Mr Foodly
I am totally in love with these super easy DIY gifts. I’m so excited to give them out to my foodie friends & family, Better yet, they don’t take too much prep time and they’re inexpensive. Grab some jars & bottles to fill at the Dollar Tree along with some cute gift tags and ribbon & you’re set!
Salted Caramel Sauce
Melt 1/2c butter in a saucepan. Add 1c brown sugar & 1/2c heavy cream over medium heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon. Seriously the whole time, until the sugar is dissolved. Bring to a boil for 3 minutes. Stir in 1t sea salt or fleur de sel. Remove from heat & transfer to your jar to cool.
Cooking Salts
Lavender Sea Salt – Pulse 1/4c dried lavender in food processor until broken down to very small pieces, then add 3/4c sea salt & pulse until thoroughly mixed.
Vanilla Sea Salt – Pulse 1-1/2T vanilla bean paste & 1c sea salt in food processor until thoroughly mixed.
Bacon Sea Salt – Pulse 1/4c crumbled bacon in food processor until broken down to very small pieces, then add 1/2c sea salt & 1/2t smoked paprika. Pulse until thoroughly mixed.
Cooking Extracts
Simply bruise the herbs you’d like to use or make small slices if using fruit & add to your clean & dry jar. Top with vodka & store in a cool dark spot for 1-2 months. Check the taste every week or so & transfer to bottles when you’re happy with the flavor.
Almond Extract – 12 skinless whole almonds & 1c vodka
Vanilla Extract – 4 vanilla beans & 1c vodka
Cinnamon Extract – 4 cinnamon sticks & 1c vodka
Lemon of Orange Extract – 5 lemon (or orange) peels (no pith) & 1c vodka
Infused Olive Oils
Similar to making cooking extracts, bruise the herbs you’d like to use or make small slices if using fruit. Add to your clean & dry jar, then top with a high quality olive oil. Store in a cool, dark spot for 1-2 weeks. Check the taste every few days & transfer to bottle when you’re happy with the flavor. I like to make rosemary, garlic, lemon, ginger, basil, pear, raspberry, & jalapeño. Get creative – mix some of them together for a lemon ginger or jalapeño blueberry olive oil!
Coffee Syrup
Combine 2c water & 2c sugar in a saucepan & simmer until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat & add 1/2t of your homemade extract. Transfer to your bottle & it’s ready to use. Time to make some coffee! My favorites are vanilla, hazelnut, almond, & peppermint. Or mix 1/4t hazelnut & 1/4t vanilla for french vanilla, yum!
