spice mixes {gifts in jars}

Today I have a few quick gift ideas that require barely any work at all.  Maybe that sounds bad.  Maybe these are too easy.  Homemade gifts usually involve a little bit of work.  Right?

Typically yes, but not with these!  You can still make quite an impressive gift with what you’ll find below, and if you’re short on time these will be perfect.

First, we have garlic herb salt, which can be used on:

• baked potatoes
• toast
• garlic bread
• roasted veggies
• roasted chickpeas
• tofu/tempeh

Next, a personal favorite, cinnamon sugar.  I remember having a little spice jar shaker of this growing up, and I’m pretty sure it went on every piece of toast I ever ate.  You may want to use this on:

• toast
• sweet potatoes
• oatmeal
• cinnamon rolls
• quick breads
• in pancake or waffle mix

Next up?

Chai Spice + Pumpkin Spice

Try using them with:

• nut butter
• quick breads
• hot chai spiced or pumpkin spiced milk
• smoothies
• mixed in oatmeal
• muffins
• pancakes or waffles
• cookies
• cakes

This list goes on…

You could mix up this set of spice mixes in 4 different jars and maybe include a set of measuring spoons.  Besides jars and bowls, I also have an obsession with fun measuring spoons.

You can check Anthropologie and World Market for really unique options.

[source]

Or, deliver with a freshly baked loaf of rosemary everything quick bread, banana bread, or even a fresh loaf from a bakery.

Garlic Herb Salt [fills 1, 4oz jar]

• 1/4 cup fine grain sea salt
• 4 teaspoons parsley
• 2 teaspoons black pepper
• 2 teaspoons garlic granules
• 1 teaspoon oregano

1. Mix together and store in a sealed jar.  Sprinkle this on food as you would use salt.

Cinnamon Sugar [fills 1, 4oz jar]

• 1/2 cup sucanat [or other crystallized sugar]
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

1. Mix together and store in a sealed jar.  Use as you would sugar.

Chai Spice [from chai spice almond butter]

• 2t cinnamon
• 2t ginger
• 1t cardamom
• 1t cloves
• 1/4t nutmeg
• 1/4t all spice

1. Mix together and store in a sealed jar.  Triple or quadruple this recipe to fit in a 4oz jar.  Use as you would unsweetened spice mixes in things like baked goods, oatmeal, etc.

Pumpkin Spice [from pumpkin spice pancakes]

• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon all spice
• 1/8 teaspoon cloves

1. Mix together and store in a sealed jar. Triple or quadruple this recipe to fit in a 4oz jar. Use as you would unsweetened spice mixes in things like baked goods, oatmeal, etc.

For a homemade gift these are about as easy as it gets.  I know you all will think of a creative way to gift these spice mixes. 

Ashley

If you want to share a gift in a jar that you’re making this year, please feel free to do so! Either tweet or instagram the photo to @edibleASH with the hashtag: #giftsinjars  Or, email the photo and your name to at: edibleperspective AT gmail DOT com – The post will be going up this Friday.

mocha almond butter {gifts in jars}

I’m not so sure about this gift in a jar.

I mean, sure, nut butter is probably one of the most appropriate things to put in a jar and possibly one of the most appreciated.

But the problem is…

I just don’t think you’re going to want to hand this stuff out.

Correction.

I just don’t think you’re going to beable to hand this stuff out.  You’ll put it in the jar, seal it with a lid, deliver it to a friend, and then they’ll open it.  They’ll open it and wonder why the jar is half empty, why there are gooey chocolate fingerprints all over it, and why you have a lovely smear of chocolate on your forehead where you wiped the hair off your face as you dove straight in.

So that is your warning.  Do with this as you please.  Maybe make two batches.  Maybe put it in your gift pile.  I mean, you’ve worked hard this year.  You owe yourself a gift.  Maybe gift it to your significant other so you can sneak spoonfuls when they’re not looking and then say, “Wow, you’re really not wasting any time with that stuff!”

Whatever gift giving route you decide to take, one thing is for sure.

Make this now.

Print this!

Mocha Almond Butter

vegan, gluten-free // yields ~ 1 1/4 cups

• 2 cups raw almonds
• 1/3 cup pure maple syrup
• 2 teaspoons + 1 teaspoon instant espresso powder
• 1 tablespoon extra virgin unrefined coconut oil, melted
• 1 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2-3 teaspoons coconut sugar or sucanat [optional]
• 1/8 – 1/4 teaspoon salt

1. Preheat your oven to 300*F and line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Toss the almonds with the maple syrup and 2 teaspoons of instant espresso powder, then spread on the baking sheet.
3. Roast for 10 minutes, turn almonds, then roast for another 10 minutes.
4. Remove and let cool for 10-12 minutes.  You want them to still be warm but not hot.
5. Scrape almonds from the parchment into your high powdered food processor [at least 10 cup capacity] and turn on.
6. Let spin, scraping down the sides as needed until it starts to form a thick, doughy texture.  8-10 minutes.
7. Add in the melted coconut oil and let spin until it is fully smooth and drippy.  Scrape the sides as needed.  The process will take 12-15 minutes in total.
8. Add in the 1 teaspoon espresso powder, cocoa powder, and salt and let spin until smooth.
9. Taste and add 2-3 teaspoons of coconut sugar and/or more salt if desired.
10. Pour into a jar and let cool to room temperature before sealing.  Best kept in the fridge.

notes: This fits in an 8oz jar with about 1/4 cup leftover.  You can sub another oil for coconut if needed.  You can sub another sugar for the coconut sugar if desired. 

*You can also keep this as just an espresso almond butter by stopping after step 7.  Leave out the cocoa powder and extra teaspoon of espresso powder [photographed in the first photo].  You could also add in the beans from 1/2 of a scraped vanilla bean pod for extra flavor.

If you want to share a gift in a jar that you’re making this year, please feel free to do so! Either tweet or instagram the photo to @edibleASH with the hashtag: #giftsinjars  Or, email the photo and your name to at: edibleperspective AT gmail DOT com –The post will be going up this Friday.

Ashley

Also, part II of Ann + Chris’s wedding recap is up on my photography blog. Here’s a little preview.