Holiday Gifts From My Kitchen To Yours

‘Tis the season to spend time in our kitchens making homemade goodies to share with friends and our family. Here are a handful that I whip up during the holidays, something for everyone on my list.

By the time Christmas rolls around, I could make my Scottish Toffee in my sleep! The toffee list seems to grow longer every year and nobody has ever turned down a piece of it. I’ve been making this toffee for over thirty years, with very few changes to the original recipe.

This Date Nut Bread has been made by women in my family going back three or perhaps four generations. We always serve it at Thanksgiving and Christmas. It’s an easy recipe and the bread freezes beautifully. I would never change the recipe, just out of sentiment.

If making jam feels too difficult, try my Tomato Chutney, much easier to make than most jams, jellies and preserves. It’s a great hostess gift to give instead of the traditional bottle of wine. Any kind of tomatoes will work here, even good quality canned or boxed tomatoes.

Last Christmas, I adapted my mother’s and my fruitcake recipe into one for cookies. The Fruitcake Cookies look like little stained glass windows with all the assorted dried fruit – no citron or green cherries – and taste heavenly. I challenge even the most anti-fruitcake eater to turn down one of these little beauties.

Homemade relish is a snap to prepare and this Red Onion, Apple and Raisin Relish is a terrific condiment to serve with chicken, pork and beef. Don’t worrying about having to can this, since it keeps for several weeks in your fridge.

Have fun trying out some of these favorites of mine, and all my best wishes to you and your family for a lovely holiday season. XO Liz