Vanilla Sugar
16 comments »
When I grew up, neighborhood Christmas gifts were the bomb diggity. My mom would work for days, preparing baskets full of carefully cooked treats: cookies and bars and cookie bars. She’d wrap them all in plastic wrap and tie them with a bow. We’d deliver them up and down the street, singing carols until our noses turned pink and our fingers blue.
So, I was sorta stunned this year when a pal mentioned that she doesn’t do neighbor gifts at all. In all 30-something years of my life, I thought not-giving neighbor gifts was eqivalent to some sort of social horcrux. The highest degree of friendship felony. The ultimate naughty no-no. It’s like the year I learned other people didn’t buy enough Girl Scout cookies to tide them over through Armageddon. My mother had always purchased enough boxes to feed a small country. How was it that not everyone else did such a clearly delightsome thing?
Coming to the realization that neighborhood gifting could fall to the wayside of my holiday to-do list was a revelation. It would free up hours!days! I was liberated. Until last Friday, when the thought of not toddling shiny gifts up and down the street began to truly dawn on my soul. Try as I might to forego the giving, I caved. Spent the weekend stirring and mixing and tying bows to little containers. After all, it’s Christmas for pete’s sake. There’s just something perfectly magical about offering unexpected treats to nice people. So, we did.
Which worked out quite nicely for our pantry. Now that we’ve given all these Christmas goodies away, there’s even more room for the annual Girl Scout cookie stash.
Happy Sugar Feasting!
Vanilla Sugar
It's not too late to pull together homemade gifts for neighbors and friends. This homemade vanilla sugar is so pretty, with it's little black freckles and slices of vanilla beans. Better yet, it's tremendously simple to make. I purchased four vanilla beans from Sunflower Market for less than $6, stirred them into 6 cups of organic sugar, and filled 8 of these spice jars (from World Market, $3.99 for 4 jars). Simple, affordable, and adorable. How's that for a happy holiday?!
Ingredients:
6 cups organic sugar
4 vanilla beansDirections:
Pour sugar into a large bowl. Slice vanilla pods in half lengthwise. Scrape the caviar from the bean and stir the seeds into the sugar. Cut the beans into several long strips and place the beans into the sugar, as well. Use the back of a spoon to stir & press the beans throughout the sugar. Spoon sugar into small containers.
Print the labels below & tie them onto each container.
Share & enjoy! The sugar stores well in a cool, dry place for 1-2 months.
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Jelena on December 21, 2010 at 3:41 am
A very cute idea from a kind and loving heart!
♥peachkins♥ on December 21, 2010 at 5:43 am
too cute! bookmarked it!
Blog is the New Black on December 21, 2010 at 6:19 am
Totally doing this- only wishing I had thought of it myself! ;)
SweetThingsTO on December 21, 2010 at 7:37 am
Fabulous idea for a gift!
Jennifer Hepler on December 21, 2010 at 8:42 am
I just moved to a new house and this will be the perfect thing to give to my neighbors! Thank you for being so sweet!
Jennifer (Savor) on December 21, 2010 at 8:57 am
I wish I was your neighbor
The Urban Baker on December 21, 2010 at 9:37 am
you are so lucky that you had a mom that inspired you. i started the homemade gift giving tradition over 25 years ago and although it is tons of work, i couldn't not do it. i love it. your vanilla sugar is a FABULOUS idea! i love the simplicity of it! happy holidays!
Skye on December 21, 2010 at 1:16 pm
what a great idea!!! I've been wanting to make some vanilla sugar, but I hadn't considered it for gifts! I actually buy my vanilla beans at World Market (I don't think we have Sunflower Market here)- $3 for 2 beans.
connie k. on December 21, 2010 at 2:59 pm
Such a sweet idea! I always have a split vanilla bean in my sugar container but the sugar doesn't really get a chance to pick up the flavor since I bake so often. I thought about making homemade vanilla extract to give to friends but that involves 2 months at least of pre-planning. The vanilla sugar idea is so simple, I'll consider it for next year. :-)
mangiabella on December 21, 2010 at 4:21 pm
you're so adorable, I love these simple heartfelt gifts – merry christmas sweet bella to entire McClay Clan
Irish3 on December 21, 2010 at 5:01 pm
I just put some of these together to give as gifts for the kids teachers. Such a sweet idea, I love it! Thanks
somesojourns on December 22, 2010 at 12:33 am
i love the ribbons and cheeky directions. so cute.
Diana on December 22, 2010 at 10:47 am
What a great idea! And I completely laughed at your 'social horcrux' comment. :o)
Sheila R on December 1, 2011 at 12:30 pm
Adorable, great presentation! I have leftover vanilla beans and this is perfect!
Brooke replied: — December 2nd, 2011 @ 12:05 am
Pretty! Enjoy!
Carissa on May 7, 2013 at 4:01 am
Thanks for sharing! I featured your project today in a last minute mother’s day gift round up on Creative Green Living.
Thanks!