Two "Gifts in a Jar" For the Holidays

It seems like every year, you have about a dozen people on your Christmas list that are nearly impossible to shop for. The new friend you met at an internet dating site. The red-headed girl in the cubicle next to yours. Your mail man. Especially if you're on a budget during the holidays, it can be impossible to find just the right inexpensive item for a not-so-close friend or acquaintance.

Fortunately, there are plenty of thoughtful gifts you can give without breaking the bank. One of the best and easiest of these are food gifts or "Gifts in a Jar." They're thoughtful, they're easy... and best of all, they're cheap! Nothing in the world quite says "I'm thinking of you" better than a homemade gift.

Jar Gift Recipe 1: Coffee Mug Cake in an Instant

This is the perfect single-serving gift to give to a co-worker, as it can be cooked in the break room microwave. Pick up an inexpensive coffee mug, assemble and bag the dry ingredients, and tie on a short instruction sheet. Make several to have on hand for last minute gifts!

Dry Ingredients:
3 tbsp. chocolate chips
2 tbsp. Dutch cocoa powder
4 tbsp. granulated sugar
4 tbsp. flour

Wet ingredients:
3 tbsp. milk
1 egg
3 tbsp. vegetable oil

Instructions: 1. Dump dry ingredients into a small sandwich bag and toss to mix. Seal closed with twist tie or ribbon. Insert into mug.

2. Include an instruction sheet with the wet ingredients listing and baking instructions (to follow).

Cake Instructions: 1. Pour dry mixture into coffee mug. Add egg and mix with a fork.

2. Add milk and oil and mix well with a fork, removing any lumps.

3. Microwave on high heat for 3 minutes. Cake will rise up during cooking, then sink down as it cools. Let cool slightly, run a butter knife around the edge, and invert cake onto a plate. Serve cake warm with ice cream, or on its own.

Jar Gift Recipe 2: Spicy Vanilla Walnuts

These walnuts are just too good for words. They're crisp, sweet, and spicy, and anybody that you give them to will just go nuts over them (pun intended!). These make a perfect gift for your kids' teachers, your mailman, or anybody you don't know well or can't spend too much money on. Just package them up in a box or bag with a pretty bow, and you're ready to go.

Ingredients:
1 lb. walnut halves
3 tbsp. vegetable oil
1 tbsp. vanilla extract
1/3 C. granulated sugar
1/4 tsp. ground coriander
1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp. ground allspice
1/4 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. white pepper

Instructions: 1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Blanch walnuts in water one minute. Drain well.

2. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.

3. In a small bowl, combine vegetable oil and vanilla. Place hot, blanched nuts in a large bowl and pour oil mixture over.

4. Sprinkle sugar over nut mixture. Stir with a wooden spoon. Allow to sit 10 minutes.

5. Pour nuts out onto a baking sheet. Bake 30-35 minutes, stirring occasionally, until crisp and golden. Scoop baked nuts into a mixing bowl.

6. In a small bowl, combine coriander, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, salt, and pepper.

7. Sprinkle spice mixture over hot nuts, tossing to combine.

9. Spread nuts in a single layer on waxed paper to cool.

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