
It’s that time of year again when I start browsing through supermarket shelves for the nicest ingredients to put into edible gifts for the people I hold very dear to me. You see, I’m one of those kitchen-crazy girls who would rather make presents rather than buy them. It’s my personal opinion that you show how much a person means to you by actually taking the time and putting in some extra effort for them as opposed to just buying something from a store. (Sounds like something from a Christmas song, ne?) Take it from someone who actually stayed up one night to do some heavy-duty baking to impress one guy: the effort is always worth it. (As to whether or not the guy was impressed, however, is something I still don’t know the answer to up to this day…)
I started baking for family and friends nearly eight years ago when I baked apple pies like the one above as presents. Later on, my Holiday kitchen repertoire expanded to include old-school gingerbread cookies, chocolate chunk cookies, brownies, and toffee bars. I’ve mentioned before that I try one new recipe every year along with the usual fare; this year’s newbie – my Bad Girl Cookies – are a definite keeper.
When everything’s said and done, of course, you still have to keep a few things in mind with regard to making and giving food as Holiday presents. Here are my personal guidelines:
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