Last minute edible gifts

Celebrating this week or not, there’s hardly anyone who won’t be gift giving to family, colleagues or even the cleaning lady. If you haven’t gotten something together yet, or if you need to beef up a present you already purchased, there’s nothing like homemade goodies. And since you’re already running late here, I’ve sorted through the blog to choose a few for you. Just package them in cellophane bags or mason jars, tie a bow and voila!  You’re gift will look like a million bucks.

HOMEMADE GRANOLA

1/2 of a large container of Old Fashioned oats
2 cups Steel Oats (can substitute two more cups of regular oats)
8oz. of honey (until mixture forms clumps)
1/2 cup peanut butter
Chopped nuts (I like pecans the best, almonds, walnuts or the lot of it)
t salt
2T cinnamon
1/4 cup oil
Flax seed (optional–buy it in any health food aisle or store, ground up or whole)
Wheat germ (optional)
Cup of raisins or chocolate chips

Mix all the ingredients, except the raisins and/or chocolate chips and bake on a baking sheet at 300 degrees for 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and add the raisins/chocolate chips.

WHITE CHOCOLATE PB GRANOLA BARS
3T butter (you probably can substitute coconut oil here, but I never tried)
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup peanut butter
1t cinnamon
1/2t salt
1.5 cups old fashioned oats
1 cup rice krispies
1/4 cup slivered almonds
1/4 cup white chocolate chips (can substitute actual chocolate)

Melt the butter and brown sugar in a pot over low heat, stirring throughout. Let it bubble, while stirring, for about 3 minutes. Add the honey and peanut butter and stir.

HOMEMADE GRANOLA BARS
2 cups old fashioned oats
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1t baking powder
1/2t salt
1t cinnamon
1 egg
1/2 cup honey, agave nectar or maple syrup
1/2 cup peanut or almond butter
1/4 cup coconut/soy/or rice milk
1/2 cup of a combination of the following: raisins, craisins, dried fruit, chocolate chips or
chopped nuts

Combine the oats, flour, baking powder, salt and cinnamon in a bowl. Mix the egg, syrup, milk and nut butter in a separate bowl. Combine wet ingredients with dry ingredients. Add combo of fruit and nuts and stir. Bake at 375 degrees for 12 minutes. Store up to a week in an airtight container…if they last that long.

ALMOND BUTTER COOKIES

1.25 cups whole-wheat flour
1/2 t baking soda
1/2 t baking powder
1/4 t salt
8T Earth Balance
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
1 egg
1/2 cup almond butter (can substitute peanut butter)
t pure vanilla
6oz. chocolate chips (optional)

Combine the dry ingredients in a bowl. Combine the Earth balance, sugars, egg, almond butter and vanilla in another bowl. Add the dry ingredients to the wet until fully combined. Stir in the chocolate chips. Bake for 12 minutes at 375 degrees.

ALMOND BUTTER CAKE

1/2 cup Earth Balance
3/4 cup Almond Butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup powdered sugar
1.5 cup whole wheat flour
1/2t salt
1t baking powder
1/2t baking soda
1 cup rice/soy or coconut milk
1/2 cup chocolate chips

Combine all the ingredients and bake at 400 for 10 minutes. Turn down the oven to 350 and bake for 30 minutes more.

SHABBAT PARTY POPCORN

1/2 cup popcorn kernels, popped according to this recipe
1t paprika
1t onion powder
1t garlic salt
1t turmeric
1t garlic flakes
2T oil (I use grape seed oil)

Pop the popcorn and leave it in the pot. While it’s popping, combine the spices and oil in a separate bowl. Pour over popcorn while still hot and stir until coated.