Browsing Tag

homemade

Domestic

Last Minute Gift Ideas

December 23, 2013

Gift Bag Scrounging for some last minute present ideas?!  Forgot one of your coworkers?  Need a gift for your gardener? Look no further! I love the DIY approach to holiday gift giving and often find it best to make a little artisan or gourmet treat…

Last year I made homemade vanilla and while it does take a little planning (or at least waiting on the recipient’s end – it takes 3 months to really ferment) it is SO worth it.

Vanilla

This year I went with an infused simple syrup route.  I made my famous (to myself) Ginger Simple Syrup, and attached a homemade ginger ale recipe for the 21 and younger crowd and a Ginger Bourbon Fizz recipe for those that like to imbibe!

Homemade Ginger Ale Mix

Super simple (aside from the sticky mess that your kitchen is bound to fall victim to) and so delicious! Plus infused syrups are now like $12-15 a bottle at the store nowadays… and you easily can whip these up (bottles and all) for around $3!

DIY Holiday Gift

Other quick/less involved gift ideas:

  • wine (BevMo $0.05 wine sale!)
  • gift cards (Starbucks, Jamba, iTunes)
  • candles (I’m telling you… by them on sale when you see them!!!)
  • books (I love a great cookbook or coffee table book – Costco has great ones with CRAZY markdowns)
  • a beautiful frame with a picture of you and gift recipient (girls love pictures)

Bottle Top

What are some other quick and easy gift ideas!?

Tasty

Homemade Snicker Bars

May 15, 2013

My mom’s most famous recipe is her homemade snicker bars.  I haven’t bought a Snicker bar… well pretty much ever. And here is the reason why…

snicker bar
Josee’s Famous Snicker Bars

  • 2 cups chocolate chips, divided use
  • 3/4 cup peanut butter, divided use
  • 1/2 cup butterscotch chips, divided use
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1/4 cup milk
  • 1/4 cup butter
  • 1-7 oz jar marshmallow creme
  • 2 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 1/4 cup salted peanuts
  • 1-14 oz package caramel squares
  • 1/4 cup evaporated milk

Directions:

  1. First Layer: Melt 1 cup of chocolate chips, 1/4 cup peanut butter, and 1/4 cup butterscotch chips in a saucepan over low heat. Spread mixture in 9×13″ pan. 
  2. Second Layer: Boil sugar, milk and butter in a saucepan for 5 minutes.  Add 1/4 cup peanut butter, marshmallow creme and vanilla.  Mix in salted peanuts. Spread over 1st layer.
  3. Third Layer: Melt caramels and evaporated milk together. Spread over second layer.
  4. Fourth Layer: Melt 1 cup chocolate chips, 1/4 cup of peanut butter, and 1/4 cup of butterscotch chips in saucepan and spread over third layer.
  5. Chill for 40 minutes then cut into squares (don’t let it get too hard, because it will crack when you try to cut squares).

Notes:

  • Put the pan in the fridge while making the next layer…  It helps to spread the next layer more easily. 
  • BUT don’t let the pan of candy sit out for long periods of time before returning it to the fridge… it will make it  sweat and turn your chocolate to a powdery spotted finish.

snicker bars snicker bar give thanks