Country Sampler Special Edition
GIFTS FROM THE HEART
Harness your creativity and resourcefulness to make thoughtful handcrafted gifts for your friends and family.
Harness your creativity and resourcefulness to make thoughtful handcrafted gifts for your friends and family.
Holiday Reed Diffuser
Follow these instructions from Amy Buchanan of Atta Girl Says to put together a custom reed diffuser for your loved one.
Ingredients
½ cup sweet almond oil 4 tablespoons vodka
12 drops clove essential oil
15 drops sweet orange essential oil 5 drops pine scotch essential oil 5 drops cassia essential oil
Instructions
1. Add all ingredients to a measuring cup or glass jar. Stir or shake to combine.
2. Pour the oil mixture into a glass bottle or jar with a tapered neck, filling about halfway. Add a lid or cork until ready to use.
3. Decorate the bottle with greenery, ribbon or other seasonal embellishments.
4. To use the reed diffuser, place four to six reed diffuser sticks in the open bottle. As the oil slowly moves up the sticks, the scent will be diffused into the air. Flip the sticks after a few hours to release more scent into the room.
RECIPE AND PHOTOGRAPH BY AMY BUCHANAN OF ATTAGIRLSAYS.COM.
Peppermint Mocha Java Jar
Give peppermint mocha lovers the gift of a yummy coffee break. Tonia at The Gunny Sack assembles all the ingredients in a mason jar for an easy homemade present. In your jar, include items such as a mini bag of chocolate peppermint coffee, a tiny bottle of peppermint syrup, chocolatecovered espresso beans, chocolate truffles, powdered peppermint mocha creamer, a candy cane and a wooden spoon. Label the jar with a ready-to-go tag you can download and print from Tonia's website.
Sugar Cookie Sack
This season, gift a beautifully packaged cookie mix that recipients can bake for themselves. Lisa Tutman-Oglesby at Celebrate Creativity gussied up her favorite store-bought sugar cookie mix by placing it inside a cute handmade ticking sack.
STEP 1 Cut two 6" x 25" fabric strips. Place the strips with right sides together and stitch along the bottom and sides, leaving the top open.
STEP 2 Turn the sack right side out. Turn top edge under ¼", iron and stitch across through both thicknesses, creating a closed fabric tube.
STEP 3 Push that stitched top edge down inside the tube until it is lined up with the bottom edge. Straighten and smooth out the tube, which should be half the original length.
STEP 4 Iron and topstitch the new top edge of the bag. Fold over the top edge 1" to 2" to create a cuff. Iron again.
STEP 5 Print out an instruction sheet for the cookie mix and slip it into the sack.
STEP 6 Tie the sack just below the cuff with a length of jute. Add a cinnamon stick, wood spoon, holly sprig and gift tag and then tie the remaining jute into a bow.
Christmas Chutney
There are so many festive ways to serve this giftable chutney from Fabiana at Ciao Newport Beach.
Makes 6–8 jars
Instructions
1. Place the chopped mangoes, onions, bell peppers and apples in a large saucepan. Add the rest of the ingredients and the bag of spices.
2. Stir together, and then place over medium heat on the stove. Bring to a simmer and then reduce the heat and simmer gently for 1½ to 2 hours or until well blended and thick.
3. Remove the pan from the heat and let cool. Take out the spice packet, squeezing the liquid from the bag.
4. Spoon the mixture into sterilized jars, filling them close to the top. Ensure the rims are clean and screw on sterilized lids.
5. Store in a cool place for up to 12 months. Once open, store the jars in the refrigerator and use within 1 month.
*Pickling spices include black peppercorns, mustard seeds, coriander seeds, dill seed, allspice berries and bay leaves.
RECIPE AND PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF FABIANA OF CIAONEWPORTBEACH.BLOGSPOT.COM.
Ingredients
4 pounds mangoes, peeled and
chopped into small chunks
4 medium onions, peeled and chopped
into small chunks
3 red bell peppers, peeled, cored and
diced
2 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored
and diced
1½ cups raisins, roughly chopped 1½ cups pitted dates, roughly chopped 4 tablespoons malt vinegar
1 cup soft brown sugar
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes 1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons ground ginger 2 tablespoons mixed pickling spices*, secured in a piece of cheesecloth with kitchen twine
FABIANA’S FAVORITE WAYS TO SERVE CHUTNEY
• Poured over warm brie cheese
• With roasted chicken or turkey
• Added to chicken salad
• With a grilled cheese sandwich
• Alongside a cheese on a charcuterie board
Joyful Solid Perfume
This recipe from Amy Buchanan of Atta Girl Says makes enough solid perfume to fill one 2-ounce round tin and two small travel tins. Double or triple the recipe if you want to make a larger quantity.
Instructions
1. Combine the beeswax and jojoba oil in a microwave-safe measuring cup or bowl.
2. Microwave in 30-second bursts, stirring after each, until the beeswax is completely melted.
3. Add essential oils and pour into metal tins. Allow the perfume mixture to cool and harden completely.
4. Print out labels on sticker paper and apply to the tins.
RECIPE AND PHOTOGRAPH BY AMY BUCHANAN OF ATTAGIRLSAYS.COM.
Ingredients
0.5 ounces beeswax
1.5 ounces vanilla jojoba oil or jojoba oil
6 drops ylang ylang essential oil
8 ounces sweet orange essential oil
12 drops frankincense essential oil
6 drops neroli essential oil
Winter Fresh Scent
These air fresheners from Melissa Riker of Shaken Together Life are perfect for frosty days and chilly nights with their blend of earthy rosemary and refreshing spearmint. In a bowl, stir together 1 teaspoon polymer absorbent crystals, approximately 1 cup of hot tap water and 10 drops each of rosemary and spearmint essential oils. Split the mixture between two wide-mouth half-pint mason jars. Place the lid and a square of tulle over each jar and screw on the band. Embellish with felt holly leaves and a red jingle bell. To use the air freshener, remove the lid and secure the tulle over the opening with the band. DESIGNED AND PHOTOGRAPHED BY MELISSA RIKER OF SHAKENTOGETHERLIFE.COM.
Eggnog Sugar Scrub
This delightful holiday scrub from Gina Kleinworth will keep hands silky smooth all season long.
Ingredients
1¼ cups granulated sugar
½ cup coconut oil, melted 2 teaspoons ground nutmeg 1 teaspoon vanilla extract ½ teaspoon eggnog fragrance oil
Instructions
1. Combine the sugar, melted coconut oil, nutmeg, vanilla extract and eggnog fragrance oil in a small mixing bowl and stir together with a silicone spatula until the mixture takes on the appearance of wet sand.
2. Transfer the mixture into canning jars and secure the lids tightly.
3. Tie baker's twine around each jar. Add a gift tag or holiday candy to the bow if desired.
4. To use, rub ½ to 1 teaspoon between your palms and over the tops of your hands for 1 to 2 minutes to slough off dead skin. Rinse hands and then wash with soap and water to remove excess oil. Follow up with your favorite hand cream for added moisture.
RECIPE AND PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF GINA KLEINWORTH OF KLEINWORTHCO.COM.