Friday, 03 December 2010
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Holiday Bag of Goodies
Growing up, my mom used to make holiday treat bags for her friends, my teachers and friends of our family. She would pick a Saturday in December and bake up a storm--some goods made from scratch and some from a mix--and split all the goodies up evenly amongst people she wanted to share with. This year I'm doing the same, but on a much smaller scale, because it's cost efficient, thoughtful and an effortless way to say anything from thank you to happy holidays!
Below is a suggested breakdown of how you can give a bag of goodies to 6 people for $5 a person--each recipient receives 3 pieces of caramel walnut brownies, 3 sugar cookies, 3 gingerbread cookies, 4 pieces of Lindt Chocolate, 1 Snowflake Bark and 1 Red Velvet Cupcake.
- 2 Betty Crocker Turtle Brownies Mixes; $3
- Store Brand Sugar Cookie Dough; $2*
- Gingerbread Cookies; $6* rough estimate for ingredients
- Holiday Shaped Cookie Cutters; 60 cents at Michael's Arts & Crafts after 40% off coupon
- Wilton Peppermint Bark Kit; $6 after using Michael's Arts & Crafts 40% off coupon (Kit includes ingredients, packaging & reusable snowflake cutter)
- Red Velvet Cake Mix & Frosting; $3
- Lindt Chocolate Truffles; $7.99 at Costco
TOTAL: $3 + $2 + $0.60 + $6 + $0.60 + $6 + $2 + $1 + $7.99 = $29.19
*Icing from scratch for decorating sugar cookies requires eggs, sugar & food coloring; reuse for gingerbread cookies
This is really easy to customize based on who you're gifting it to:
- Teachers: Write a personalized thank you note specifying how they've helped you or what you admire about them
- Co-Workers: Add a coffee mug ($1 +) and a bag of coffee beans or tea bags
- Dinner Party Host(ess): Add a bottle of wine
- Family: Write a personalized card and framed photograph of you and the family member
- Friends: Works as a great alternative to a gift if you're on a budget or add it on as a side gift to what you're planning on giving your friend
Who would YOU give these bags of goodies to and what would you include?
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- From: sbaral@xanga
- About Me: I'm a Rutgers University graduate who discovered a passion for writing in college when I found myself enjoying researching for and writing papers instead of working at biology labs. In my spare time, I enjoy cooking and watching movies--I am in pursuit of learning to fluently speak French and Italian after developing an interest in these languages from watching foreign films. Apart from foreign films and cooking, my interests include photography, traveling, art history and interior design. twitter.com/sushbaral
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Comments (19)
my older sister does this for us every christmas (she's on her own, now) .. but bakes everything by herself. then she adds a framed photo of her son :)
ooo sounds cute for teachers! i'd totally do this for people i give gift cards to cause gift cards are a lil impersonal but the baked stuff would make it more personal
Cuteee idea! i think it's still affordable if you purchase all the stuff
at a wholesaler! i'd totally give it to my mom who loves sweet things along
with a baking cook book and holiday cookie cutters since she loves to
cook
OMG! That looks sooo delicious!!! I am definitely making that for my Hanukkah and Easter parties! Holla.
This is what I do every year for small holiday gifts for all of my friends/acquaintances. :)
Oh, good idea! Thanks :)
Hey Thanks for doing these calculations for us
... It always feels better when you save some money 
... . And ideas for teachers, coworkers, family and friends are great i will surely try them ... i will try in my Electric Skillet as well
Thank you..!
My mum does this, in little tins filled with Cashew Brittle, homemade Peppermint Bark, Chocolate Drizzled/Dipped Chips (surprisingly scrumptious!), and fudge. I'd say her choices are a little more expensive, but man, is it delicious, hehe :)
I do this for people who are sort of friends/acquaintances/co-workers. My goodie bags include salty-sweet Chex mix, Russian tea cookies, and chewy oatmeal-rice krispie cookies. If my mom is chipping in, it also includes chocolate biscotti.
As a teacher, I would totally love this! If people don't want to add baked goods, here's some other ideas: Recipes, gift cards (small amounts from lots of different stores, or whatever you want to do), homemade mix CD of songs that might be the teacher's favorite (hey, some parents are really close to their child's teacher)... It can go on and on!
As someone who's on a tight budget, I can't always do the baked goodies (or have the time). I do a calender for my family every Christmas. I'm usually the one taking all of the pictures at a lot of family get togethers. As a result, I get a lot of great shots. The calender is probably a highlight of Christmas. Granted, I don't have much of a choice in getting out of it, if I choose to stop. I have fun with it for now but I'm kind of dreading the year I stop it for whatever reason.
Cute idea! I bake lots of cookies, too, but I like to make mine from scratch. I make multiple batches of several cookies/goodies and then divvy them up for individual gifts, platters and bags. I am thinking of packaging mine in small bakery boxes this year with a personalized label. Last year I made chocolate chip, oatmeal and sugar cookies, chocolate brownies, jam streusel squares, coconut macaroons and dark chocolate fudge. I gave individual boxes to coworkers, bags to friends and platters to family friends. The only thing is, I wouldn't put anything that will need to be refrigerated. The canned cream cheese frosting on the red velvet cupcake probably won't need to but homemade will need to be refrigerated.
@Proud2B2003@xanga - What a great idea! That way your family will have some nice pictures of everyone and they won't have to buy a calendar.
I think this is such a thoughtful idea! I'm going to do this now!
I love this! I am totally going to do this for my friends this Christmas. :-]
love the breakdown! i'm definitely going to do this and add a $5 Starbucks gift card for all my friends. i'd make white chocolate macadamia cookies because they're a favorite in my group
Wow, this is a great idea! Thanks for article.
AWESOME, WOWOWOWOW THIS LOOKS SO FAB.
Looks great! My mom's been making beer bread mixes (http://www.budget101.com/bread-mixes/beer-bread-mix-2601.html) and putting them in bags she made from leftover Christmas-y fabric.
I love the bags in this photo! Does anyone know where I can find something similar?