Tag Archives: gift

  1. Homemade Chai Concentrate {+ Video}

    Making your own Chai Concentrate at home means you can make this warming spiced tea to suit your exact personal tastes and it’s far easier than you might think. Make sweetened or unsweetened and adjust the spices to your personal taste. Use any milk or non-dairy substitute you like and serve it hot or over ice.

    Homemade Chai Concentrate Recipe {sweetened and unsweetened}

    Homemade Chai Concentrate Recipe {sweetened and unsweetened}

    Homemade Chai Concentrate. This recipe is nearly 7 years old, at this point, and it’s still a major favorite of mine. It’s so so easy to make and you can customize your own recipe to exactly what you are looking for in your chai. I like mine spicy, with a strong tea flavor and with a subtle sweetness, if any at all. I personally find the packaged chai concentrates from the grocery store and at most coffee shops to really lack that nice spiced flavor I love and many times they are just far too sweet for me. Most are loaded with preservatives and other less than desirable ingredients. Why though?

    Chai is one of my favorite, comforting drinks to cozy up with, especially in the colder months. Plus, with the holidays upon us, it’s important to note that this is the perfect thoughtful handmade gift to bottle up and give to your chai-loving friends. Package with a cute label (FREE download included below for my printable labels you can easily customize) or label and enjoy the smiles and praise.

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  2. How-to Make Infused Olive Oil {+ Video}

     

    How-to Make Infused Olive Oil

    Infused Olive Oils make really great and beautiful gifts for the food lovers in your life! They are also great to have on hand in your own kitchen for your own cooking adventures. The flavor possibilities are endless and it is truly a fun and unique gift.

    There are lots of great options for simple homemade gifts here on TY: Healthier Hot Cocoa MixHomemade Chocolate Bark, Paleo Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix in a Jar, DIY homemade Vanilla Extract, Essential Oil Holiday Room SpraysCrock Pot Pumpkin Butter, Coconut Butter, Nut Butters, Candy Cane Hot Cocoa Mix, Chai Concentrate, just to name a few of my favorites.

    A handmade gift, made with love, packaged up sweetly with beautiful custom labels and a thoughtful note, to me, is what the season is all about. Sharing something you created with your own two hands, especially for the person receiving it.

    There are so many various ways you can infuse olive oil and there are just as many posts floating around the web telling us about them. Some heat the oil, while others just throw it all together in the bottle and call it a day, some leave in the ingredients in, others strain them out before bottling. I have done a lot of reading and no matter what method you choose, there are a few concerns we have to take into account when making infused olive oils.

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  3. How-to Make Healthier Hot Cocoa Mix w/ Video {Paleo, Keto, Vegan}

    Tutorial Tuesdays // Tasty Yummies

    How-to Make Hot Cocoa Mix

    With the holidays upon us, it’s time once again that I share with you some of my favorite, simple homemade holiday gifts. This wintertime staple is a quintessential way to deal with the frosty cold weather. This homemade version is made with only a few, all-natural ingredients and the bonus to making it yourself, besides the obvious, is the free reign to add whatever you’d like to it. If you like less sweet, opt for unsweetened chocolate, looking for a little more sweetness try bitter or semisweet chocolate instead. You can add cinnamon or cayenne or any other flavors you’d like (see the bottom of the post for flavor variations). Today I am sharing my recipe for a basic hot cocoa mix with a few suggestions at the end for extra add-ins, as well as a free printable label for you to print out, customize and add to your gift.

    How-to Make Hot Cocoa Mix

    There’s nothing like giving the gift of tasty treats, made with love this time of year, but especially cozy, heart-warming decadence like this homemade Hot Cocoa Mix. Rich and luxurious without being excessively sweet. Download the included printable, customizable label, throw in some mini marshmallows, this is a great recipe if you want to make your own. Package it all up in a cute jar, include a tablespoon tied with a little ribbon or string and voila, the perfect holiday gift.

    How-to Make Hot Cocoa Mix

    How-to Make Hot Cocoa Mix

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  4. Dark Chocolate Rose Water Truffles

    Dark Chocolate Rose Water Truffles

    Dark Chocolate Rose Water Truffles

    I have to be totally honest with you, after I passed the age of giving out Valentines at school (which I always adored), I have always found the fact that Valentine’s Day has become a day generally so focused on giving gifts, to just be a tad bit silly. I grew up with my mom saying to us kids every single year without fail, something along the lines of: “I don’t need one special day or any fancy gifts to show my love to you or your dad, I love you each and every single day of the year”. I have to say, I couldn’t agree more with my mother. I have always felt like the holiday was less about love and more about the greeting card industry, the jewelry stores and florists make out like bandits, and besides Easter, I have to imagine this is the biggest day of the year for chocolatiers. I also have to be real here for a sec, I kinda resent that this day has been somewhat stolen by those in monogamist romantic relationships! If it’s a day about love, then shouldn’t we celebrate ALL love? That of the romantic variety but also plutonic friends, parental, puppy-love (like I’m talking your actual pooch), your favorite co-worker, anyone and everyone that you have love for?

    Dark Chocolate Rose Water Truffles

    Don’t get it twisted, I don’t at all frown upon a day focused on love, how could I? What kind of V-day scrooge that would make me? It’s far from this. Nothing in this world makes me happier than love and I can only wish and hope that every day, every person has the pleasure of experiencing some love on some level, even if just that sweet look of adoration from their pooch on their morning walk. Love should be celebrated each and every day, so a day that puts it at the forefront, this certainly brings a smile to my face. But I say, collectively, we take that energy so many focus into this one single day and we extend it out throughout the year. Do sweet things for one other, share sweet thoughts with the people you love most, tell them you love them, surprise someone with homemade chocolates – these acts of love are are even better on a random Tuesday, not just on February 14th, one time a year.

    Dark Chocolate Rose Water Truffles

    When it comes to Valentine’s Day, if you want to give gifts, I am, just as any other holiday, very much in favor of those of the homemade variety. I also love the idea of thoughtful actions in lieu of presents and sweet unexpected somethings like breakfast in bed or a homemade meal, traditions, special outings, picnics etc. The gifts that come from the heart, they will, like cupid’s arrow, cut through with such vigor!

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  5. How-to Make Essential Oil Holiday Room Sprays

    Tutorial Tuesdays // Tasty Yummies

    How-to Make Essential Oil Holiday Room Sprays

    The various aromas of the holidays and the feelings they evoke are certainly synonymous with this time of year. The rustic evergreen of a fresh cut christmas tree; spicy, warming cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves; bright, citrusy orange or the fresh, minty smell of candy canes – these can all bring the good feelings of seasonal cheer, the reminder or family and love and the promise of a season full of joy and happy memories.

    As someone very triggered and often driven by scent, I am also someone who is very sensitive to scent. I always have been. Would that make me scentsitive? heh. I find the fake, synthetic aromas to cut through the air, not in a good way, and often times they provide an instant headache. They linger and simply mask any existing odors, they can overpower a room and even more alarming, they are often loaded with so many chemicals. The more I clean up my life and the more I cut out, the more I am aware of and sensitive to where all nasty stuff is hiding. That connection of your brain to your body and that innate knowing of what to avoid, certainly becomes more heightened. The more connected and in-tune I become the more I seek for natural, clean alternatives.

    How-to Make Essential Oil Holiday Room Sprays

    These holiday inspired all-natural scents will not only provide a welcoming and cozy, seasonal setting perfect for holiday gatherings, but you’ll also be reaping the many therapeutic benefits of the essential oils, too. Purifying the air, warming your soul and uplifting your spirit, these room sprays are inexpensive to make, you can customize your scents and your blends to make your own personalized aroma and of course, they make an amazing gift.

    This formula and the various blends fill a 4oz bottle, but feel free to double or triple your recipe. As always, I provide you with printable labels to customize your gifts. I left the area where the oils are listed, blank, so you can make your own custom blends.

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  6. Chocolate Covered Stuffed Dates

    Chocolate Covered Stuffed Dates // @tastyyummies // www.tasty-yummies.com

    You didn’t actually think I would let Valentine’s Day come and go without some sort of sweet, did you?

    In the world of candies and sweets, baked goods and other treats, in my opinion, these Chocolate Covered Stuffed Dates for sure fall somewhere in the world of a “healthy sweet”. Sure, sugar is sugar, but if the options include these naturally sweetened treats, than I am all in, especially considering I have been avoiding all traditional sugary sweets the last handful of weeks.

    Chocolate Covered Stuffed Dates // @tastyyummies // www.tasty-yummies.com

    Stuffed dates have always been one of my favorite ways to indulge in something sweet, without the guilt. Generally I opt for coconut butter, coconut oil or almond butter, but I also love a little crunch, too. The best part about this recipe, is that it’s more of a guide and you can easily make these tasty dates however you would like. Stuff them with whatever you fancy, top them with whatever makes you most happy, but however you make them, I suggest you enjoy them with some warm Valentine’s Day love in your heart and share them with those around you, whom you adore the most!

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  7. How-to Make a Mulled Wine Kit

    Tutorial Tuesdays // Tasty YummiesHow-to Make a Mulled Wine Kit

    How-to Make a Mulled Wine Kit

    For all of you last minute Christmas elves, this simple-but-sweet tutorial on How-to Make a Mulled Wine Kit is great for the wine lover on your list and it also makes a wonderful, thoughtful gift for any hostesses/hosts of holiday parties and other celebrations this season.

    You can easily grab what you need from your pantry and the local grocer and pull this together in minutes. You can even skip the wine and the alcohol all together and send this along with a quart of local apple cider for a mulled cider option.

    How-to Make a Mulled Wine Kit

    Mulled wine is such a comforting and festive drink this time of year or really anytime from the fall through the winter. It’s easy to make and this kit makes it even easier. Besides the simple recipe for the mulling spices and the instructions on the different ways you can package your gift, I even created printable tags and instructions for the gift recipient, for you to include in your kit. So, literally all you have to do is pull your ingredients together, hit “print”, fill your name in and your gift is done! Simple as that. Grab a cute box or wooden crate, or a beautiful gift bag, some cute ribbon or twine and voila, a thoughtful, handmade edible gift!

    How-to Make a Mulled Wine Kit Read the rest of this entry »

  8. How-to Make Chocolate Bark

    Tutorial Tuesdays // Tasty YummiesHo-to Make Chocolate Bark

    Homemade holiday gifts are one of my very favorite things. I love thoughtful, personalized gifts that are truly made with love! Homemade chocolate bark is probably one of my most favorite edible homemade gifts to make. Whether it’s a gift for a hostess of a holiday party or your dish to share, homemade chocolate bark is super simple to make and you can customize it to no end.

    Ho-to Make Chocolate Bark

    The possibilities for flavors and toppings is endless and you can really create something super special for whoever will receive it. It is super easy to make your chocolate bark allergen friendly, too. Easy to make gluten-free, vegan, nut-free, soy-free and so on. You can add dried fruit, nuts, seeds, your favorite cookies or candy, dried botanicals, spices or herbs. Some of my personal favorite flavor combos include sea salt or smoked sea salt. I also love a sprinkle of cinnamon, chili powder or cayenne to bring a little heat. Gluten-free pretzels or mini peanut butter cups are both amazing and fun toppings. The list could go on and on.

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  9. Holiday Gift Guide: D.I.Y. Gifts

    Hey all!! This is the final week in my 5-part Holiday Gift Guide series. I hope you have been enjoying all of the goodies I have been sharing with you! This week it’s all about DIY, handmade gifts! Just a small selection of some of my favorite how-tos and recipes for you to create a beautiful, thoughtful gift! I hope you enjoy. To see the other gift guides from this series head over here.

    Holiday Gift Guide: D.I.Y. Gifts

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  10. Dark Chocolate Peppermint Truffles – Gluten-free + Vegan

    Dark Chocolate Peppermint Truffles - Gluten-free + Vegan

    What better gift to give than the gift of chocolate, right? These dark chocolate peppermint truffles are sure to leave a smile on any chocoholic’s face. Especially when they find out you made these just for them.

    Dark Chocolate Peppermint Truffles - Gluten-free + Vegan

    These truffles are simple to make and they are naturally both gluten-free and vegan. Additionally, they are low in sugar and very simple to make. A few ingredients, a few minutes at the stove and that’s about it. You can even play around with the recipe and leave out the peppermint and roll them into other goodies, like chopped nuts, coconut, melted chocolate or chocolate bits, etc. Make this recipe your own and customize it for whomever will be receiving it.
    Dark Chocolate Peppermint Truffles - Gluten-free + Vegan

    [print_this]Dark Chocolate Peppermint Truffles – Gluten-Free + Vegan
    makes about 24+ truffles (depending on their size)

    • 1/2 cup full-fat coconut milk (the canned kind)
    • 2 tablespoons coconut oil
    • 10 ounces high quality vegan dark chocolate (70% cocoa) – chopped
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
    • dash of sea salt
    • 1/4 cup cocoa powder

    In a double boiler, heat coconut oil and coconut milk over a low/medium heat, whisking until just melted and well incorporated. Add the chocolate, stirring continuously, not allowing it to heat too quickly. Just as soon as it is melted, remove from the heat and stir very well to make sure it is all well incorporated. Add in the vanilla and peppermint extracts and salt.

    Pour into a 8″ baking dish or a pie pan and refrigerate until the mixture is mostly set , but still pliable. Using a 1″ melon baller or a tablespoon, scoop out the chocolate and roll into balls using your hands, set them on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet. Once all have been rolled, place the sheet into the refrigerator for about 10-15 minutes, up to overnight.

    Place the cocoa power onto a small plate and roll the balls in the cocoa powder to coat, you can also put the cocoa powder in your hands and roll them around that way. Store the finished truffles in the refrigerator.

    These truffles will keep up to two weeks in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Allow to come to room temperature for about 15 minutes, just before serving.

    [/print_this]

    This recipe was originally shared on Free People blog BLDG 25

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