Two Gifts from the Kitchen

To create the two gifts from the kitchen you can use your own embellishments and the recipes listed below.  The directions for this wonderful winter gift can be found in the December newsletter for Crafts N Things magazine.  If you have never checked out the magazine you really should.  There are a huge variety of crafts and most certainly a craft for every skill level and style.   The magazines website is www.craftsnthings.com . You have to sign up to receive the newsletter.

Hot Chocolate mix:
10 cups dry milk powder
4 3/4 cups sifted confectioners’ sugar
3/4 cups unsweetened cocoa powder
1 3/4 cups powdered non-dairy creamer

In a large mixing bowl, combine milk powder, confectioner’s sugar, cocoa powder, and creamer. Stir till thoroughly combined. Store cocoa mixture in an airtight container. Makes about 15 cups mix, or enough for about 45 servings.

For 1 serving, place 1/3 cup cocoa mixture in a coffee cup or mug, and add 3/4 cup boiling water. Stir to dissolve. Top with dollop of whipped cream or a few marshmallows, if desired.

I love to make gifts for family and friends.  One item that goes over nicely at Christmas time is cookie mixes in a jar.  I will take a few hours one day to make up a huge batch of them.  Once the jars are filled I decorate the out side of them to suit my mood.  On this one in particular I used a stamped image that I colored last year for my Christmas cards.  I had a few left.  I also used a tag that I made last year from a die cut and old dictionary pages.  I like to recycle paper whenever I can and the dictionary that I tore up has been used on a few dozen projects now.  The vintage paper makes a great background for almost any project.  The circle on the was a piece of left over scrap paper that I had stamped at some point in time.  I really like using up all the bits and pieces that I have accumulated over the year.

Chocolate Chip Cookie in a jar:
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
Nestle Toll House Morsels Semi-Sweet
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
Mix the salt and baking soda with the flour, then layer the ingredients into a 1 quart, wide mouth jar. Use scissors to cut a 9 inch-diameter circle from calico. Place over lid, and secure with rubber band. Tie on a raffia or ribbon bow to cover rubber band.

Give with the following instructions:
Chocolate Chip Cookies 1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). 2. In a large bowl, cream 1 cup of unsalted butter or margarine until light and fluffy. Beat in 1 egg and 1 teaspoon of vanilla. Mix in cookie mix. Drop teaspoonfuls of dough, spaced well apart, onto a greased cookie sheet. 3. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in preheated oven, or until lightly browned. Cool on wire racks.