6 Homemade Gifts – Using What You Have!

ICE CREAM / POPCORN TOPPING
Makes 5 Jars
Ingredients
1 pound Sprinkles 
½ pound Demera Sugar (demera preferred, but granulated or regular sugar will do)
2 ounces Kosher Salt*
¼ pound crushed Candy, your choice (Heath Bar, Andes Mint, Candy Cane, Peanut Brittle)
¼ pound chopped Nuts (Pistachio, Pecan, Walnut, Marcona Almond) 
*If you have a flaky sea salt it looks nice in the shaker, like a smoked Maldon sea salt or any flavor

Method
1.Pour all ingredients into a bowl and stir until everything is mixed.
2.Divide the mixture between 5 jars and seal.

AUTHENTIC INDIAN MASALA CHAI
Makes about 3 cups of Chai

Ingredients
¼ cup Sugar
1/8 cup Loose Leaf Tea Leaves (strong, black tea, Lipton tea bags work)
½ cup Black Pepper
1 cup Dried Ground Ginger
½ cup Cinnamon
½ cup Dried Ground Cardamom
1 T Whole Cloves
1 T Dried Ground Nutmeg
1 T Dried Fennel Seed

Method

In a saucepan over medium heat, add milk, water and ¼ cup chai mixture.
Stirring often to avoid scalding the milk, wait for bubbles to appear around the edge of the pan.
Once it comes to a boil, turn off the heat and continue to stir well 1 minute.
Allow to steep for 1-2 more minutes.
Strain through a fine mesh sieve. Serve hot.
Additional Ingredients not in container, but to add to recipe card 1 cup Milk 1 cup Water 

BLACKBERRY THYME BALSAMIC DRESSING 
Makes 4 cups 
Ingredients 
32 ounces (2 lbs) Fresh Blackberries, rinsed and drained 
½ cup Balsamic Glaze 
2 T Sugar 
¼ cup dried Thyme 
½ cup Water 
Method
In a medium saucepan over medium heat add all ingredients and stir often to avoid scalding the balsamic or caramelizing the sugar.
Once the mixture has boiled, the blackberries begin to shrink and the liquid reduced, remove from heat.
Strain through a fine mesh sieve.
Pour into a glass or plastic bottle and refrigerate for up to 2 weeks.
Use as a salad dressing or glaze for chicken, pork or beef.
Use as a sauce for scallops.

INDIAN RICE SACHET
Ingredients
1 Cinnamon Stick 
tsp Turmeric (ground) 
2 Cardamom Pods 
1 Star Anise 
2 Cloves 
1 tsp Cumin Seed 
1 tsp Mustard Seed 
1 dried Chile de Arbol 
Cheesecloth 
Decorative String 
Method 
In a square of cheesecloth add ingredients, tie with decorative string.
Use 2 sachet for every 2 cups of water.

PEPPERMINT BROWNIE MASON JAR
Ingredients 
1 2/3 cup Sugar 
¾ cup Cocoa Powder 
1 1/3 cup AP flour 
½ tsp Baking Powder 
¼ tsp Salt 
½ cup Chocolate Chunks (sold at Trader Joe’s) 
¼ cup Andes Peppermint Baking Chips 
¼ cup broken Candy Canes
Additional ingredients not in jar, but to add to Recipe Card 
3/4 cup melted Butter 
2 large Eggs 
2 T Water 
2 tsp Vanilla Extract
Method for Layering Jar 
In a small bowl combine flour, baking powder, and salt.
Layer sugar, cocoa powder (wipe the inside of the jar after the cocoa layer), then flour mixture.
Add chocolate chunks, then peppermint chips and sprinkle candy cane pieces on top.

Method for Baking
Preheat oven to 350 and grease a 9x13 inch pan.
Mix brownie mix with wet ingredients in a large mixing bowl.
Spread into prepared baking pan. Bake for 18-25 minutes.

CHOCOLATE VANILLA SUGAR *Use small Jam Mason Jar for these ingredients 
Ingredients 
½ cup Sugar 
1 split Vanilla Bean 
½ cup Cocoa Powder

Method
Rub split vanilla bean into sugar until you see the seeds throughout the sugar.
Stir sugar to incorporate the vanilla bean seeds.
In a small bowl mix the ingredients together and add to the jar.

Happy Holidays!