Dollar-Stretching Gifts by Brenda Nixon

We all love to give -- afterall the Bible reminds us that it's more blessed to give than to receive. And it's fun to give. Plus there are those "group" or "office" get togethers when everyone is exchanging gifts and you want to participate. But if you're out of work or money, how do you give gifts without losing your sanity or savings?

For the frugal minded (and who isn't in this economy?) here are two tips to save face and finances:

Homemade gifts: Warm chocolate chip cookies made with love are always cherished and gobbled up. Print out coupons for free babysitting or yard maintenance. Find internet sites that offer homemade versions of bath salts, soaps, and other welcomed gifts.

Basket gifts: Throughout the year, collect "freebies" or sample sizes of food, laundry soap, toothpaste, hair care, lotions and notions. Artfully place all those wonderful - and useful - items in a pretty basket, wrap with cellophane and a large, festive bow. Voila! You can give a gift that is sure to please and has cost you virtually nothing. Personalize the gift basket by packing items specific to a person's need; if it's for a college student, then school supplies and munchies would be wanted.

Don't hit the panic button this year. Make it a wonderful Christmas season with dollar-stretching ideas.

Brenda Nixon, www.BrendaNixon.com
Co-author, A Scrapbook of Christmas Firsts

These are a Few of Our Favorite Things

In each chapter of A Scrapbook of Christmas Firsts, we have categories of ideas for Christmas celebrations. One of those is a list of "Our Favorite Things." In Chapter Four we list our favorite homemade food gifts, and we're gifting you with those recipes today.

Mine is Cherry Biscotti. Last year, I layered the dry ingredients in a jar, attached the recipe and gave them to my friend Doris. She and her granddaughter baked the biscotti one day during Christmas vacation. This is one of our favorite biscotti mixes to give away. It's tasty with a cup of bold roast coffee or good with a cup of gently flavored hot tea.

What homemade food gift do you like to give away? A suggestion, gift a copy of A Scrapbook of Christmas Firsts and include the ingredients to make one of our Cookie Canister recipes found in each chapter. The picture was taken the day I received my first copy of our book. Yippee!


Cherry Biscotti / Cathy

7-8 Tbs. of softened butter
2 eggs
2/3 cup sugar

2 cups flour

2 tsp. baking powder

2 tsp. cinnamon

¾ cup chopped dried cherries

¾ cup chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cream butter, eggs and sugar. Add flour, baking powder and cinnamon. Add the rest of ingredients. Mix dough with hands. Shape into two loaves: 9 inches long by 2 inches wide. Bake on greased cookie sheets for 25-30 minutes until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 1 hour.
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Cut each loaf diagonally into ½ inch thick slices using a serrated bread knife. Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 8 minutes, turn over and bake for 8-10 minutes until biscotti is dry and crisp. Store in airtight containers.