Recipes from Come to the Fire magazine/ November & December 07

Make Ahead Holiday Gifts in a Jar
Rita Heikenfeld

The holidays are hectic yet we want to give meaningful gifts. Here are my favorite gifts in a jar that the whole family can make.

Kool-Aid Scented Play Dough
This is much more fun (and fragrant) than store bought.
1 c cold water
1 T oil
1/4 c salt
2 packs of same flavor Kool-Aid unsweetened
1 c flour
1 T plus 2 t cream of tartar
In a pot, combine water, oil, Kool-Aid, and salt.
Heat and stir until salt dissolves. Add flour and cream of tartar, cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until well mixed and dough forms a ball. This should take a couple of minutes. Remove from heat once this happens. Cool and knead as soon as it’s cool enough to handle. Then cool completely, pack into plastic tubs.

Chai Tea Mix in a Jar
3/4 c powdered milk
1 1/4 cup non-dairy powdered coffee creamer
1 1/2 cup powdered French vanilla flavored coffee creamer
2 cups sugar
1 1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
2 c instant tea, unsweetened
1 T cinnamon
1 1/4 tsp. each ground cloves, ground cardamom
1 1/2 tsps. nutmeg
3/4 tsp. allspice
1/4 tsp. white pepper, finely ground
Combine everything. Then in a blender or food processor blend 1 cup at a time until mixture is consistency of fine powder.
To serve, stir 2 heaping tablespoons Chai Tea Mix into mug of hot milk or water. I like milk for its creamy texture. Makes about 9 cups of mix. Store tightly at room temperature.

Sweet Dreams Bubble Bath
I use distilled water in my spa products – it’s a “clean” water without minerals, etc. You can use tap water. Lavender oil will make you relaxed; mint will invigorate you. Use your favorite essential oil.
½ cup unscented clear shampoo
¾ cup distilled water
½ tsp salt
15-20 drops essential oil
Tiny bit of food coloring (opt)
Mix shampoo and water together gently. Add salt and stir until mixture thickens a bit – salt will dissolve. Add oil and mix well. Add food coloring if desired. Pour into pretty bottle. To use, pour in a few tablespoons into a bath of running water.

Praline Pecan Crunch Snack Mix
16-oz box Quaker Toasted Oatmeal Squares cereal
2 cups pecan pieces
½ cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
4 Tab. butter
2 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp baking soda
Heat oven to 250ºF. Spray a 9x13 pan with cooking spray.
Combine cereal and pecans in pan; mix well.
In large microwaveable bowl, combine sugar, corn syrup and butter. Microwave on high 1 minute 30 seconds; stir. Microwave an additional 30 seconds to 1 minute 30 seconds or until boiling. You can also do this on top of the stove on medium heat.
Stir vanilla and baking soda into sugar mixture. Pour over cereal mixture; stir to coat evenly. Bake 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes. Transfer to cookie sheet spreading mixture in even layer. Cool completely; break into pieces. Store tightly covered at room temperature. Makes 10 cups.

German Chocolate Dessert Sauce
Great over bread pudding, ice cream, with fruit or cake.
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 egg yolk
Pinch of salt
1/3 cup pecans, toasted and chopped
1/3 cup sweetened shredded coconut, toasted
1 teaspoon vanilla or more to taste
Melt butter with sugar and then stir in cream, yolk and salt. Bring to a boil and boil 1 minute or until slightly thickened. Off heat, add nuts, coconut and vanilla. Cool and refrigerate in jars. To serve, either warm up or serve as is. Keeps a month in the refrigerator.
To toast nuts and coconut: Preheat oven to 350° for nuts, 325° for coconut. Spread in single layer on cookie sheet and bake until fragrant and, for the coconut, until most of the flakes are golden brown but not burned. For the nuts, it will take about 8-10 minutes; for the coconut, probably a few minutes.
Rita Heikenfeld is an award-winning syndicated food columnist and media personality in Cincinnati, Ohio. See more of her recipes at abouteating.com.