Gifts from the Kitchen

For years we have been putting together holiday gift baskets for several friends and neighbors.  We collect unusual bottles, baskets and vintage linens or make large napkins with colorful tropical fabrics to line our baskets.

I recently made several of the gifts from my kitchen which will be included, along with cookies and homemade holiday breads in this year's baskets.

A couple of months ago I ordered about 100 vanilla beans from a mainland company to use in several gifts this year. See ordering information below.

Homemade Vanilla Extract
Add a few vanilla beans, some whole and some split to vodka, rum or brandy.  I prefer a dark Jamaican rum since the "sweetness" of the rum gives the extract a smoother, richer taste.  Keep in a dark cool place for at least a month, shaking every once in a while.  You can reuse the beans.  The bottles I used this time can turn into candleholders after the vanilla is used.

To re-use the beans in a new batch of vanilla, just keep in the bottle and add more vodka, rum or brandy.  You might have to add a bean or two more.  To save for other uses, the bean should be air dried before you store it so it will not mold.

Vanilla Sugar
Insert one or two split vanilla beans in a jar of refined sugar.  In just a couple of weeks the sugar will be perfumed with the vanilla scent and taste.  You can reuse the beans.

Vanilla Beans
I tied 6 vanilla beans with red raffia and made little gift bundles.  Place each bundle in a small zip-lock bag or wrap in clear or colorful Saran wrap.

Liliko'i (Passion Fruit) Vinaigrette
Cut passion fruit and scoop out seeds and pulp.  Place in a saucepan with small amount of water and enough sugar to make a syrup - about 1 cup sugar per 1 cup liquid - bring to a boil and cook until the pulp starts loosening.  Pass through a fine mesh colander or sieve.  Add distilled white vinegar.  Taste depends on how tart/sweet you like your vinaigrete.  Bring to a boil.  Cool and store in a clean bottle or jar in refrigerator.  Decant into decorative gift bottles just before you assemble your basket.

Hawaiian Sea Salt with Alae and Red Pepper Flakes
In one of our bulk markets, I found some plastic containers of Hawaiian salt with alae (red clay).  I bought a large container and mixed it with a large container of red pepper flakes.  I then filled smaller seasoning jars I had been saving for the purpose.

Lemon-Ginger Jelly
I have to fezz up that I did not make the jelly myself this year.  I found some delicious jellies at one of the recent craft fairs in which we participated and bought some to give as gifts.

I would have preferred to have used Hawaii grown vanilla beans, but could not purchase in bulk from the nearby vanilla farm in time to start preparing the gifts.

For information on buying vanilla in bulk, please visit

www.vanilla.com
www.arizonavanilla.com   

Comments

[Devany]

Great posting Sonia, You have some lucky friends. I did not know you could re-use the vanilla beans either! I do make my own vanilla and have never tried it with rum... guess what I am going to do as soon as my rum gets unpacked? Where did you find the jars that can be used as candle holders? I LOVE those! I make lots of spice mixes/rubs, smoked salt and stuff and those would be terrific for giving those things as gifts.

~devany

[Sonia]

Aloha, Devany! Thank you for reading and commenting. I bought those bottles at our local Ben Franklin's, but as I mentioned in the entry, I'm always looking for unusual bottles or containers everywhere I go. I can't use much salt, but the salt mix above is delicious in meat dishes.

[Kelli]

I have done this! Thanks for your recipe. That basket looks wonderful Sonia!

[Sonia]

Thank you, Kelli
I think I will be making an eggnog bread this year to add to the basket contents...;-)

[cookingchat]

creative ideas!

[Sonia]

Thank you, David!

[BJ]

Aloha Sonia, I was surfing the Inet and thought of looking up you web page to see what exciting things you might have to share. What a wonderful site you have, and so informative to everyone interested in everything Hawaii. I hope you enjoyed the cookies, and pray your holidays will be full of love. Keep up the wonderful pictures, and the great cooking ideas. I will be shared your site with friends and family in the mainland. They are sure to be home sick when they see the lovely pictures you have taken. God bless, and a " BIG Mahalo " from your new friend in Kurtistown.

[Sonia]

Aloha BJ!
We loved the cookies! Besides beautiful they were delicious! We have sent some to the mainland as gifts and will let you know the reaction when we hear....

Thank you so much for visiting my blog and for sharing it with friends. There is so much about this island I want to share with everyone!

You didn't tell me when we met your mom lived right here in the village and that I knew her!!!

[BJ]

Aloha Sonia, Sorry I didn't mention it in my post about my mom. Yes my mom lives in Honomu, and she said she knew you when I spent hours gloating over how I meet the most wonderful woman in Hilo. Whom by the way was you! It wasn't till I took a good look at your biz-card that I reolized you lived in the same area as she did. She too also gloated how she knew you from meeting at the post office from time to time. We have both come to the same agreement, and you know for mother and daughter the meeting of the minds could be a challenging proposition at times.. But our votes are in, and "Yes" you are voted the most "sweetest" young lady in the Village at Honomu. At least as far as we are concerned about it,and though we're sure every life you touch also feels the same way. You are an intricate link which binds these islands and makes Hawaii a most beautiful place to live. You are just as heavenly on the inside as you are on the outside. Just as these Islands are full of the heavenly places we all hope to spend eternity in, so Hawaii is made more heavenly just for the fact that you are living here. Thank you, and I'm blessed to have meet you.

[Sonia]

Oh, my word, BJ, you have left me speechless........and that my dear, is not an easy thing to do! Your kind and glowing words have touched me deeply and I just hope that I can be worthy of half your sentiments
Mahalo nui loa.....me ke aloha pumehana.

[Susan Billie Taylor]

I sure did enjoy giving away my Very Berry Boysenberry Jam this year as Christmas gifts, but you, Sonia, have given me many more ideas for next year. Gift Baskets make sense, and I will start early for next year collecting baskets, fabric, and recipes. My friends and family really do enjoy the homemade gifts over anything bought in a store.

[Sonia]

Susan, it is a lot of fun to plan during the year what to give in the basket for the next Christmas..........even though sometimes you might change your mind and end up with something completely different than originally planned!

Once you start looking for baskets, appropriate containers and bottles you will be surprised at how many you will find, when before you might have passed them up....