10 Recipes
4 Downloads
DIY Tasty Gift Ideas
Here, with the undying support of my lovely lady Genevieve, I begin on my culinary adventure. All kidding aside, I think my cooking is the only reason she's still with me! While not every dish I put out is the best I've ever made, my leftovers match or outdo most of the restaurants we try. There are some standouts, of course, and I find them delicious and inspiring and I'll tell you about them eventually, but for now, for today, this is about you and about sharing with you my ideas for the holidays.
Within this, my first cookbook, you'll find some delicious DIY (Do it yourself) gift ideas that you're welcome to copy or adjust to your own tastes. I'm going to give some of these as stocking stuffers this year, but they're great to bring to a friend's place when you're headed over to have a meal or just hang out. Some of these recipes are blazingly quick and so easy to make, you'll want your kids to join in. You'll find you probably have most of these ingredients or reasonable substitutes at home already.
Here, with the undying support of my lovely lady Genevieve, I begin on my culinary adventure. All kidding aside, I think my cooking is the only reason she's still with me! While not every dish I put out is the best I've ever made, my leftovers match or outdo most of the restaurants we try. There are some standouts, of course, and I find them delicious and inspiring and I'll tell you about them eventually, but for now, for today, this is about you and about sharing with you my ideas for the holidays.
Within this, my first cookbook, you'll find some delicious DIY (Do it yourself) gift ideas that you're welcome to copy or adjust to your own tastes. I'm going to give some of these as stocking stuffers this year, but they're great to bring to a friend's place when you're headed over to have a meal or just hang out. Some of these recipes are blazingly quick and so easy to make, you'll want your kids to join in. You'll find you probably have most of these ingredients or reasonable substitutes at home already.
Inside, you'll find:
3 Spice mix recipes great for the grill
- Sweet n Spicy Rib Rub
- Savoury Steak Seasoning
- Cheeky Chicken Seasoning
3 Dry mixed soups perfect for a quick lunch; I love these for camping trips
- Uri's Curry Chicken Soup
- So Good Lentil Soup
- Wild Mild Dry Mushroom Soup Mix
3 Snacks
- Cheesy Parmesan Pesto-Ranch Popcorn seasoning
- Maple-Candied nut mix
- Apple, Cranberry, Quinoa Cereal
And as a bonus,
- Enlightened Hot Chocolate perfect for the holidays
This is the first of many collections to come of recipes I create or adapt to my own tastes; some created specifically for this book, and others developed over the years. I hope you enjoy them all.
I won't lie, I have a hard time giving this stuff away because I never make enough and its all so good. That being said, its a good idea, if you're going to make any of these recipes, to make extra!
All of these recipes have some packaging ideas, but I wanted to leave that part of the creativity up to you. I've taken care of the inside, you take care of the outside. If you need inspiration, I find its easiest to visit your local bulk store (you're probably already there for ingredients), or dollar store for packaging ideas. I was surprised at all the gift packaging options available. There are a vast array of glass jars and spice dispensers, gift bags and boxes and labels all between the two stores. Anyhow, the frilly details are up to you. Have fun. Let me know what you think of my recipes and I look forward to your feedback. As will always be the case, feel free to ask me anything.
Thanks for your support. Enjoy the arts and crafts.
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Cookbook Recipes
Sweet n Spicy Rib Rub
Savoury steak rub
Cheeky Chicken Seasoning
Uri's Curry Chicken Soup
So Good Lentil Soup
Wild Mild Dry Mushroom Soup Mix
Enlightened Hot Chocolate
Cheesy Parmesan Pesto-Ranch Popcorn Seasoning
Apple Cranberry Quinoa Cereal Mix
Maple-Candied Nut Mix
Sweet n Spicy Rib Rub
Who needs rib fest? We skip it every year. I'll have some friends over and have to share my ribs with them, but its ok because, well, its not really ok. Hungry jerks. I kid, I kid. I can eat at least twice as much for the same price at rib fest making these bad boys myself. This rub is great on all cuts of pork, but I'll always be partial to ribs. They're so fun to eat. It works on chicken too if you're in a pinch. When cooked, this rub forms a sort of sweet, salty, spicy, smoky crust. The intensities of these flavours will depend on the quality of the spices you use, but I'm a no frills kind of guy and often content to find the best balance with just the basics. Just give the spice blend a taste before you bottle it up. It should lean towards the salty and sweet side. The intensity will mellow slightly when cooked and you'll be left with a really great plethora of flavours. Can you make it more spicy you ask? Of course you can just increase the cayenne pepper, but be careful. It always comes out hotter than you think it will and if you're giving the spice mix as a gift, you might not want to hurt anyone. I tend to always make extra and keep it in the spice cupboard for use on everything. This quantity of mix is plenty for 2 full racks of back ribs. You'll want to bake these low and slow to form that crust before finishing them on the barbeque with some sauce. You're welcome. GIVING THIS AS A GIFT: You can find spice dispensers at any dollar store or even your local grocery. My bulk store had some just up the shelves above the spices. Needless to say, you have a great deal of options for this. As with most of my tasty gift ideas, I like a clear vessel to show off some colour. This is a great, any occasion, type of gift for someone who loves to cook like I do. It makes a good stocking stuffer, or just something to bring when visiting friends for dinner. You can box the jar/dispenser or just wrap a bow on it. Label it of course and feel free to give it your own name.
Savoury steak rub
Off on an internet search tangent, I stumbled on to some website detailing the health benefits of different herbs. Don't ask me where it is, ask google because I don't remember. In any case, it was the first time I'd added rosemary to my steak because it apparently counteracts the negative effects of actually browning the meat. Since that's the delicious part of the steak (along with the rest of the parts of the steak, of course), its not as though I'd start cooking it any differently. Who wants a boiled steak, right? I like the taste of rosemary, but its usually reserved for roasting potatoes. Low and behold, it works really well with beef. You knew that already? Maybe, but its become a staple in my steak rub ever since. Multiply this to fill the dispenser of your choosing. The best part about mixing a large batch of seasoning is the time it saves on future meals. Its also adjustable, so that if you didn't love it the first time, you can add a little of this or a little of that for next time. Try this one out on steak or potatoes or both. Season to taste. I'm sure you'll enjoy. GIVING THIS AS A GIFT: You can find spice dispensers at any dollar store or even your local grocery. My bulk store had some just up the shelves above the spices. Needless to say, you have a great deal of options for this. As with most of my tasty gift ideas, I like a clear vessel to show off some colour. This is a great, any occasion, type of gift for someone who loves to cook like I do. It makes a good stocking stuffer, or just something to bring when visiting friends for dinner. You can box the jar/dispenser or just wrap a bow on it. Label it of course and feel free to give it your own name. I've tripled it for this container.
Cheeky Chicken Seasoning
When its cold outside... oh, I still love to barbeque with 2 feet of snow on the ground, but not everyone's me. I use a marinade for the grill work, but when it comes to no hassle, indoor baking of chicken, I love something quick to make up for the extra cook time. This rub adds just the right salty, savoury kick that goes so well with chicken. It works great on vegetables and pork too. Season to taste obviously. To give you an idea, a tablespoon is good for 2 chicken thighs. GIVING THIS AS A GIFT: I've tripled the recipe for this little container. You can find spice dispensers at any dollar store or even your local grocery. My bulk store had some just up the shelves above the spices. Needless to say, you have a great deal of options for this. As with most of my tasty gift ideas, I like a clear vessel to show off some colour. This is a great, any occasion, type of gift for someone who loves to cook like I do. It makes a good stocking stuffer, or just something to bring when visiting friends for dinner. You can box the jar/dispenser or just wrap a bow on it. Label it of course and feel free to give it your own name.
Uri's Curry Chicken Soup
Need help warming up on a winter day? Got your remedy right here. I don't usually use curry, but when I do... watch out. This soup's got just enough heat (depending on the potency of your spices), but not too much. The colour and consistency that come out thanks to the spices and the starch from the noodles really works well together to give you a hearty meal. GIVING THIS AS A GIFT: This is a tasty mix that looks great layered in a jar. Use the colours to your advantage. I like to leave the noodles for the top. You can use any noodles here or even rice. Different coloured peas can work too. Find a practical, reusable jar that seals well. You can make a combination gift with multiple soups or give just one as a stocking stuffer. Stick a label on here with some quick instructions and you're done. I would recommend a box for multiple jars, and maybe some brown wrapping paper and a ribbon for individual soups.
So Good Lentil Soup
We make lentil soup here all winter. I tried something new for this recipe. This experiment paid off big, so now you get to reap the benefits. Lentils are a great source of fibre, low in fat, high in vitamins and iron and other minerals... the list goes on. Its a good way to make up for the lack of fresh fruit in your winter diet. Of course you can easily make this vegetarian by swapping the chicken base to a vegetable one, preferable onion. If you do, you should cut down on the onion powder or eliminate it entirely from this recipe. As someone who detests sundried tomatoes, let me assure you, they elevate this soup to the point you'll forget it came out of a jar. GIVING THIS AS A GIFT: This is a tasty mix that looks great layered in a jar. Use the colours to your advantage. Use different coloured lentils if you like. Different coloured peas and beans can work too. Find a practical, reusable jar that seals well. You can make a combination gift with multiple soups or give just one as a stocking stuffer. Stick a label on here with some quick instructions and you're done. I would recommend a box for multiple jars, and maybe some brown wrapping paper and a ribbon for individual soups.
Wild Mild Dry Mushroom Soup Mix
If you're a friend of the fungi, you're a friend of mine. Mushroom soup is the best. Maybe you're used to cream of mushroom soup, which I can't fault you for, but this alternative leaves out the lactose and comes across with a great clean flavour. Great for a lazy lunch or to take camping. GIVING THIS AS A GIFT: This is a tasty mix that looks great layered in a jar. Use the colours to your advantage. Find a practical, reusable jar that seals well. You can make a combination gift with multiple soups or give just one as a stocking stuffer. Stick a label on here with some quick instructions and you're done.
Enlightened Hot Chocolate
You don't need a fireplace to sit around to enjoy this warm mug of cocoa, but it sure doesn't hurt. That's why this is great for the holidays or any day of the week ending in y. For the adults in the group looking for a little extra kick, a splash of brandy in here really takes it up a notch. Note: You'll need a spice grinder to "enlighten" this recipe if you don't want floating bits of spices coating the top of your beverage when its finished. So the best part about making this recipe was the taste testing. I had about a dozen cappuccino glasses in front of me with variously spiced hot chocolate in them ready for tasting and mixing and tasting again. I share with you the result. Try this out. Its seriously good. What better way than to share, right? GIVING THIS AS A GIFT: I multiplied everything in the ingredients list by 6 for this gift mug container. Seemed like a good idea. I get to show off the ingredients, and the mug is reusable. Layer ingredients in an airtight jar. The order is up to you. I like to alternate colours if this is for a gift. Keep the piece(s) of chocolate bar for last to place on top. Tie a ribbon around this or do what you do for decoration. I like it as is. The colourful marshmallows and chocolate wrappers make a nice presentation for the holidays. You'll want to include some instructions with this. Just copy them from my preparation instructions.
Cheesy Parmesan Pesto-Ranch Popcorn Seasoning
Popcorn is a once in a while snack for us around here. The thing is, if you're like me, you read the internet and discover that most of the prepared and processed foods you can pick up in stores are filled with bad chemicals and unnecessary additives, contaminated by packaging, and you just want to stay away. Buying your own kernels and making them in a paper bag in the microwave seems more sensible to me than microwaving anything in plastic with "added buttery flavour". Whatever that is. You can also imagine what goes into the seasoning mixes in the stores. I'll refrain from doing so myself. If you're like me, you're trying to eat safer and still allow yourself to indulge. Hence, I make my own seasonings for just about everything. I control everything that goes into our food. Enough rant.... This Parmesan Pesto-Ranch seasoning works for a lot of things, but we love it on the popcorn with a little olive oil. With these amounts, you'll have made about a cup of seasoning to keep in the cupboard or give away or both. GIVING THIS AS A GIFT: Who doesn't love popcorn. As a gift you could include this or any seasoning. You don't even really have to make it yourself, but that's the personal touch I feel makes this gift worth giving. After I mix the seasoning, I put it in a spice dispenser from the dollar store and place that along with a clear cellophane bag of popcorn kernels in a gift package like this one I found at the bulk store. You'll want to include popping and seasoning instructions.
Apple Cranberry Quinoa Cereal Mix
I'm always looking for ways to add lean protein to my daily intake. Quinoa for breakfast is a great way to do that. On top of that, I've been gluten free for a couple of years now. When it comes to breakfast, eggs are my best friend, but when its time for a change, this cereal hits the spot. If you need a warm up on a cold morning, 20 minutes might seem like a while to wait, but I prepare this mix in advance and its done cooking before I'm half done my coffee. Feel free to change the fruit combinations or choice of nuts. I really enjoy this particular mix though. Give it a shot. AS A GIFT: You'll want to package this in a way that you can include the cooking instructions. You can print them out or write them out by hand if you're not a doctor. My bulk store had these great little holiday gift boxes. Inside I'll put a little handwritten card with the instructions, and the dry cereal mix in a clear cellophane bag. You could do the same with a jar, and write the instructions on a label you stick outside. If there's a camper in the family, or someone with gluten issues, they're going to love this cereal.
Maple-Candied Nut Mix
I'm nuts for nuts. They make the greatest snack. They contain protein (filling), healthy fats (brain food), and thus deserve a place in my diet. Unfortunately, they fit right into the middle of my snack category and well, some days you just have to sweeten the deal; what better way than maple syrup and brown sugar? Cottage cheese and yogurt (awesome high protein, low fat snack, if you're interested... add some fruit, cinnamon...) need to have a seat in the fridge for this one. Use any nuts you want here. I've used almonds, cashews, peanuts, hazelnuts and added some sunflower seeds for good measure. The bulk store here has several nut mixes to choose from. You can vary this recipe as you like; change the butter for a light oil, skip the added sugar if you want, and if you do happen to use some salted nuts, just skip the added salt. I adapted this coating from a butter tart filling recipe I made once out of necessity (I just really needed some butter tarts.) In this case, the butter keeps the nuts from sticking together but also adds a nice creaminess to the flavour. This goes great with a beer or hot chocolate. Don't forget to check out my spiced hot chocolate recipe! As a gift: Since this is the only completely finished product in this cookbook, you get to do all the work, but I can't stress enough just how simple and quick this is. It shocks me every time. I like to use a clear container. A mason jar will do, but you might want to gift these nuts with their own decorative bowl or beer glass (tankard, pilsner, pint, etc.) and you can increase the volume you make to suit the packaging you use. You can slap a label on there and call it a day or wrap it up, add some ribbons, whatever suits you. Happy holidays!Thank you for your interest in Uri's cookbook and for helping support the BakeSpace community of independent cookbook authors!
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DIY Tasty Gift Ideas
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I LOVE FOOD. I'm not sure that there's anyone who doesn't love food, but I'm completely in love with it. Food's always been there for me. It helped having a mom with a passion for her craft in the kitchen. I got to watch, and experiment with cooking at a young age. I learned the hard way why the elements on the stove were bright fiery red, or so I'm told. It wasn't until recently, though, that I found myself realizing what fate's been trying to tell me for so long. Food isn't only my love, it is destiny. Here, with the undying support of my lovely lady Genevieve, I begin on my culinary adventure. All kidding aside, I think my cooking is the only reason she's still with me! While not every dish I put out is the best I've ever made, my leftovers match or outdo most of the restaurants we try. There are some standouts, of course, and I find them delicious and inspiring and I'll tell you about them eventually, but for now, for today, this is about you and about sharing with you my ideas for the holidays. Within this, my first cookbook, you'll find some delicious DIY (Do it yourself) gift ideas that you're welcome to copy or adjust to your own tastes. I'm going to give some of these as stocking stuffers this year, but they're great to bring to a friend's place when you're headed over to have a meal or just hang out. Some of these recipes are blazingly quick and so easy to make, you'll want your kids to join in. You'll find you probably have most of these ingredients or reasonable substitutes at home already. Inside, you'll find: 3 Spice mix recipes great for the grill - Sweet n Spicy Rib Rub - Savoury Steak Seasoning - Cheeky Chicken Seasoning 3 Dry mixed soups perfect for a quick lunch; I love these for camping trips - Uri's Curry Chicken Soup - So Good Lentil Soup - Wild Mild Dry Mushroom Soup Mix 3 Snacks - Cheesy Parmesan Pesto-Ranch Popcorn seasoning - Maple-Candied nut mix - Apple, Cranberry, Quinoa Cereal And as a bonus, - Enlightened Hot Chocolate perfect for the holidays This is the first of many collections to come of recipes I create or adapt to my own tastes; some created specifically for this book, and others developed over the years. I hope you enjoy them all. I won't lie, I have a hard time giving this stuff away because I never make enough and its all so good. That being said, its a good idea, if you're going to make any of these recipes, to make extra! All of these recipes have some packaging ideas, but I wanted to leave that part of the creativity up to you. I've taken care of the inside, you take care of the outside. If you need inspiration, I find its easiest to visit your local bulk store (you're probably already there for ingredients), or dollar store for packaging ideas. I was surprised at all the gift packaging options available. There are a vast array of glass jars and spice dispensers, gift bags and boxes and labels all between the two stores. Anyhow, the frilly details are up to you. Have fun. Let me know what you think of my recipes and I look forward to your feedback. As will always be the case, feel free to ask me anything. Thanks for your support. Enjoy the arts and crafts.