A Christmas Gift Experiment (for me, anyway!)

For many years, we have spent a lot of money on friends and relatives for Christmas gifts.  I know for a fact that some rather pricy gifts were never used, and that's okay.  Those were years when I was working and bringing in the "big bucks" and had no time at all for a thoughtful gift that came from our hearts.

So, this year, I'm baking and probably canning gifts for people.  I have made some nice bowls and such (they are all hopefully being fired as I write this), and I've made a couple of baskets.  I hope to fill these things with Christmas Cookies, breads, home-made egg noodles, and perhaps some apple butter or pear butter.  

The local Future Farmers of America came around selling fresh apples and pears as a fund raiser.  My fruit was just delivered by two of Rodney's kids.  (Rodney is my go-to farmer.  He cuts my hay and bales it for me.  If I have a question, he always helps, and his 8 children and his wife are just wonderful people).  So now, I really have to figure out what to make.

Robin gave me a great recipe for parmesan/garlic breadsticks, I'm trying that out right now.  Robin has also helped me to make some baskets. 

I need to make Whiskey Balls (a rather yummy no-bake cookie/candy laced with bourbon and cocoa), Spritz cookies, Almond cut out cookies, Key Lime cookies and pecan puffs.  

The weather is really cold and nasty, so I'm sure that I can get all this baking done and baked goods put away in the freezer.

Robin also taught me how to can fruit, I think I'll try either a hot cinnamon applesauce or apple butter in the pretty little decorative jars.  

I dunno. What do you think?  I figure if nothing else, if they hate it, at least the wild birds will get a treat LOL!