Share Your life Through Hostess Gifts

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Presented by Kathleen Alder

REMEMBER, PRESENTATION IS EVERYTHING.

Be inventive as you wrap everything you can ahead of time, preferably in clear wrap so that the host/hostess doesn’t have to open it but they can see it right away. You don’t want to be rushed as you get ready to go to your special event.

1. Picture Frames:

Almost everyone can use a beautiful picture frame. Watch during the year and pick up small to medium picture frames when they are on sale. Put your Thank You note right in the frame.

2. Box of Cute Note Cards:
Buy boxes of cute note cards and when you deliver them, have the first one be a thank you for the invitation to the event.

3. Guest Book:
Some people really enjoy having a guest book for everyone to sign so that in the future they can look back and see who has attended parties and events that they have hosted.

4. Chocolates:

You cannot go wrong with chocolate. You can buy candy bars, chocolates, and specialty chocolate treats for a much-appreciated indulgence. Give Utah Truffles they come wrapped in their own gold box.

5. Matching Dishtowels:

When you see dishtowels on sale, pick up a few sets to keep on hand for that surprise invitation.

6. Homemade Food Gift:

Homemade gifts are the best. Take the time to make a few mixes to keep on hand or make your dough ahead of time and put it in the freezer until you need it.

• Cookie mixes

• Soup mixes

• Spiced nuts

• Hot cocoa mix

• Wassail mix

• Bath products

• Frozen cookie dough

7. Beautiful Vase:

You can purchase some lovely vases ahead of time but think out of the box when you consider what to put in them. You could always stop on your way to the party to pick up some beautiful cut flowers and put them in the vase. Buy a sprig of silk flowers or berries, cut them apart and fill up a clear vase.

8. Decorative Dish Soap Holder:

Use different kinds of bottles with a stopper for dish soap. You can use any kind of bottle along with a pouring spout that can be purchased at any kitchen store. Clear bottles can be especially attractive with a sprig of spice in it or a little sprig of an artificial flower put down in the bottle. Fill the bottle with your favorite dish soap.

9. Cookbooks:
Cookbooks are always good, even if you don’t’ cook. Everyone loves to look at a cookbook and dream of what they can make.

10. Gift Baskets or Sets:

• Small tools in a small watering can for the indoor plant enthusiast

• Small tools for the kitchen for the cook

• A colander with pasta sauce, pasta and specialty parmesan cheese

• A gift set of movie tickets to a local theater

Sand Art Brownies

By Becky Low

Ingredients:

2/3 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup plus 1/8 cup flour

1/3 cup cocoa

1/2 cup flour

2/3 cup brown sugar

2/3 cup sugar

1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

1/2 cup vanilla flavored baking chips

Walnuts to fill jar (about 1/2 cup)

Method:

Place ingredients in the order listed in a quart-sized jar. Tamp ingredients down. Attach the following directions to the jar: Combine contents of this jar with 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1/2 cup vegetable oil, and 3 eggs. Spread into greased 9×9″ pan and bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes or until done.

1. Get a 2-liter of Soda Pop, Microwave Popcorn and a gift certificate for a movie rental.

2. Blueberry Muffin Mix and attach saying on it – “You’re gettin’ “Muffin” for Christmas”.

3. Buy some Dry Soup Mix and put a saying on it “Have a “Souper” Christmas”.

4. Purchase some different flavored Dips & Chips.

5. Give a Baker’s Mitt with homemade cookie dough or frozen cookie dough, a turner, and a cookie sheet.

6. Loaf of bread wrapped in a napkin with jam, honey, or wrap the bread on a bread board.

7. Make a Bread Mix for Bread Machine and put in a zipper baggie.

8. Hot Chocolate Assortments- variety of flavors in a mug.

9. Spaghetti Dinner Basket-assortment of noodles, sauce, bread stick, pasta, serving utensil, in pasta pot.

10. Cheese balls, holiday crackers, beef stick all placed in a wicker basket.

11. Put a good variety of fruit and nuts in a basket or crate.

12. Breadflour, dough enhancer, yeast, jam and favorite bread recipe in basket or loaf pan.

13. Ice Cream bucket with appropriate toppings, sprinkles, nuts, cherries, bowls, ice cream, sundae cups.

14. Wassail in a jar – fabric decorated top & recipe included.

15. Herb tea assortment, mugs, etc.

16. Bags with cookie cutters, sugar cookie dough, rolling pin and recipe.

17. Some homemade fruit leathers.

18. Different colored pasta in jars, or a basket.

19. Chopsticks, rice bowls, fresh gingerroot, rice vinegar & Chinese Cookbook in a basket.

20. Pancake mix with a selection of fruit syrups maybe even a wicker breakfast tray.

21. 10 bean soup mix, can of tomatoes, onion and ham in a bean pot.

22. Dried fruits in decorated fruit bowl or nut dish.

23. Apples, caramel dip and apple corer.

24. Make brownies and sprinkle powdered sugar on top using a cookie cutter to make Christmas shapes.

25. Place candy kisses in a wire whisk and tag “We `WHISK’ you a Merry `KISS’mas.”

Decadent Candy Cookies in a Jar

Jar Ingredients:

2 cups flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup sugar

* Candy Pieces

Filling the Jar:  Layer the ingredients in a quart size canning jar in the order listed. Make a funnel out of a piece of paper to fill the jar. For the candy pieces, use chocolate candy bar chunks, toffee pieces, chocolate covered raisins, and nuts etc.. Use enough candy pieces to top off the jar. Pack down all ingredients.

Instructions: Decadent Candy Cookies

1 c. butter or margarine, softened

1 large egg

1 t. vanilla

1 jar Decadent Candy Cookie Mix

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Beat the butter until it is smooth. Add the egg and vanilla and beat until smooth. Add the jar of cookie mix and stir just until mixed. Form the cookies into 1 1/2 inch balls and place them 2 inches apart on a cookie sheet. Bake for 10 – 12 minutes, until golden on the edges. Cool on cookie sheet for 2 minutes.

Chocolate Pudding Mix

– Makes about 6 cups mix

1 1/2 cups sugar

2 1/2 cups skim milk powder

1 cup cornstarch

3/4 cup cocoa

1 tsp. salt

– Mix all ingredients together thoroughly.

– Label and store in airtight container at room temperature.

Chocolate Pudding

– Makes 4 servings

2 1/2 cups warm water

1 1/4 cups pudding mix

1/2 tsp. vanilla

– Put water in a heavy saucepan, add pudding mix, heat while stirring until it comes to a full boil. Continue stirring while it cooks for two minutes. Add vanilla and pour into four serving dishes. Place a piece of waxed paper right on the pudding to keep a skin from forming. Chill for at least 2 hours and serve.

Potato Soup Mix

1 ¾ c. instant mashed potatoes

½ c. dried milk

2 T. instant chicken bullion

2 t. dried minced onion

1 t. dried parsley

¼ t. dried thyme

¼ t. ground white pepper

1/8 t. tumeric

1 ½ t. season salt