Homemade Goodies

I have to admit, I use to make a lot of homemade gifts years ago, but now I just make edible treats—for dogs and humans. I plan baking and making days several days before Christmas so I can deliver them all to friends and neighbors just before the big day. I also keep a few packages on hand for unexpected guests, too.

Doggie Treats

2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour (I've used white flour in a pinch)

1/2 cup powdered dry milk

1/2 tsp. salt

2 tsp. brown sugar

1 tsp. granulated beef bouillon

6 tbsp. meat drippings (From a roast or bacon, I've omitted this in a pinch, too and used beef broth instead)

1 egg, beaten

1/2 cup ice water

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine the first 5 ingredients. Cut in drippings until mixture resembles cornmeal. Mix in egg, then add just enough ice water to make the mixture form a ball. Pat dough to a 1/2" and cut into desired shapes. Place them on a lightly greased cookie sheet or parchment and bake 25-30 minutes. Cool before serving. Treats will last about 2 weeks.

Once they're cool, I place them in Ziploc bags and then package them in brown lunch bags that have been stamped with paw prints. I make homemade tags from additional brown paper and raffia.

For my children, and all of the other chocoholics on my list, I make batches and batches of milk chocolate fudge from this recipe I clipped years ago from a women's magazine. You can split it up and make a layer of dark fudge and a layer of milk chocolate, or simply choose your favorite. (I can never have enough chocolate chips in the house this time of year!) I place about a 1/3 of a pound in a clear cellophane bag and tie it up with ribbons, jingle bells and a glittery tag.

I also make more spiced nuts just like I did at Thanksgiving, only this time we give them away. I think the spiced nuts and the fudge are delicious together....but that could be just me. These also get packaged in cellophane bags.

The one thing I've never really made for Christmas is cookies(!). But I might just have to try these Chocolate Crinkle Cookies from Little Brown Pen. And if cookies are indeed your thing, then check out Cookies For Kids Cancer and host your own bake sale for a wonderful cause.