Give the Gift of Food

Local food makes a great holiday gift, like B.T. McElrath chocolates, Ames Farm honey, and Red Table Meat salamis. However, homemade food is always more meaningful, and MnMO Editor Rachel Hutton and MPR’s John Birge have plenty of recipe ideas to try this holiday season.

As Rachel learned last year, homemade fruitcake makes a great gift, but the baking process can be time-consuming. For a similar result without the hassle, check out this simple “cakeless” fruitcake recipe from The New York Times. If your giftee has a sweet tooth, toffee is another dependable stocking stuffer, though it can be difficult to execute. Cooking Light has a short and sweet chocolate almond toffee recipe for less stress. Rachel also loves almond bark-covered pretzels, and Betty Crocker has a fun and festive version to try.

What homemade granola lacks in calories, it makes up for in deliciousness. Make Ina Garten’s granola for your health-conscious friends. Or, if food is just too been-there-done-that, Rachel recommends infused vodka as a festive alternative. Go to The Kitchn for a detailed description of how to do it.

Listen to the full podcast at Classical MPR’s site.