Homemade Holiday Gifts

Giving gifts from the heart of the home, your kitchen. Chef Kelli Lewton from Pure Food 2U and 2Unique Caterers has some simple ideas to keep your friends full this holiday season.

Pure Food 2 U Layered Patchwork Soup Mix
Layer these ingredients in a wide mouth mason jar for a lovely house-warming gift. The barley, split peas, rice, and lentils make beautiful layers, and the attached recipe card and seasoning packet of dried herbs make a complete and thoughtful present."
Ingredients:
· 1/2 cup organic barley
· 1/2 cup dried organic split peas
· 1/2 cup uncooked organic brown rice
· 1/2 cup dry brown or green organic lentils
· 1 tablespoon dried parsley
· 1 teaspoon granulated garlic
· 1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
· 1 teaspoon sea salt
· 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
· 1tsp onion powder
· 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
· 1 teaspoon dried sage
Directions:
In a wide mouth pint jar layer the barley, split peas, rice, and lentils.
In a small plastic bag combine the parsley, garlic, pepper, salt, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and sage.
Decorate jar lid and attach seasoning packet with ribbon to jar. Attach a recipe card with the following:

Directions:
1. Empty jars contents into a colander and rinse.
2. Place contents in a large stockpot and cover with 10 cups chicken or vegetable stock.
3. Stir in 1 chopped medium onion, and the seasoning packet.
4. Bring to a boil. Lower heat, cover and simmer for 1 hour, stirring occasionally. Check after 30 minutes and add additional water if necessary.

Holiday Irish Cream
Wonderful in coffee coco or on the rocks
Cream will be fresh for 2 months if refrigerated.
Ingredients:
· 1 cup heavy cream
· 1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
· 1 2/3 cups Irish whiskey
· 1 teaspoon instant coffee granules
· 2 tablespoons chocolate syrup
· 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
· 1 teaspoon almond extract
In a blender, combine heavy cream, sweetened condensed milk, Irish whiskey, instant coffee, chocolate syrup, vanilla extract, and almond extract. Blend on high for 20 to 30 seconds. Pour into sanitized jars or bottles for gift giving.
 

Jackie's Banana nut bread baked in a jar
This traditional banana bread features an ingenious twist: it is baked in a canning jar! Such a fun and unique presentation makes it perfect for gifts."
Ingredients:
· 2/3 cup shortening
· 2 2/3 cups white sugar
· 4 whole eggs
· 2 cups mashed bananas
· 2/3 cup water
· 3 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
· 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
· 2 teaspoons baking soda
· 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
· 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
· 1 teaspoon ground cloves
· 1 teaspoon allspice
· 2/3 cup chopped pecans
Method
1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease insides of 8 (1 pint) straight sided, wide mouth canning jars.
2. In a large bowl, cream shortening and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, bananas, and water. Sift together flour, baking powder, soda, salt, cinnamon, and cloves. Add to banana mixture. Stir in nuts.
3. Pour mixture into greased WIDE MOUTH pint jars, filling 1/2 full of batter. Do NOT put lids on jars for baking. Be careful to keep the rims clean, wiping off any batter that gets on the rims.
4. Bake at 325 degrees F (165 degrees C) for 45 minutes. Meanwhile, sterilize the lids and rings in boiling water.
5. As soon as cake is done, remove from oven one at a time, wipe rims of jars and put on lid and ring. Jars will seal as cakes cool. Place the jars on the counter and listen for them to "ping" as they seal. If you miss the "ping", wait until they are completely cool and press on the top of the lid. If it doesn't move at all, it's sealed.
6. Jars should be eaten immediately or kept sealed in refrigerator for up to a week.

2-UNIQUES CANDY CANE BARK
Ingredients
1 pound white chocolate confectioner's coating or white chocolate chips
1-pound dark chocolate confectioners coating or semi sweet chocolate chips
10 ounce bag star-brite mints crushed

Method
1. Melt dark chocolate over double boiler on low heat stirring often (do not over heat)
2. Melt white chocolate in over double boiler on low heat stirring often (do not over heat)
3. Line a cookie sheet with parchment
4. Pour a layer of dark chocolate and then stripes of white chocolate reserving ¼ cup of melted white chocolate. Pull a knife through to marble.
5. Sprinkle crushed mints on top. Dip the tines of a fork into reserved white chocolate and drizzle over top of bark.
6. Let harden or freeze. Break into bit size pieces.

Pure Food 2 U Spiced Holiday Nuts
· 1 large egg white
· 1/4 cup organic brown sugar
· ¾ tsp fine sea teaspoon
· 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
· 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
· 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
· ¼ tsp ground ginger
· 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
· ½ tsp black pepper
· 3 cups assorted organic nuts
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Beat egg white until soft and foamy. Combine all remaining ingredients except pecans; whisk into egg white. Stir in nuts until well coated; spread mixture in single layer onto an ungreased baking