Now that we’ve entered October, the organized amongst us are already starting to think about the holidays. The shops certainly are, and you might have already seen holiday deals and displays on the high street and online. The holidays seem to start earlier every year, and while it can seem a little crazy, getting organized nice and early can mean that you have a stress free Christmas, without any last-minute panics or anxiety.
Homemade gifts are always a wonderful option. They are thoughtful and generous. They are a great way to show people that you care and that you have put effort into their gifts. Of course, they are also a great way to save money at what can be a very costly time of the year.
Food is always a popular homemade gift, and a lot of us think about giving homemade gingerbread, homemade fruit liqueurs, Christmas cakes and other foodie treats. But, this isn’t always as easy as you might like. Here are some helpful tips if you are planning to give the gift of food this holiday season.
Think Of How to Store It
You’ve made someone a gorgeous homemade fruit pie, or a selection of yummy chocolate truffles. But how are you going to give them? Chances are, you’ll want to keep your pie tin, and a truffle in a chocolate mold doesn’t look particularly festive. Choose carefully, and the box or other carrier can be a welcome part of the gift. For pies, this double round basket can be ideal. Chocolates look great in small boxes or baskets. If you are planning a selection, a wicker basket can be perfect.
However you transport food, think of what will happen to the packaging afterward. Try to make sure it’s something that can be reused or at least recycled. Then, add some cute festive ribbon (also reusable) instead of wasteful wrapping paper.
Go Long Life
Food is always a big part of the festivities. Your family and friends might receive other foodie treats, and they are bound to buy a few things for themselves. This can mean that things get wasted in the weeks after Christmas because they just can’t eat it all. Only make food with a short lifespan if you’ve told them beforehand and they are expecting it. This way, they can plan to eat it on the day, without having to waste something else that they have thought. Gifts like jam, chocolates, and gingerbread all last well, and can make great gifts.
Make Food You Can Freeze
If you are making food gifts for more than one person, even if you are giving the same thing, it can be stressful. You’ll want to bake or cook as close to when you are seeing them as possible so that the food is fresh. But, this might not be on Christmas Day, which can mean that you are stuck in the kitchen for weeks. Think about foods that you can cook, or at least prepare, and freeze, to make life easier. Most cakes can be frozen, as can cookie dough, gingerbread dough, and the chocolate ganache ready to make truffles.
Final Thoughts
Make your plans now on what you will make and who the gifts will be for. Are these food gifts that can be canned or frozen so that they can be made early? As we all know the earlier we can do shopping and planning the more relaxing and stress-free Christmas will be.
Thanks for stopping by. See you soon.
