Life: Holiday Rush and Yuletide

[escritoireazul]

Dudes, it is December, and I am basically zero percent ready for any of the holiday celebrations my family has coming up. (So far, three separate gatherings, and because I love staying on top of information, I am taking point on planning at least two of them, maybe all three. Plus Yuletide, my favorite fannish time of the year.)



Cutting so it's my family's fault if they spoil themselves. Because money is tight for everyone, we're doing a more homemade theme this year. I really need to finalize the list of things I'm going to make. I was going to do infused vodka, and I still might for a belated gift exchange with friends that will take place in January, but I'm not sure my family will have much use for fruit-infused vodka. (I would have plenty of use for fruit-infused vodka, and plan to make a bunch for myself when local fruit is super cheap at the farmer's market next summer.)

Now I'm considering some sort of infused olive oil for at least one gathering, because most of that group are foodies. I've never done anything like that, though. I also wonder if I could do some sort of easy crusty bread mix for Sister K, because she and her husband love bread and olive oil, and that would be a nice little treat for them. (We all went out to lunch at their favorite local Italian place over the weekend, before we went to see Mockingjay, and damn. Brother in law recommended the alfredo, and he was not wrong about it being the best I've ever had. That plus a good Caesar salad and delicious bread and olive oil, and it was a delicious, lovely lunch.)

I'm definitely making a sugar scrub for those who enjoy pampering. I'm thinking a peppermint candy cane scrub, because I really love the look of the white and pink layers. Which is weird, because I don't actually like the color pink. I'm debating whether to use coconut oil or something else. I don't like the smell of coconut, but could deal with it while making everything (if there's even much of a smell, I've never used coconut oil before), but Sister K's husband doesn't like it, either, and if it's too strong, that'll be a problem. Probably the peppermint oil would overpower it, right?

I'll finish up with some sort of sweet treat. Maybe peppermint chocolate fudge (which I've never made) or adorably decorated sugar cookies. (I do fun abstract designs with colored icing. Mostly because I can't do actual designs that look like things. I've tried. Abstract all the way.)

I'm also doing a piece of art for each person. This year, probably water colors, since that's been my medium of choice for a few months now.


What are your favorite homemade gifts? I'm still brainstorming.

Yuletide continues apace. I need to do more source material review before I can finish my actual assignment. The Treat With No End is reaching an end, thankfully. And then the other treats float along behind those two. I hope to get at least five treats written, but we will see what I can manage.

Comments

[schneefink]

I'm also still looking for inspiration. Last year I did silk paintings, but that was a lot of work. This year for most of my friends probably just decorated cookies, or gingerbread if I can figure out how to make it good.

[escritoireazul]

Oooh, I'm intrigued by silk paintings. After the new year, I'll have to give that a try.

[topaz119]

I've made infused olive oils before--if you have a slow cooker, it works well to gently heat the oil without scorching it or any of the flavoring ingredients. I make a big batch of one flavor & then decant it into bottles with fresh sprigs/cloves of the flavoring ingredient to make it look pretty. I've also made giant batches of granola & bagged them festively. That went over way better than I expected, actually. I do a cookie exchange every year, so by the time I'm done with that, I don't bake anything else (we might be a tiiiiny bit competitive but we tell ourselves that at least we're all together & not out scaring the more laid-back bakers) so I've got nothing for you there. Good luck!

[escritoireazul]

!!! I never considered using the slow cooker, which is my favorite way to cook. Definitely doing infused olive oil now. Thanks!

I love the competitive cookie exchange baking.

[riverlight]

I do cinnamon buns for homemade gifts, though of course they have a short shelf-life!

Or mix cds, if folks are that type. :)

[escritoireazul]

Considering how often I used to make mix cds, I cannot believe I blanked so hard on that right now. /facepalm

[riverlight]

::grin:: It does kind of feel strange, now that we all have mp3 players!

[devon]

Those all sound great! Almond oil is good for sugar scrubs if you want to avoid coconut. It also stays runny at room tempurature. Or a blend of almond/coconut or almond/jojoba.

[escritoireazul]

Does almond oil smell like almonds (or nutty in general, I guess)? Runny at room temperature is good, though. I know coconut oil does in Hawaii generally, but since we're not out there, I have to keep reminding myself I'd need to heat it up as a part of the creation.

[devon]

Yes, it smells faintly of sweet almonds, not the sour ones. There is food grade and body grade, but both smell about the same to me.

[frith_in_thorns]

I do knitting and crochet, or have for the past few years since I learned -- they are significantly improving in quality every year :)

My fiancee has recently started making homemade Bailieys (irish creme) for people for gifts. According to her it's really easy, although I am incredibly impressed by it :D (She does it in loads of different flavourings too, like chocolate and coffee and toffee, yum!)

[escritoireazul]

Knitting and crochet are on my list of skills to learn. All my sisters do one or the other, and they make such awesome things (I have the greatest pair of fingerless gloves/arm warmers that Sister K made me one year so I'd stop freezing during grad school). It's not my strength, but someday I will conquer it!

Homemade Baileys is SO TEMPTING, thanks for the suggestion! Definitely looking into that.

[lilacsigil]

I have problems with a lot of scents but coconut oil doesn't bother me at all, if that's any help. Fudge is an excellent present because you can make it well in advance and it travels well.

[escritoireazul]

That does help, thanks! I have a very weak sense of smell compared to my siblings (sense of taste, too, understandably), so I'm always curious as to how things smell to them when it wouldn't bother me.

Mmm, fudge. I've never made fudge before, but it's on my list of holiday baking to do for the family.

[st_aurafina]

I just make a huge batch of Christmas granola! It's a good present. And since we're close to a strawberry farm, I'm thinking about trying some Fruit flavoured vodka.

Love homemade gifts so much. And coconut oil is not overwhelmingly coconut flavoured, I always add more coconut to get a good coconut flavour. (Big fan of coconut, me.)

[escritoireazul]

Multiple have suggested granola lately. I am going to give it a try. Do you have a particular recipe you recommend?

I love homemade gifts, too. I'm so glad to have time and space for it this year, even if money is super tight.

[st_aurafina]

I do! My recipe for granola - making it with the ginger and all spice or nutmeg makes it super festive.