NO-COOK HOLIDAY GIFT IDEA: SAVORY

Everybody bakes cookies, but who has time for that this time of year?!  Now you can give homemade culinary gifts to your friends, loved ones, or even that office secret Santa that require little to no effort to assemble.  In today's post we will feature several no-cook savory ideas for those on your gift giving list!

RUBS

Steak

1 tbsp kosher salt
2 tsp smoked paprika
2 tsp dried oregano
1.5 tsp dried minced onion
1 tsp dried minced garlic
1/2 tsp dried cumin
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes

Mix ingredients together.  Spoon into a small jar.  Attach the following instructions:

Rub one teaspoon on each side of steak.  Grill or broil as desired.

Pork

1 tbsp kosher salt
2 tsp crumbed dried rosemary
1 tsp dried fennel side
1 tsp dried minced onion
1 tsp dried minced garlic
1 tsp coarse black pepper
1/2 tsp dried orange peel


Mix ingredients together.  Spoon into a small jar.  Attach the following instructions:

Rub one teaspoon on each side of pork.  Grill or broil as desired.

Chicken and Fish

1 tbsp kosher salt
2 tsp dried minced garlic
2 tsp dried parsley
1 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp dried tarragon
1 tsp coarse black pepper


Mix ingredients together.  Spoon into a small jar.  Attach the following instructions:

Rub one or two teaspoon(s) on each side of chicken or fish.  Grill or broil as desired.



BUTTERS

Horseradish Chive Compound Butter
(Great on steak or steak accompaniments)

3/4 cup of unsalted butter
2 tbsp bottled horseradish
2 tbsp minced fresh chives

Blend ingredients and let stand for one hour in a cool place to set up.  Place into small, wide mouthed jars.


Dill Compound Butter
(Great on fish or fish accompaniments)

1/4 lb of unsalted butter
1 tsp finely chopped fresh dill
Salt to taste

Blend ingredients and let stand for one hour in a cool place to set up.  Place into small, wide mouthed jars.

SEASONING

Special Seasoning Salt

1 cup salt
2 tsp paprika
1 tsp dried mustard
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp dried oregano, ground
1/2 tsp dried thyme, ground
1/2 tsp curry powder
1/2 tsp dried dill
1/2 tsp celery seed

In a small bowl, combine all ingredients and spoon into airtight containers for gift giving!

SPREADS

Savory Herb Bagel Mix

1 cup dried parsley flakes
1/3 cup dried dill
2 1/2 tbsp dried oregano leaves
2 1/2 tbsp dried thyme leaves
2 tbsp salt
4 tsp dried rosemary leaves
4 tsp dried marjoram leaves
2 tsp paprika

In a bowl, combine all ingredients and spoon into airtight containers for gift giving!  Add the following instructions:

Process 2 tsp of mix with 1 8 oz package of softened cream cheese.  Combine using food processor, blender, hand mixer, etc.  Transfer to an airtight container.  Chill for two hours to let the flavors blend.

Crystal Light Delight 3.0

Drinking and decorating do mix! With all this summer heat do you find yourself consuming exorbitant amounts of Crystal Light (or comparable drink mixes) and don't know what to do with those handy containers? Here is a cute way to use them as festive gift boxes for small items!

GIFT BOX/CASE

WHAT YOU NEED:

DRINK MIX CONTAINER
WRAPPING PAPER OR SCRAP BOOKING PAPER
RIBBON AND ANY OTHER TRIMS TO PERSONALIZE
SPRAY ADHESIVE OR PLASTIC COMPATIBLE GLUE

Use and abuse your creativity on this one! Plan ahead for upcoming birthdays and holidays as you create your gift enclosing couture!

::Earrings, Earrings, Earrings!::

Have you ever lost the backs to your earrings, especially in the most inopportune times? Many of you have heard of using pencil erasers in a pinch, but here is another one that impressed us nearly as much. Try using a small piece of a wide rubber band. It will do the trick and not be as cumbersome as the traditional pencil eraser.

Always looking for a place to stash your earrings when you are at the gym or spa? Try this handy tip next time to wrangle them. Take off your watch and slide the hooks or posts through the holes in the band and then secure them with the backs. Voila problem solved!

Christmas is 4 months from today! Here is a great gift your can make for your pierced posse. Find a picture frame that appeals to you. Remove the glass and backing leaving just the wooden border. The goal will be to fill the space in the center with a perch to hang your earrings from. Our design studio in Colchester came up with two that were easy and stylish. The first is to take small strips of firring (thin narrow wood) from the local hardware store and cut them to the exact width of the frame opening. Next, secure them in place horizontally with either wood glue or brads. If you would like to you could even notch out spaces for the hooks to settle in. The second way is to string picture hanging wire across the opening. Be sure that the wire is parallel! You can add beads every inch or so (using bead glue to prevent the earrings from sliding) before attaching the wire to the frame. For this one you will want to drill tiny holes along the frame for the wire to slip through and be knotted. Voila! They both look great!

Share your creative earring or jewelry storage idea and you could win our September contest!