I think food makes the best gift. If you get a gift from me, there's a 99% chance it is going to be edible. Sometimes it is something I made and sometimes it is a treat from another favorite small food business.
I love when people have traditions to make things like a big batch of toffee to give away or a big day of making cookies that get shared with friends. While I used to make gingerbread cookies with my grandparents, it has been awhile since I've had the time to make something delicious in December to gift. But I aspire to!
I put together a list of homemade food gifts that use a variety of our chiles (that you might already have in your spice drawer!) to help you with gifting this holiday season. If that's not your jam, there's an update on some of our holiday bundles below (or just follow this link to see what we have).
We so appreciate seeing you send our chiles to your friends and family across the country. It means so much that you continue to support our farm through sending chiles to folks or cooking with them regularly. This holiday gifting season, whether you gift a jar of chile powder from our farm or a jar of any of the fun recipes I've put together for you below, you're making the right choice.
The Powder of Handmade Edible Gifts
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I would be more than pleased to receive any of these treats as a gift this month. Knowing that someone went the extra mile to spend an hour or two in the kitchen to cook or bake something for me just really means a lot. But the best part about making these things? You get to enjoy them too - someone has to try them to make sure they taste good! I hope these recipes offer some inspiration.
Spiced or Candied Nuts! Head to your favorite grocery store's bulk section (bonus points if it's your local coop!) and pick up the nuts you need for a big batch of nuts! Serious Eats has this great primer for making spiced nuts along with 3 intriguing recipes including:
Give them as gifts in glass jars with a little ribbon on top!
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Spiced Pumpkin Gingerbread Loaf Cake
Make a few of these loaves (shout out to Clare Langan for developing this delicious recipe for us) to share with your friends. Cut each loaf in half, wrap in parchment paper, and add a bow.
Make a few of these loaves (shout out to Clare Langan for developing this delicious recipe for us) to share with your friends. Cut each loaf in half, wrap in parchment paper, and add a bow.
Chocolate Truffles with a bit of Chile
The great thing about making chocolate truffles is that you can customize them in so many ways. I would add Piment d'Ville, Guajillo chile powder, or Gochugaru to a batch of these truffles. You could also use chopped nuts, sprinkles, or freeze dried fruits.
The great thing about making chocolate truffles is that you can customize them in so many ways. I would add Piment d'Ville, Guajillo chile powder, or Gochugaru to a batch of these truffles. You could also use chopped nuts, sprinkles, or freeze dried fruits.
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Chile Compound Butter Hear me out on this one. One of the most memorable gifts at a gift exchange I went to in the past was a pound of handmade butter from the friend's cow. I didn't even end up with this gift but remember everyone grabbing the gift and then being so confused when it as very cold.
Compound butters can be used in a variety of ways and Piment d'Ville is the perfect ingredient for it (Espelette compound butter is actually very popular in France!) but you can use any of our chile powders for it. Pioneer Woman has a bunch of flavor ideas and recipes.
A Jar of Really Good Salsa Emily Teel's recipe for Yahualica Olive Oil Salsa is my favorite salsa I've eaten all year. Get a jar of Yahualica chile flakes and make a few batches of this salsa to share.
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Piment d'Ville Party Mix This is a favorite of mine in a bowl at a party. Customize it with whatever nuts or crackers or pretzels you'd like and use whatever kind of Piment d'Ville you want. It's another perfect "put in a jar with a ribbon" present to put together for folks.
Cinnamon Spice Hot Chocolate Mix
Use Guajillo chile powder, Piment d'Ville, or Comapeño chile powder for this rich hot chocolate mix. Even add a mug!
Use Guajillo chile powder, Piment d'Ville, or Comapeño chile powder for this rich hot chocolate mix. Even add a mug!
Chile Simple Syrup for Cocktails Serious Eats has this explanation about how to make simple syrups (my favorite kind of non-recipe recipe!). I would recommend using Calabrian or Yahualica chile flakes for a simple syrup. Put together a cocktail recipe to go with it like this Maple Chile Old Fashioned (use Calabrian for this!)
What We're Cooking
- We've got a bunch of winter squash at home and I'll probably make a pot of soup this week and will be caramelizing the onions with Smoky Piment d'Ville.
- I'm craving Korean Bulgogi Meatball Rice Bowls. These meatballs come together in under 45 minutes and are loaded with flavor. It's a perfect way to showcase our gochugaru chile!
- There's a bowl of Philo Gold apples on our counter that will most likely make their way into an apple crisp this week.
- I've got one ball of pizza dough in the freezer I might use for Esquites Flatbread with Guajillo chile powder and some of the corn that is also in the freezer. I'm feeling tired and don't want to expend too much evening energy cooking :)
