Food as Gifts: Making sure it tastes good

For my mom, who taught me the importance of good tasting food

The big joke around Christmas is making fun of how many things one can do with a fruit cake. None of them are around eating - most involve using them as paperweights, as a stick for your dog to fetch, provided he isn't a chihuahua, or even as lead weights. The message? Fruitcake tastes really bad and no one wants to receive one as a gift.

However, growing up, every Christmastime, Mom would bust out and make pounds and pounds of fruitcake. She would buy tons of those candied fruits, nuts, corn syrup, butter and egg and crank out a variety of different sizes. The house always smelled really yummy and delicious with the rich smell of toasted nuts and butter. Mom would make 20-30 loaves of the stuff to give as gifts. I would say to my mom, "Mom - no one likes fruit cake. People make fun of it all the time. Why are you making it to give to people?"

She responded, "People like my fruit cake. They say it tastes really good."

Which is the moral of the story. Too many people gave too many not-so-tasty fruitcakes which pretty much ruined the fruitcake's reputation. My mom's is excellent, but I do remember at Christmas, when I presented it to some of my teachers in high school, they sort of made a funny face when I told them it was a homemade fruitcake. Later they would thank me for it, but the initial reaction was sort of, "Uh - thanks but no thanks." If it tastes good - people will appreciate it, but if it tastes bad, it's just a source of frustration.

Blog reader JY once commented, "Only give food to people as a gift if you know it tastes good." Which at the time I thought was sort of limiting, but after recently being given some not-so-tasty food treats, I'll have to say I agree.

So what do you give? I have a few fool proof cookies and nuts on the blog that I think are always winners and no one will EVER say anything bad about them. This year I did my Spiced Nuts and Caramel Pecan Bars as gifts and all were wonderfully received and truly appreciated.

Here are a list of surefire winners - ones that you can make to give as gifts, and you can't go wrong.

Crispy Chewy Toffee Chip Cookie - I know a few people who have made these as gifts, and are always amazed at how many they eat themselves before they can give them away.

Oatmeal Toffee Cookie - studded with cranberries and chocolate, these I promise will make you famous in your state, and the states surrounding you.

Oatmeal Toffee Pecan Cookie - those of you who have nut lovin' friends, these are really yummy.

Sweet and Spicy Candied Nuts - these make pretty little bags, and most people cannot eat just one.

Spiced Nuts - also makes cute bags, but these have a little kick to them.

Caramel Pecan Bars - these are amazingly good, but are a bit tricky to execute as you need both some practice making the dough (it can be a bit finicky) as well as a candy thermometer to prepare the caramel filling.

Velvet Cupcakes - cupcakes are simple enough to make and these are special with the cake texture and cream cheese frosting.

Don't be afraid...there are some great tasty gifts to be given..

Here are some packaging ideas.

I did the nuts in these Wiltons' candy boxes (from Michaels)

Tied with some pretty ribbon

You can also do them in these cellophane bags and tie them up with a bit of ribbon

I love these Martha Stewart Boxes (bought 50% off at Michaels) as they are so neat to use, nicely packaged and all set up for you.

Other packaging options...

I've seen this cheaper at Michaels - but in case you can't get there


I thought these super cute...again - I got mine 50% off at Michaels


This is a super cute option as well - again you may be able to find them at your local Michaels store

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