The holiday season is the perfect time to reflect on the spirit of hospitality and the role we can play in spreading joy within our communities. Small acts of kindness such as gifting food, inviting people into our homes, and serving others, can make a lasting impact even beyond the new year.
The Gift of Food
Handmade food gifts are such a treat. They’re personal, thoughtful and can be created based on budgets, time constraints, and the recipient’s preferences and/or dietary restrictions. You can also shop for some festive pre-made options—perhaps locally crafted goodies like honey or jam from the farmer’s market—to save time or stress. Making something should never feel like a burden, and no matter the time or money spent, it will spread joy just the same.
With that said, if you are going the do-it-yourself route this holiday season it might be fun to think outside the traditional cookie box and surprise family, friends, teachers or neighbors with one of these updated holiday treats. These easy-to-make homemade gifts are sure to hit the mark no matter who you are gifting to this season.
Toasted Coconut, Cranberry & Chocolate Granola
This granola tastes and smells like the holidays. It would be a perfect addition to a brunch spread, or an after-dinner treat warmed with ice cream on top. Change or omit ingredients as necessary—i.e. use gluten-free oats—to make this recipe allergy-friendly.
Ingredients:
4 cups old fashioned oats
½ cup honey
½ cup coconut oil, melted
1 tsp cinnamon
¼ tsp coarse sea salt
½ cup macadamia nuts
½ cup sweetened shredded coconut
1 cup dried cranberries
1 cup dark chocolate chunks
Directions:
Set oven to 350°. Place parchment paper on a baking sheet, set aside. In a mixing bowl, stir together oats, honey, oil, cinnamon and salt. Spread onto pan and bake for 10 minutes. Remove from oven, stir in nuts and coconut, and continue baking 5-10 minutes or until coconut is nicely toasted.
Let cool for 20 minutes, stir in cranberries and chocolate. Place a few scoops of granola inside mason jars or clear plastic gift bags, tie up with holiday ribbon, and label with a sticker.
Homemade Holiday Salsa
Spice up the holidays—and give your recipients a taste of summer in the cold winter months—by gifting a batch of homemade salsa. This recipe is easy to make, delicious, and should be enough to gift to several neighbors or friends. Double or triple the recipe as needed.
Ingredients:
½ cup yellow onion, cut into quarters
2 jalapeños, sliced (remove seeds for mild version)
2 garlic cloves, peeled
1-28 oz can of whole tomatoes
1 ½ cups fresh tomatoes, diced
2 green onions, diced
¼ cup (or more) fresh cilantro, chopped
4-5 tbsp fresh lime juice
1 tsp coarse sea salt
½ tsp each: smoked paprika, cumin, sugar
Directions:
In a food processor, pulse onion, jalapeño, garlic clove, canned tomatoes, for about 10 seconds. Depending on the size of your food processor, you may need to mix in two batches. After pureed, pour into a mixing bowl and add in remaining ingredients. Stir to combine, and use a funnel to pour into (4 or 8 oz) mason jars. Store in refrigerator.
When ready to deliver, attach a tag with festive ribbon or baker’s twine. Optional: package up tortilla chips to deliver alongside the salsa so recipients can enjoy immediately.
The Gift of Gathering
In addition to dropping thoughtful goodies on doorsteps, the holiday season is also a time we often open our doors for guests to gather and enjoy food around the table.
Are you the host who enjoys going all out on seasonal décor and a detailed tablescape? Or do you prefer to keep it simple and casual, maybe even with disposable plates? As long as we remember hospitality is first and foremost about creating a welcoming and memorable experience for our guests, then I encourage you to decorate in a way that brings you the most joy and least amount of stress. Simplicity is key during what can be already be a hectic time of year.
Beyond the décor, one of the easiest ways to create an inviting and memorable meal environment is to serve guests family-style. Let everyone bring their favorite childhood or traditional dish, load up the table, and let people share their stories and memories of holidays past as they enjoy eating together. There are not many things better than being in community around a dinner table so let’s fill our hearts and homes this holiday season.
The Gift of Serving
It’s so easy to become wrapped up in our own wants this time of year, but making special efforts to give and serve will help to turn that notion around and in turn make the holidays more joyful, meaningful and memorable for all. Here are five ways to serve others and spread love through food this holiday season:
Invite someone over for dinner who may not have family around for the holidays.
Take a family trip to the grocery store and collect items for donation to a local food pantry.
Prepare a homecooked meal for an unsuspecting sick or elderly friend.
Volunteer to serve food at a local soup kitchen, homeless shelter or nursing home.
Deliver hot chocolate to someone working out in the cold, or cookies to a local fire or police station.
Whether you’re investing your talents in the kitchen, hosting guests in your home, or giving of your financial resources or time to serve others in our community this holiday season, you’ll likely find that it’s you who feels most blessed by the experience. Happy Holidays!
