Put on your thinking caps--Xmas and Apple Butter

[yummy72]

Hi Everyone-

I "canned" about a million pint jars of apple butter, apricot-fig jam and several quart jars of apple pie filling a while back. I was hoping to use these as Christmas gifts. I have some really cute little muslin drawstring bags I purchased with snowmen on them...My problem is: I hate to just give a bag with a pint jar of apple butter in it. Can anyone think of anything to go with it? We don't have the time or finances this year to go to a lot of trouble. Also my family is shall we say not too sophisticated , so they wouldn't appreciate anything like "scone mix"

I thought about doing the quart jars of pie filling with a cute holiday dish towel and maybe wooden spoon or something, but I'm really stumped with the pint jars.

Let me know if anyone has any ideas

Thanks!
Candi

 

[piratesmate]

Hi Candi,

I've been thinking about this . . . do you have a bread machine - or do any of your family members have them? A nice loaf of homemade bread would be a nice way for them to use the jam or apple butter. If you have a good recipe, write it up & include with the pint jars - or if it's feasible, make a loaf to go with the jars for those that don't/won't make it themselves.

How about a "spreader" to go with the pints? Mine has turned into the handiest gadget in the kitchen. They're more expensive than wooden spoons, but not outrageous. You could probably get them at like Wal-Mart. Pampered Chef has small ones for $3.50 I think.

Actually, the dish towel/wooden spoon would go with the pints as well as the pie filling.

Both the jam & apple butter would go nicely on pancakes. A jar of "pancake mix" might be another idea & not too "sophisticated" I would think. Most people eat pancakes, don't they?

If you just want a kitchen idea - not something that they'll use with the jam/butter, maybe hang a nice cookie cutter from the bag. . . or maybe a small Christmas ornament - something with an apple maybe?

Good luck!

Deb

 

[yummy72]

Thanks Deb! Those are all great ideas!!

Candi

 

[msdznyduck]

One year I made strawberry and blueberry jam to give as gifts. I bought inexpensive baskets (not too big...you have to fill them, you don't want them to look empty) and made 7 or 8 different kinds of cookies and put a box of mixed cookies, either homemade banana bread or orange cranberry bread, jam, homemade fudge, jar of hot cocoa mix that I mixed myself.....cheaper than store bought, and lined the basket with a holiday kitchen towel. It wasn't too much, but everyone enjoyed the "eatable" gift.
msdznyduck

 

[yummy72]

That sounds great too! I usually do a lot of baking around the holidays, so everyone may just be getting "edible" gifts this year.

Thanks!!
Candi

 

[Tiggerkeeper]

I kept thinking about your post after I read it and I think I'll try the same idea...I, too, have lots of apple butter this year. Here is a tried and true white loaf I use often:

Amish White Bread

2 cups warm water
1/3 cup sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons yeast
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/4 cup oil
5-6 cups flour

In a large bowl, dissolve the sugar in warm water: add yeast. Mix in salt and oil. Work in the flour until dough no longer looks wet.(I use an instant yeast and add it to all the dry ingredients only using 2 cups of flour to start and then adding the wet ingredients, I mix it for a couple of minutes until it is smooth and then begin adding the flour a bit at a time.)
Knead on a floured surface until smooth. Place in a well oiled bowl, turning to coat dough with oil. Cover and allow to rise until doubles, about1 hour (or until two fingers pushed in leave an indent that does not go away) Punch dough down. Knead again and divide in half. Shape into two loaves and place in well oiled loaf pan. Allow to rise for another hour.
Bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes. Loaves will be golden brown and sound hollow when done.
I have also used this recipe for rolls and soft breadsticks. You can substitute whole wheat flour for some of the flour if you prefer.

This makes two loaves but I am going to try to use smaller loaf pans (the Christmas design aluminum throw aways) and get four loaves out of each recipe. Sam's sells a bulk yeast that works better than the packets at the grocery for A LOT less money!

Good luck!!

TK

 

[yummy72]

Thanks Tiggerkeeper, I was about to post and ask if anyone had a tried and true bread recipe that I could make in mini loaf pans. I'm thinking they may be getting a mini loaf, an applebutter/jam and maybe a holiday spreader if I can find one.

One year I did beer bread mix for all the guys my DH works with an used those disposable holiday loaf pans, put a holiday sack with the mix in it, and and a bottle of holiday beer, and then tied the whole thing up with cellophane very cute with the instructions on the outside. Needless to say, most of them just drank the beer, SO, I figure I'm better off giving the Pre-made bread

Thanks to every one for the great suggestions. I usually have tons of ideas and even lots of things made by this time of year, but for some reason I am just drained "creatively" right now.

Candi

 

[yummy72]

OK! It's decided, I found some great Holiday Spreaders today (very inexpensive) so each little snowman bag is going to contain a jar of butter/jam, a holiday spreader, and a mini loaf of bread!

I knew you folks from the DIS would come through with some great suggestions!

Thanks again,
Candi