How to Complete Your Holiday Gifts List in a Shoestring

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By craftybegonia
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Holiday Gift-giving

You are running out of time now, and money is getting thin. You have bought gifts for all your family members and closest friends, and picked up some things for your coworkers and a few gifts for some special people at church.
But traditionally, you have given gifts to others, like the gal that always takes care of you at your neighborhood bank, the young man who delivers your paper, your favorite librarian, your mechanic, your friendly computer geek, the girl that does your perm, the person who picks up your trash, your mail carrier, your husband's barber. . .to mention just the shortest list!
Money is tight right now and you think you cannot stretch it any further. Well, let's look around at what you have and see if you cannot come up with something imaginative and nice to show those people you guys appreciate what they do for you all through the year.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Your favorite recipes
small Mason jars or special Holiday tins
paper
bows
little bits of fabric and ribbon to cover jar tops
1 large can of crushed pineapple 1 bag of shredded coconut 2 cups brown sugar 1 tsp. vanilla 1/2 tsp. finely grated lemon rind Raisins to taste (if you really like them add a lot.

Step 1

For a crocheter, making snowflake coasters or snowflake, glitter-embellished ornaments would have been a nice idea for some folks.
Can you make some crafts? Let's see, we are down to the wire now, or else, if you can knit or crochet I would have suggested that you make scarfs or socks to give away to the people that are working in the cold
(like the person who picks up the garbage and the youngster that delivers your paper) but if you have a knitting machine, maybe you can still produce some quick things that are nice and you can give away in a pretty holiday gift bag.
But if that is out of the question. Let's think a little further. Are you a good baker? Why not make your ever-popular bread pudding, yes the one you make, chock-full of raisins and dripping with prune syrup or your world's famous cookies or your celebrated fruitcake in small, Holiday-shaped baking tins and give them away wrapped in colored cellophane paper with a ribbon tied around them. Are you the creator of the best-ever cinnamon buns or cinnamon rolls? Make them!
Is your forte to make scrumptious jellies? Why not make some extra ones and decorate the tops of the jars in a really special way and give some away as gifts. I am sure that people who cannot find those in the store will appreciate them. It's too much trouble, you might think. But you are going to make goodies for your family anyway, and to double the recipes will not be so much trouble. Besides, those people serve you all year long.
If you don't have too long of a budget to give lots of food away, make small portions of something delicious, pack it in a happy way, with lots of red and gold, and tie a little card to it. Just a note full of good wishes for those who will be receiving the little present. It could be your kid's teacher, the girl who does your manicure, the nice gals at the front desk at your puppy's Vet, whoever you have in mind!
Step 2

It's too much trouble, you might think. But you are going to make goodies for your family anyway, and to double the recipes will not be so much trouble. Besides, those people serve you all year long.
My mom gives away pies. Every year she sends a box of them to her local small town bank, to the post office, etc. And guess what? Come the Holiday season, she makes us call over to announce the arrival of the box and you know what? we have to identify ourselves with a long story, but not her, EVERYBODY remembers HER! As I said, you don't have to make a large investment of means, just make something delicious, pack it in a happy way, using lots of red and gold, and tie a little card to it. Just a note of appreciation to someone who has made your life nice through the year.
It will make a difference in your Holidays and in theirs. And while you are at it. Don't forget, as you shop for your Holiday special meal, to buy a can or two for your local food bank.
Step 3

If you want to make something different for your family this year and something to give away, take a look at this simple recipe for a candy that you can send away in small mason jars, topped with a little circle of fabric and a little Holiday bow:

Pineapple and Coconut Candy

1 large can of crushed pineapple
1 bag of shredded coconut
2 cups brown sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. finely grated lemon rind
Raisins to taste (if you really like them add a lot, if not, just about 1/8 cup)
4 cups pineapple juice
1 cinnamon stick

In a pot, put the pineapple juice, the cinnamon stick and the vanilla, bring to a boil (you want the cinnamon to begin releasing its flavor into the juice) add the rest of the ingredients and cook, uncovered over medium heat until the coconut and the pineapple are cooked, the raisins are plump and they have absorbed almost all the liquid.
Let cool. Pack into jars. You don't have to seal them through a canning process if you are going to give them away right away. If not, keep the candy refrigerated and covered until you are ready to give it to the recipients of your gift.
I am certain that people will appreciate that you have made something extra special for them.