OPTION ONE: MAKING THE BREAD

Okay, this is what I did.  If you follow me on FACEBOOK, you know I was making many loaves of bread for my husband to take this year as his work gift.  In fact, I bought everything I needed yesterday at the DOLLAR STORE (Dollar Tree).  The beauty of it is I didn’t buy anything that was particularly Christmas like so they had plenty of everything.  So here is what I did.  I bought the following from the Dollar Tree: Bread Pans (not the flimsy ones), cellophane wrap, 3 packs of big  red swirly bows, little bottles of jam to include, and shiny red basket filling, and tags.  Then I went home and baked my little heart out.  I baked the bread in the pans (make sure you spray them really well with your non-stick cooking spray) and put the aluminum foil over the top of the bread (shiny side up) for the last 15 minutes of baking.  Then I took the bread out of the pans to cool.  To wrap the bread, I put the bread back in the pan (help it to not get squished and looks more impressive).  Then I cut a piece of cellophane a little longer then my stove top (put the roll at the back by your knobs and cut a little longer out than where you stove top stops).  Place the bread in the center.  Put some basket filling in front of the pan.  Place the jam in the center of the basket filling and a recipe card behind the jam.  (Download below.)   Pull all the corners up and tie with a piece of regular wrapping ribbon (TIP: You’ll want to have the poof on top not be in the center but inbetween the bread and jam-it helps distribute the weight better).  Attach big swirly bow and tag.  SUPER IMPRESSIVE LOOKING!  So if you want to do that download the recipe cards below.

OPTION TWO: GIVE IT AS A MIX

I fully understand that you’re probably busy (I know I am!) so if you don’t want to spend your afternoon baking your heart out.  Spend just an hour or so mixing your heart out!  This bread also makes a GREAT mix!  I found this jar at the Dollar Tree and it holds enough mix for ONE loaf of bread.  Just mix the ingredients together and put in a jar or bag and attach the recipe card (you can download below) and you’re done!  Get a big assembly line going and get your family to help!

MIX:

1/3 c. brown sugar
2 3/4 c. whole wheat flour
1/4 c. wheat gluten
1 t. salt
2 T. powdered milk
1/4 c. potato flakes

© 2010 – 2011, Crystal. All rights reserved.

Alright, it’s my favorite time of the year!  Neighborhood gift ideas, featuring food storage.  What better way to sneak a little food storage into your neighbors diet than a cookie mix?  After all, cookies are the best way to start loving your food storage!  Below are two WONDERFUL cookie mix recipes that are easy, won’t create oodles of dishes to do, and won’t leave you baking in the kitchen all day!

Makes 1 (1-Quart) Jar
1 1/2 c. whole wheat flour
1 t. baking soda
1/4 t. baking powder
1/4 t. salt
1 T. dry egg powder
3/4 c. brown sugar
1 c. butterscotch chips
1 c. dried apples, chopped

1. Pour flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and egg powder into quart jar. Mix together in jar (saves a dish-who wants to do this in a separate bowl? I’m all about assembly lines and no dishes to wash at the end) with a spoon. Then add the rest of the ingredients in the following order: brown sugar, chips and apples. Close jar.
2. Decorate jar and attach gift tag/recipe card. (Which of course, I designed for you and you can download below!)

3/4 c. whole wheat flour
1/2 t. baking soda
1/4 t. salt
1 T. dry egg powder
1/3 c. brown sugar
3/4 c. oats

1/2 c. Craisins
1/3 c. white chocolate chips

1. Pour flour, baking soda, salt, and egg powder into quart jar. Mix together in jar (saves a dish-who wants to do this in a separate bowl? I’m all about assembly lines and no dishes to wash at the end) with a spoon. Then add the rest of the ingredients in the following order: oats, brown sugar, chips and craisins. Close jar.
2. Decorate jar and attach gift tag/recipe card. (Which of course, I designed for you and you can download below!)

© 2010 – 2011, Crystal. All rights reserved.

I hope you all know by now that I’m a big believer that one of the greatest blessings of having and using food storage is that it gives you a GREATER ability to give to those in need.  I’ve always dreamed of running a food drive on my blog but, let’s be honest, who wants to pay shipping on a bunch of heavy canned items? So, for now, that idea is on the back burner.   In the meantime, this Christmas, I’ve picked my three favorite causes (Feeding America, Believe International, and Hope Arising) to raise money for.  I know money may be tight and with so many great causes it can be hard to find money for all of them.  That is why I whipped up (and when I say whipped up-I mean stayed up late for a week working on them) these great gift ideas that will benefit YOU and the charity they are associated with.  They are great, meaningful gifts that can be given as neighborhood, family or friend gifts.

HOW IT WILL WORK:

Each gift is only $3. All of these gifts are DOWNLOADS. So, yes, you’ll have to do a couple minor things (mostly, just cut along the dotted line) to make them ready to give.  After you purchase the gift, you’ll be emailed a link to download the gift and then you’ll need to print the file (READ: these will not be shipped to you).  Because this is for charity and I want this to help you as well, you will have the rights to print these gifts as many times as you’d like.  Obviously, it would be highly inappropriate to distribute these to others to use for their gifts with out paying.  And ALL the proceeds go to the charity each gift is associated with.

I picked this as the gift because having your food storage helps you give more as canned donations to food banks…so why not give someone the gift of FOOD STORAGE while you make a contribution to FEEDING AMERICA.  These 3×5 recipe cards contain my most popular beginner recipes (some examples are EZ Whole Wheat Bread, Blender No Bake Cheesecake, Blender Pancakes, Magic Mix, Sweetened Condensed Milk, etc.) The only thing you’ll need to do is print them out on cardstock and cut along the dotted line.  There are 6 pages total to print.  This would make a great stocking stuffer, addition to a neighborhood gift, or along with your food storage gift-am I the only one who gives food storage to my siblings for presents?

I picked this gift because I felt the saying “Try a little HARDER to be a little BETTER” encompassed what BELIEVE INTERNATIONAL is trying to do.  Who can argue with giving children in a third world country the opportunity of education?  With each child they are trying a little harder to make the world and more specifically the Philippines a little better.  Simply, print this and cut along the solid black lines and put in a frame.  Did you know the Dollar Tree has 8×10 frames for only $1.00?  That’s a pretty cheap gift jam packed with meaning.

At this Christmas season, as we celebrate the birth of Jesus and the hope he brought to the world, I thought scriptures about his birth would be the perfect gift to represent this charity.  After all, HOPE ARISING is bringing hope and living water to people who have to walk 7 miles to get water.  Something we walk 7 feet to get right out of a faucet in our own comfy cozy homes.  There are two separate sets available for purchase.  One is a set of five King James Version Bible scriptures (mostly from Luke 2) and the other set is five Book of Mormon scriptures.  Each set is available for $3.  All you need for these is to purchase THESE FRAMES from the Dollar Tree (don’t worry, you can purchase them online), cut along the dotted lines and hot glue some ribbon on top.  Don’t worry there are instructions that come with each set.  Don’t worry if you’re not crafty-neither am I.  These are easy to make look VERY impressive!  Oh, yeah and did I mention that if you were to buy frame ornaments from-say Pottery Barn-they’d cost around $10 PER ornament?  This is an AWESOME gift.

© 2010 – 2011, Crystal. All rights reserved.

The Legend of the Holly:
When Christ was born in Bethlehem on that first Christmas night
A barren bush outside the stable blossomed full and bright
It bore a grim reminder of the crown he’d one day wear
It’s prickly leaves foretold the thorns of sorrow he would bear
Amidst the green there grew strange fruit – small berries scarlet red
As crimson as the blood our savior was to shed
In honor of the Prince of Peace
A flower pure and white
Blossomed sweetly when the Lord was
born that holy Christmas night.

* Author unknown

Christian tradition assigns significance to Holly:
The perennial green leaves represent eternal life.
According to tradition the pointy leaves
represent the thorns of Christ’s Crown.
The tradition says that holly was used to make
the crown of thorns at Christ’s death.
At that time, the berries were yellow.
In honor of the blood shed by Christ,
for our salvation, the berries turned red.
(While holly is most often pictured as having red berries, the berries come in other colors too.
One tradition say that white berries represent Jesus’ purity… green berries the cross of wood…
and black berries his death.)

 

Holly Cookies

These are very easy (so easy you could have your kids to most of the work-who doesn’t love that?!), very impressive looking, and will stand out in a crowd of other cookies.

1/2 c. butter
8 oz. mini marshmallows (or 30 large marshmallows)
1/2 t. green food coloring
1 t. vanilla
3 1/2 c. corn flakes

Melt butter and marshmallows in microwave safe bowl for about 2 minutes or until it is melted together, stirring after each minute in the microwave.  Add vanilla and green food coloring to marshmallow mixture and stir until well blended. Then add in the cornflakes and stir. Drop by fork onto wax paper.  Press 3 red hot candies while into cookie while still sticky. -  See what I mean?  E-A-S-Y!

Note to the wise buyer: Red hot candies are much cheaper if you can purchase them in a bag instead of the little jars sold in the spice aisle of your grocery store-so check in your grocery store’s candy aisle for red hots in a bag.  I’ve also been able to find big bags at my favorite store-the Dollar Tree.

This recipe makes about 2 dozen.

© 2009 – 2011, Crystal. All rights reserved.

Christmas Neighborhood Gift Idea #1: Loaves of Bread-includes recipe, printable labels and how-to video

Christmas Neighborhood Gift Idea #2: Slices of Bread (it goes further…meaning less work for you -includes recipe, printable labels and how-to video

Christmas Neighborhood Gift Idea #3: Blender Wheat Pancake Mix in a Tin Can! -includes recipe, printable labels and how-to video

Christmas Neighborhood Gift Idea #4: Cookie Tins with Easy Gourmet Flare! -includes recipe and how-to video

Christmas Neighborhood Gift Idea #5: Mexican Wedding Cookies -includes recipe

Christmas Neighborhood Gift Idea #6: Magic Santa Cookies- includes recipe and printable labels

Christmas Neighborhood Gift Idea #7: Magic Fudge Sauce (like Magic Shell)- includes recipe and printable labels

Christmas Neighborhood Gift Idea #8: Minute Chocolate Mug Cake (perfect as a Visiting Teacher gift!)- includes recipe and how-to video

© 2009 – 2011, Crystal. All rights reserved.

Whole Wheat Pumpkin Muffins
1 ¼ c whole wheat flour
¾ c quick oats
1/3 c brown sugar
½ tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp ginger
1/8 tsp nutmeg
1/8 tsp cloves
¾ tsp baking powder
½ tsp soda
½ tsp salt
2 eggs (2 T. dry egg powder + 1/4 c. water)
1 c pumpkin
1/3 c veg. oil
1/3 c honey

Mix dry ingredients. Add wet ingredients and mix until moist. Spoon into muffin cups. May be refrigerated overnight and cooked in the morning.
Bake 400º for 15-20 min.

Want to enter the Fanatic Friday recipe contest? December will be all about Neighborhood gifts. There’s no better way to make sure your neighbors AREN’T knocking down your door for food storage…and that’s by getting them hooked! Share what you’ve done and can do to try and get your neighbors excited about food storage through a neighborhood gift! Please share it with us at fanaticfridays@gmail.com! For more information on the contest click HERE. The winner will receive 2 Conversion Chart Magnet sets…perfect for Christmas!

© 2009 – 2011, Crystal. All rights reserved.

Now to the Ultimate Visiting Teacher gift!  I was sent this idea by Jenn (and what a great idea it is!).

*I forgot to mention the splash of vanilla that you put in at the end*

Here is the mug wrapped for drop off.

Here is the mug for immediate drop off, not wrapped. See how it looks like hot chocolate?! I love it!

Here is the recipe:
Minute Chocolate Mug Cake

1 coffee mug
4 T. flour
4 T. Sugar
2 T. baking cocoa
1 egg (1 T. dry egg powder and 2 T. of water)
3 T. milk (1/2 T. Dry Powdered Milk + 3 T. Water)
3 T. oil (or applesauce)
3 T. chocolate chips
small splash of vanilla

Add dry ingredients to mug and mix well. Add the eff and mix thoroughly. Pour in the milk and oil and mix well. Add the chocolate chips and vanilla. Mix again. Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes at 1000 watts. The cake will rise over the top of the mug but don’t be alarmed! Allow to cool a little, and tip out onto a plate if desired. EAT!

Love Soup & Breadsticks

Now you can all thank Teresa for the last Neighborhood Gift Idea.  She sent this in for a Fanatic Friday and even included the label for you!  (click HERE to download it)  She told me…

I love this soup recipe! In fact, my oldest son (age 16) was disappointed he had to miss this meal because of an over-night school activity! I’m giving the bean mixture with seasonings to the ladies I visit teach and to the families my husband home teaches. It’s inexpensive, tastes great, and encourages others to use their food storage in a tasty, nutritious way! I’ve included the publisher file I used to make post-card size labels to attach to gift bags. Feel free to save as a PDF file and share with your readers.

Love Soup (because it makes enough to share with friends and neighbors!)

Bean Mixture: Mix the following ingredients together. Divide into 1-cup portions. (I got 11 portions out of this.)

1 pkg. (14 oz.) green split peas

1 pkg. (14 oz.) pearled barley (I had a hard time finding barley this year; I finally found it at Albertson’s; it should be in the same section as the lentils, peas, and beans)

1 pkgs. (14 oz.) lentils

2 cups brown rice

Seasoning Mixture (for each cup of beans): Place the following ingredients in a re-sealable snack-size baggie.

½ package Onion Soup Mix, which is about 2 ½ T. (I used the generic that you can get at Wal-Mart or Macey’s for 3/$1 or 4/$1 if on sale)

3 beef bouillon cubes

¼ tsp. cayenne pepper

½ tsp. garlic powder

¾ tsp. chili powder

Packaging Options: Layer the following in a pint-size bottle or in a cellophane gift bag (less expensive option):

1. Bean Mixture

2. Baggie of Seasonings

3. Baggie of ¼ cup alphabet or small shell pasta (or leave this out since it is an optional ingredient and allow recipient to add own pasta)

For more tips and tricks for using food storage in your everyday recipes, please visit www.everydayfoodstorage.NET

© 2008 – 2011, Crystal. All rights reserved.

With a sundae that looks this good…you might just need to keep this gift for yourself! My mom sent me a recipe (you might say she is my ultimate everyday food storage fanatic ) where you can make your OWN Magic Shell…you know that really delicious chocolate sauce that hardens on your ice cream. Except this is better…it’s like a mix between hot fudge and magic shell and takes only minutes to make. And of course….it uses food storage; powdered milk to be exact.  And you really can’t get much better than that.  For a gift I fill a frosting canister 3/4 the way full (about one recipe’s worth) and use my really cute Magic Fudge Sauce label.  And, as always, because I love you all so much I’m sharing it with all of you!  So if you want to download the label to print on your own computer, click HERE.  (The recipe is below the packaged product picture)

Magic Fudge Sauce

1 Cup (6 ounces) Semisweet Chocolate Chips
1/4 Cup Butter, cubed
3 Tbs. Evaporated Milk (1 Tbs. Dry Powdered Milk + 3 Tbs. Water)

Vanilla Ice Cream
1/2 Cup Sliced Almonds (opt.)

In a heavy saucepan, combine chocolate chips, butter and milk. Cook and stir over low heat until chips are melted and mixture is smooth. Serve warm over ice Cream (Sauce will harden.) Sprinkle with almonds. Refrigerate any leftovers. Sauce can be reheated in the microwave. Yield: about 1 Cup.

© 2008 – 2011, Crystal. All rights reserved.

Back of Santa Cookie Mix

I love this idea! It’s so simple and such a great gift to give (the gift of NO MESS!…and a little food storage These magic Santa cookies are just the Cookie Clay Dough recipe in a jar.  You’ll remember that this recipe is so great because it doesn’t require any rolling, flouring of countertops, and NO cookie cutters.  The dough is the consistency of Play Doh and kids can just shape their dough however they would like.  Such a great activity for Santa cookies and for Mom!  When I do these I usually use half whole wheat flour and half all-purpose flour along with powdered eggs.  When you’re putting the ingredients in the jar it is important that you separate the sugars and put them in a little baggy (like we did for the dry ingredients of the pancake mix)  I also made you labels to use and I’ve separated them into Front (cute Santa Graphic) and Back (Instructions) so you can use ANY bottle around the house.  If you need to refresh on how to cut fabric for the tops of any jar or how to do the little baggies, click HERE for the how-to videos.  For reference, in the bottles above I used a peanut butter jar (on the left) and an applesauce jar (on the right).  You know I’m a big believer in using things around the house that a) you’ve already purchased and would normally throw away and b) you’re recycling and going GREEN!

Santa Cookie Labels

Now that you’re sold on the idea….go ahead and download the CUTE labels I made for you by clicking HERE.

For more tips and tricks for using food storage in your everyday recipes, please visit www.everydayfoodstorage.NET

© 2008 – 2011, Crystal. All rights reserved.

Hmm….don’t they look delicious?  These cookies are absolutely delicious and decorated well for the holidays.  What cookie rolled in soft powdery powdered sugar doesn’t look festive for the holidays?  Also, because they are rolled in powdered sugar and are a round cookie they look VERY gourmet for little effort!  Mexican Wedding Cookies (also called Nut Log Cookies) are filled with nuts (so…they’re delicious!) and also GREAT for disguising wheat.  Because wheat has a nutty flavor it compliments the actual nuts AND can actually help extend the flavor of the nuts with out adding more nuts…and now youe saving money AND time.  *sigh* Oh, how I love food storage!  These cookies can either be packaged in tins or packaged on little plates like the bread for great neighborhood gifts!

Mexican Wedding Cookies

For more tips and tricks for using food storage in your everyday recipes, please visit www.everydayfoodstorage.NET

© 2008 – 2011, Crystal. All rights reserved.