Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Home-made Gifts

I have been thinking about gifts for miscellaneous giving; ie, mail-person, Hubby's boss and/or co-workers, lady who runs the Todd County Welcome Center..... and came across this recipe from Leh*man's blog and decided to try it out.

Pumpkin Bread in a Jar
This recipe makes 8 pints! That's 8 gifts!!
With a Home-made card I think it makes a nice little gift.
What do you think??
Recipe (because I knew you would ask ;) )
Pumpkin Bread In A Jar
Ingredients:
2/3 c. shortening
2 c. pumpkin ( I used my home-canned)
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. ground cloves
2 2/3 c. white sugar
2/3 c. water
2 tsp. baking soda
1 1/2 tsp. salt
4 eggs
3 1/3 c. all-purpose flour
1 tsp. cinnamon
2/3 c. chopped nuts (optional)
Directions: In a large mixing bowl, cream shortening and sugar; beat in eggs. Add pumpkin and water. In a separate bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and spices. Add to pumpkin mixture. Stir in nuts, if using. Pour mixture into greased wide-mouth pint canning jars, filling them each half full. Bake at 325 degrees F for 45 minutes. When done, remove one jar at a time and wipe off sealing rim with a cloth. Screw lid on tightly with band. The heat will vacuum seal the jar. Makes 8 pints.
Variations: Substitute one of the following for the pumpkin: 2 cups shredded apples; 2 cups shredded carrots; 1 can cranberry sauce; 2 cups mashed bananas; 2 cups chopped peaches; 2 cups applesauce; 2 cups shredded zucchini; 2 cups fruit cocktail; or 1 3/4 cups applesauce plus 1/4 cup raisins.
(Changes; I cut the sugar to 2 cups and 2 T, used 5 very small eggs cause thats what I had, and added 2/3 c raisins. (we cut one open this morning and Hubby liked it really well!)
Add your ribbon and a tag and there ya go! (I made my ribbon out of a strip of plaid flannel left from Hubby's quilt)I was able to gift one yesterday about an hour out of the oven to a lady who came to get a trailer-load of rabbit manure for her garden. When I told her I had baked it in my wood cook-stove oven, that made it all the more special to her!
Well, Merry Christmas to you all. Happy baking! Wishing you all a very Blessed New Year!

4 comments:

Jen said...

Very Cute Christmas Gifts! Love It!!!

Dar said...

I've seen the ingredients stacked in jars but this is the first time seeing the bread already baked. Clever, very clever.
Merry Christmas and
BlessYourHeart

Susan said...

Neat idea. Thanks for sharing it all.

Julie Fukuda said...

Oh that is so cleaver! What a delightful gift.