Holiday Wish List :: The D.I.Y. Gifter

Parties, new outfits, trips, Holiday events, buying gifts and having enough money leftover to pay the mortgage... phewww!! I'm on overload already, just thinking about it.

 I love showing someone I'm thinking of them during the Holidays, but gifts can get expensive. Insert my love of Do It Yourself gifts. It shows the reciever that you took the time to make the gift and we all know that a person's time is worth a LOT!

These are three projects that are easy and fun. Plus, the result is usable, festive and relatively inexpensive.

Happy Holidays

ciao xx

:: Infused Vodka ::

it's great in hot coco or for a festive cocktail!! cheers

Using a mini food processor, pulse 12 full size candy canes to a fine powder. [[about 30 seconds]]

Using a funnel, pour candy cane powder into 750 ml of vodka  [[I like Sky or Grey Goose]]

Screw the lid on and shake to mix. Let the Vodka sit and every 5-10 minutes give it a good shake.

Let the candy disolve, and the Vodka turn red- takes about 30 minutes.

:: Biscotti ::

Baking can be intimidating, but baking biscotti... that's not! Its a cookie thats meant to be hard!!

2 cups wheat flour, 1.5 tsp baking powder, 3/4 cup sugar, 1 stick of unsalted butter, 1 tsp lemon zest, 1/4 tsp salt, 2 eggs, 3/4 cup pistachios, coarsely chopped, 2/3 cup dried cranberries, 12 oz chocolate 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grab 2 bowls- One for the flour/baking powder- One for the sugar, butter, lemon zest, and salt. With an electric mixer, blend the "wet bowl" and add the eggs in one at a time. Then add the "dry bowl" slowly to the wet. Add the cranberries and pistachios

Form the dough into a foot long, 3-inch wide, 1-2 in tall shape and bake for 40 mins. Cool for 30 mins.
Cut inch wide slices, then flip them on their side and bake again for 15 mins [[lightly golden] cool&
decorate with melted chocolate and Holiday sprinkles.

:: Bottle Toppers ::

check out my previous post here.

Get as many corks as you need [either from your own bottles or Michaels] Either buy decorative cabinet knobs from here or here OR get fun toys and trinkets like I did in my post. Use a heavy glue to adhere the objects to the cork and let them dry.. DONE!!