Food gifts are wonderful. They make people happy and they are remembered long after the contents are eaten. Considering this feeling of good will, get out the cookbook and create joy in the hearts...and stomachs...of your friends and loved ones. Do you remember the smiles from the last batch of chocolate chip cookies you made for your family? If the answer is yes, then others would probably enjoy your creations too. Have you ever considered how many people can't bake? Have you considered how many people just don't want to take the time? Think of the elderly around you who just can't, but would like to. Your simple act of baking a bunch of cookies and dividing them up for others is an incredible act of caring.

One great gift is a huge chocolate chip cookie. Last year we made these for our girl's volleyball team...and our son's basketball team. It was a hit. (If your not the baker, you can buy the cookie dough.) Instead of 12 cookies on a cookie sheet try 6. One word of caution on making the bigger cookies: don't overbake. If it smells done it probably is. I've waited and found the cookies far to crisp. I've also found that doing jobs in the kitchen while baking makes for less burned cookies. Don't get distracted! Let the cookies cool a bit on the cookie sheet. Removing them too soon makes them fall apart.

Now for the fun...

!. Place a cup of chocolate chips in a bowl and melt in microwave.

2. Frost the cookies. Chocolate hardens quickly.

3. Use m&m's to decorate. How about smiley faces?

4. When the cookie is totally cooled, place the cookie in the middle of a cellophane square.

5. Gather up the edges of the celephane and tie with ribbon, yarn, or lace.

Another gift to give that is easy, yet beautiful is to put small cookies in a mason jar. This type of gift can be adapted to diabetics too.

1.Find a jar with a lid and a small round doily.

2. Bake whatever kind of cookie your "giftee" likes. Make the cookies as small as possible...about 1 to 1 1/2 inches in diameter.

3. Fill the jar. 4. Screw on the lid and place doily over top and tie with ribbon, yarn, or lace.

My favorite gift to give is fudge. It is so simple to make and the look on the people's face is enjoyable. I found the easier fudge recipe ever.

1. Place 3 cups of chocolate chips ( or any flavor), 1 can sweetened condensed milk, 1/2 stick butter in a microwavable dish.

2. Melt in Microwave for about 2 1/2 minutes.

3. Stir in nuts of your choice and 1 tsp of vanilla.

4. Pour in bread pan lined with aluminum foil.

5. Place in refrigerator until cool.

6. Pull aluminum foil out of pan and pull away from hardened fudge.

Cut and wrap in cellophane or foil.

7. Add ribbon.

The last give I want to share that my friends received last Christmas was banana bread. We used the little tin pans to create small loaves. Make sure each loaf is done. Test with a toothpick. Make sure it comes out clean. Like the cookies mentioned above, wrap in a large square of cellophane, gather together at top of bread and tie with a ribbon.

It doesn't have to be a holiday to show you care. You can give these gifts any time of the year.

Learn more about this author, Mary Beth.
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