like snow. Or wrap cookies individually in colored plastic wrap for gift-giving.

Cookies on a Stick: Make cookies as directed for Kids' Favorite Cutout Cookies on 1 pouch Betty Crocker® sugar cookie mix--except cut dough with large (6- to 8-inch) cookie cutters. Place about 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Carefully insert a wooden stick into bottom of each cookie. Bake 11 to 14 minutes or until edges of cookie are light golden brown. Frost and decorate as desired.

Christmas Trees: Make cookies as directed for Kids' Favorite Cutout Cookies on 1 pouch Betty Crocker sugar cookie mix--except cut dough with Christmas tree-shaped cookie cutter. Stir a few drops green food color into vanilla frosting; spread baked and cooled cookies with frosting. Sprinkle with colored sugar. Press tiny candies into frosting for tree decorations. To make star for top of tree, flatten large yellow gumdrop by rolling with rolling pin; cut into star shape with sharp knife. Place on cookie.

Snowmen: Make cookies as directed for Kids' Favorite Cutout Cookies on 1 pouch Betty Crocker sugar cookie mix--except cut dough with snowman-shaped cookie cutter. Spread baked and cooled cookies with vanilla frosting. To make hat, flatten large black gumdrop by rolling with rolling pin; cut into hat shape with sharp knife. Place on cookie. To make scarf, cut long strip from any red variety Betty Crocker Fruit by the Foot® chewy fruit snack roll; cut small slits into ends of scarf with scissors to look like fringe. Place around neck of snowman. Use raisins or candy for eyes, nose and buttons. Attach small unwrapped candy cane to snowman.

Stars: Make cookies as directed for Kids' Favorite Cutout Cookies on 1 pouch Betty Crocker sugar cookie mix--except cut dough with star-shaped cookie cutter. Spread baked and cooled cookies with frosting; sprinkle heavily with sanding sugar (available at cake supply stores) or colored sugar. Decorate with tiny candies as desired.

Decadent Ice-Cream Sauces

Pour these sauces into pretty jars and tie on a colorful ribbon with the recipe attached to it.

Divinely Decadent Fudge Sauce: Heat 1 can (12 ounces) evaporated milk, 1 package (12 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips (2 cups), and 1/2 cup sugar to boiling in 2-quart saucepan over medium heat, stirring constantly; remove from heat. Stir in 1 tablespoon butter or margarine and 1 teaspoon vanilla until mixture is smooth and creamy. Cool about 30 minutes or until sauce begins to thicken. Store covered in refrigerator up to 4 weeks. Sauce becomes firm when refrigerated; heat slightly before serving (sauce will become thin if overheated). 3 cups sauce.

Divinely Decadent Caramel Sauce: Heat 2 cups sugar, 3/4 cup butter or margarine, 2 cups whipping (heavy) cream, 1 cup light corn syrup and dash of salt to boiling in heavy 4-quart Dutch oven over medium heat, stirring constantly; reduce heat slightly. Boil about 30 minutes, stirring frequently, until sugar is dissolved and mixture is caramel colored. Stir in 1 teaspoon vanilla. Cool about 30 minutes. Store covered in refrigerator up to 2 months. Reheat slightly before serving if desired. 4 cups sauce.

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