Edible gifts are among the most sustainable, especially when they come from sustainable producers or incorporate sustainable ingredients. Here are some last minute edible gift ideas.
Local flavor. If you have a food cooperative in your city or town, this would be the ideal place to pick up an edible gift. Special selections from local producers are bound to be crowding the shelves to give shoppers all kinds of options for edible gifts that are local to boot.
Chilled cookie dough. Give someone the gift of home baked cookies while doing only half the work! Form the dough into a log, wrap it in plain butcher paper (just ask for a sheet from your butcher) and decorate with a ribbon or art. Keep cookie dough chilled until within twenty minutes of giving.
Roasted pumpkin seeds. To make, place 2 cups of raw pumpkin seeds in a bowl, add 1 teas. of vegetable oil and stir to coat. Transfer seeds to a shallow roasting pan. Place under broiler (top rack) and roast, stirring often, for about 20 minutes or until deep golden brown. (They will crisp as they cool.) Remove pan from oven and salt with popcorn salt to taste. Let seeds cool completely before putting them in a tin or glass jar.
Spice rub. Consult any general cook book (e.g. Joy of Cooking) and whip up a spice rub in minutes. Bottle in an empty, reclaimed spice jar and add your own label.
Scone mix. If you have some basic baking supplies in your pantry (i.e. flour, baking powder, salt and sugar), you can prepare a dry scone mix in just minutes to which the recipient can add the remaining ingredients. Place dry ingredients in a small brown bag and affix with a label that includes the full recipe and baking instructions.
I.O.U. Well, an I.O.U. may not be edible, but the “owe” can be. What recipes of yours do your loved ones rave about? Is it your homemade granola, your famous BBQ ribs, or your heavenly cheesecake? Buy yourself some time while giving someone something to really look forward to. Write out an I.O.U. for something you are willing to make for someone at another time. Roll the I.O.U. and tie it with a ribbon to make it festive.
by Crissy Trask for GreenMatters
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