gift ideas

Tasty treats make great gifts


No matter how many teachers, students, neighbors, co-workers, family friends, classmates, cousins, employees or service providers are on your gift list -- don't panic! You do not have to be crafty or know how to cook to assemble fabulous gifts in your kitchen.

You'll never go wrong giving a consumable gift. It does the job without weighing down your recipients with unwanted stuff.

You will need containers for these gifts and the possibilities are endless. Our favorite: Clear cellophane bags for 10 to 15 cents each (some are printed with holiday motifs) that can be found at craft stores like Michaels, Jo-Ann Stores and Hobby Lobby as well as at cake and candy supply retailers.

Think assembly line and you can turn out dozens of gifts in a single day. So gather your supplies, set up your production line and let the fun begin!


WORLD'S BEST HOT CHOCOLATE MIX
1 (8-quart) box Carnation Instant Dry Milk
1 (22-ounce) jar Cremora coffee creamer
1 (1-pound) box powdered sugar
1 (14.5-ounce) box Hershey's Instant Chocolate Drink Mix (not cocoa)

Dump all ingredients into a very large container bowl. (Use the listed brands for best result.) Mix thoroughly. Store in a tightly sealed container. Package into individual portions in your container of choice. This recipe makes about 30 cups of finished mix. Write this on a tag or label and attach to the outside: "Measure 1/3 to 1/2 cup mix into a mug and fill with hot water."


CHOCOLATE-COVERED PRETZELS
Melt your choice of white, milk or dark chocolate wafers (see chocolate melting notes), Baker's chocolate, chocolate bars or chocolate chips according to package instructions, or see below. Dip pretzels of any size or shape into the melted chocolate. Place on wax paper to harden.

Variation: While chocolate is still warm, sprinkle the pretzels with crushed nuts, colored sugar or crushed peppermint candies.

Tip: You can dip just about anything in chocolate to make a wonderful holiday treat. Try cookies like Nutter Butters, Vienna Fingers, Teddy Grahams, Chips Ahoy Cookies, even big marshmallows. Place on wax paper to harden.

Chocolate melting notes: Melting wafers are chocolate that's formulated for making candy. They are inexpensive and easy to use. Melt 'n Mold is one brand (Guittard Chocolate Company) available at grocery stores, cake and candy supply stores, and many craft stores for about $3 a pound. Chocolate bars and Baker's sweet or semi-sweet chocolate (found in the supermarket) melt well and are a good option. Chocolate chips, however, are formulated to resist melting. If chips are your only option, you can melt them, but it's tricky. Stir in 1 teaspoon vegetable oil for every 1 ounce of chips. Microwave on medium power at 30-second intervals, stirring between until melted.


CRUNCH 'N MUNCH
1/3 cup granulated white sugar
1-1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 cup butter or margarine
Pinch of salt
4 cups corn or rice Chex or Crispix cereal, or 3 cups bran or wheat Chex.

Mix sugar and cinnamon and set aside. Melt butter or margarine in large skillet. Add cereal and mix well. Heat over medium heat, stirring until coated (5 to 6 minutes). Sprinkle 1/2 of the sugar mixture over the cereal and continue stirring until well coated. Sprinkle with remaining sugar mixture and heat several more minutes. Spread on a layer of wax paper or foil to cool. Yield: 3 to 4 cups. This recipe multiplies well if you have a very large skillet.