Homemade Gifts

This holiday season create easy gifts for friends and loved ones right in your own kitchen. From neighbors to co-workers, delight them with a batch of homemade salsa or bread mix—all wrapped in a glass jar and tied with a bow. Be sure to make extra. They'll come in handy when surprise guests stop by.

Try these fun ideas to get in the gift-giving spirit.

Texas Barbeque Sauce
Earn high marks with this year-round treat. Here is what you'll need:

Ingredients
1 c. strong black coffee
1 c. Worcestershire sauce
1 c. catsup
1/2 c. cider vinegar
3 c. brown sugar
2 Tbsp. chili powder
2 tsp. salt
1/4 c. onions, chopped
6 jalapeño peppers, stems removed, seeded and chopped
7 cloves garlic, minced

How-to Prepare

• Combine all ingredients in a saucepan and simmer 25 minutes.
• Strain or puree mixture in a blender or food processor.
• Carefully pour into individual jars, using a funnel.
• Label jars as desired.

Hot Cocoa Mix
Who could resist a cup of hot cocoa? Here is what you'll need:

Ingredients
Hot cocoa mix
Marshmallows
Cinnamon stick
Decorative mug

How-to Prepare

• Pour hot cocoa mix into cellophane, seal and place in a mug.
• Wrap marshmallows in cellophane and place on top of cocoa mix.
• Include a stick of cinnamon with your gift.

Rocky Road Brownie Mix
Give the gift of chocolate gooey brownies. Here is what you'll need:

Ingredients
1 package (6 oz.) semisweet chocolate chips (separate in a small baggie)
3/4 c. sugar (separate in a small baggie)
2 eggs, beaten (include in the ingredient list not in gift)
1 1/2 c. biscuit mix
2 c. Hill Country Fare miniature marshmallows
3/4 c. chopped nuts

How to Prepare

• Carefully layer sugar (in small baggie), biscuit mix, nuts, chocolate chips (in small baggie) and marshmallows into jar, using a funnel.
• Include the following instructions with your gift.
• Heat oven to 350°F. Spray a 9-x-13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray; set aside.
• Place chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl and heat on high power for 2 1/2 minutes; set aside.
• In a medium-size bowl, combine sugar, eggs, 1/4 cup water and remaining dry ingredients; stir to combine. Gently stir in melted chocolate.
• Spread mixture evenly into prepared baking dish. Bake for 25 minutes. Let cool and cut into 36 brownies.

Spiced Pecans
Give a tasty snack this holiday season. Here is what you'll need:

Ingredients
1 c. sugar
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. allspice
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/3 c. water
1/4 c. light corn syrup
2 c. pecan halves
1 tsp. vanilla

How-to Prepare

• Spray two cookie sheets with nonstick cooking spray; set aside.
• Combine sugar, salt, allspice and cinnamon in a heavy 2-quart skillet. Add water and corn syrup to sugar mixture and stir well.
• Cook over medium heat until mixture begins to boil, stirring constantly.
• Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until syrup temperature reaches 235°F on a candy thermometer (soft ball stage).
• Remove from heat at once. Add nuts and vanilla and stir until syrup begins to thicken. Using a fork, quickly drop tablespoon-size chunks of the coated pecans on prepared cookie sheets.
• Cool spiced pecans and place in jars.