DIY Holiday Gift - Maple Glazed Pecans

My last post was on The Alternative Gift-Giving Guide - ideas if you will for a gift that isn't an actual gift, but rather an experience.  Minimalism at the Holidays.  As I wrote, I'm not opposed to giving actual gifts, because I do.  But I'm more intentional with the gifts when I give them and they're not as frequent.  I'm not cheap, I just think people buy items when they need them and sometimes buying more things isn't the most thoughtful.  Again, that may just be me, but take a read if you're interested here.

However, I do gift in the form of baked goods.  That I have been known to do.  Baking for me is a hobby and it is also therapeutic.  I get it's not for everyone, but I have in the last few years really come to love it.  There's science behind the measurements and getting something to turn out just perfectly gives you a sense of accomplishment when it's all said and done.  Again, I know not everyone will agree, so this post may not be for you.  But keep in mind I'm talking about DIY gifts today.  So use your imagination and if it's not food that you're making, maybe it will be something else you can DIY.  You know what you're good at!

A recent birthday gift I made for someone - Vegan Chocolate Mousse

Last year I made a DIY coconut oil sugar scrub (for your feet).  And while this wasn't edible, it was a fun gift to make.  I used this scrub to help exfoliate my feet when I was training for a marathon and let me tell you, it's so simple and easy to make - all you need is a container to store it in.  It smells good, it works great and it's not that expensive (when compared with what's sold in the stores!)  Make you some today - or gift this today!  There are even DIY chalkboard labels you can print out.  I mean, how cute is that??  Almost want to make this again this year, but I did already gift it.  And there are guys on our team at work, so maybe not the best gift this year.

This year I decided to bring my love of baking together with what I eat most.  Nuts.  As a vegetarian, sometimes pescatarian (again, one day hoping we can get rid of titles telling you what I eat) but nuts are a main source of plant-based protein for me that I eat daily.  I eat them in their whole form, as a nut "butter" and also in the form of "cheese".  Nuts are versatile, healthy, and nutrient dense.  I can't say enough good things about nuts.  I tend to rotate the nut I am eating each day so that I don't get bored.  This helps with variety within the nuts that I'm eating which leads to variety within the nutrients - vitamins and minerals - I'm getting as well.  No overthinking necessary.

Since I tend to eat the nuts plain - in their whole form - I decided to take them up a notch for the holidays and make them glazed.  Ooh la la.  As a dietitian I try to use as little added sugar as possible, but when making these glazed pecans I can tell you I added as little as possible (compared to other recipes I researched) and let me tell you - they are DELISH, in my humble opinion.  I hope you love them as much as I do.

And the thing about this recipe, is that it is so basic.  You can switch out the nut - walnuts, cashews, or mix them all together!.  You can even add whatever spices you'd like - a chai spiced pecan would be right up my alley - I think the sky is the limit.  But for now, let's start with the basics.

Since I am gifting this I made more than I normally do - so that's how I'll write the recipe at the end - but while nuts can be expensive, find the place in your city, hello Trader Joe's,  where they're the cheapest and stock up when you make this recipe.  If you stock up at other times, store the nuts in the freezer as they can go rancid if not used in a short amount of time - and since they're expensive, no one wants to have to throw away expensive food.

This recipe is literally so simple, dump everything in a bowl, mix together, roast on a sheet pan.  Check halfway through, rotate the pan for even cooking and to avoid any possible burning (aka too much caramelization of that maple syrup).  And then let them cool so you can break them apart.  I mean it doesn't get any simpler than that.  Now I will say this - if you are adding spices, 9 times out of 10 recipes use a little beaten egg white to help the spices stick.  I'm not the biggest fan of adding the egg white only because they come out looking not as pretty.  My trick is simply to sprinkle the spices on after you've spread the nuts on the sheet pan.  They'll only be on the top of the nuts, but they do stick (since my recipe has olive oil and maple syrup).  Kind of a personal choice, but the way I do it they look prettier.  Trust me.

So there you have it.  A simple homemade gift from the heart.  Nutritious and delicious to boot.  Happy Holidays my internet friends!

Maple Glazed Pecans

Ingredients

• 2 cups pecan pieces
• 4 tablespoons maple syrup
• 8 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon salt (I used as little salt as possible - season to your liking)

Directions

Start by preheating the oven to 350˚F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper (makes for easier clean-up).  Combine all of the ingredients for the pecans in a small bowl and mix so that they are well-coated.  Spread them onto the baking sheet and bake for about five minutes.  Rotate the pan in the oven and continue baking for about 5 more minutes, until they appear toasted.

Best served with an amazing salad such as this!  OR just as delicious served at a holiday party as an horderve.  You decide.  Happy Holidays!

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The Alternative Gift-Giving Guide

The Christmas decorations are up.  We had our first cool/cold front last week and are expecting our next one this coming week, fingers crossed. I’m talking in the 50s ya’'ll, that’s “cool” for us Floridians and I will take it! As I sit here sipping my coffee and starting to organize my thoughts for the blog, I realized I haven’t bought a single gift this holiday season. Per the commercials and the sales I should already be well on my way through my list. I mean time’s a ticking. Am I right? Not sure about you, but the insinuation that I should be further along in my shopping just makes me anxious. And who’s to say that they even know how many gifts/items I need to get for people. It's supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year - since when did that equate to having to give a gift. That’s definitely too much pressure for me.

Last "Wellness Wednesday" I shared a post about alternative gifting during this time of year.  Here are my thoughts on gifting - no judgement if you're giving actual gifts to people, this is just a simple blog post to maybe get you to start thinking outside the box.  If this only makes you more stressed out, then make your list and start checking it off for those you need to give a gift to. There are plenty of bloggers out there making up their list of things to buy, which that could be of help - or maybe not if they’re all expensive gifts. Anyway, keep in mind I'm not opposed to giving an actual tangible gift, but most times when I do it has a meaning behind it or it allows for experiencing a moment with that person.  I’m actually doing that today. I’m writing out a few recipes that will go with this tangible gift that I bought someone. It will be my way to get them started in the kitchen. And hopefully each time they use the appliance and/or the recipes I send they’ll think of me. That’s when tangible goes with experiential - oh and if you're looking for the typical holiday post around this time of year, Holiday EATS  - here's the link for last week.

The most epic cheese board I’ve ever created - it’s only my 2nd one, but there’s more to come when they look this good!

Avoiding the Sales - Black Friday and Cyber Monday may have already passed this year, but keep in mind it really is best to steer clear.  These days are geared towards the sale items and making the consumer think they're getting a good deal - retailers and advertisers know this. The sales are designed to take advantage of our desire to consume more, so much so some stores are even opening up earlier and earlier, some even on Thanksgiving.   Use this time instead of shopping and perusing online to start making your list of alternative gifts.  Creativity will be a must. This Cyber Monday I bought a few items. And in all honesty, while they were good deals - an air fryer for $40 vs $80 - it wasn’t an appliance that I really needed. Want vs need is a tricky thing.

Your Time is a Gift - It's hard to put a price on your time.  But if I were asked "what one gift would I want to receive for Christmas?  My answer would simply be, "your time".  It sounds cliché but it's the simple truth.  The people I care about mean much more to me than having the latest gadget.  So the next time someone asks you to make a list, let them know that the best present is their presence.  And time is something hard to come by at times. In all of the hustle and bustle and stress of the holidays, I tend to stay close to home and decline offers at times - I need to remember that spending time with others might be the best thing for me sometimes.

Give the Gift of an Experience - In this past year this is what I have done with a few friends for either their birthday and/or a celebration of some sort. While sometimes an actual gift is involved as well, most times it’s just the actual experience itself - yes, I know money is involved, but there have been memories made that will last a lifetime. If you have to find a few free things to do and/or set limitations with your friends/family, do so. Overall I’ve had a good balance of free things mixed in with a few Groupon purchases as well.

Umbrella Sky Project - a display in Coral Gables for a few months by an artist - look at those shadows!

Yoga on South Beach - by donation, every day at 7 am and 5 pm (switches when the time changes)

A little free photo session at the pumpkin patch, aka Trader Joe’s. There weren’t any other pumpkin patches open the day we went, so we went to the next best thing. The pictures we took are priceless and well, looks like we’re at a pumpkin patch.

Groupon Deal - 1/2 off the original price, full fledged fun with these two at Board and Brush

Goat Yoga - let’s just say this is an experience that I will never forget. Naaamaste.

And if you’re in need of a few more ideas for giving experiences instead of gifts, the possibilities really are endless:  

-Tickets to a special event

-Home Cooked Meal

-Sunrise/Sunset Seeking

-Hiking

-Pass to a Museum/Zoo

-Magazine Subscription

Pass Your Gift On - 'Tis true, it is better to give than receive.  If people ask what you'd like to receive as a gift, (and they are insistent and won't take NO for an answer) have a list ready of charities or non-profit organizations.  They can donate what money they'd use in giving you a gift and give to that organization instead.   Giving to others and truly making a difference to those that might not have as much as we do.  One of my family members gives a gift in my name every year to an organization. I think one day I might just need to take a trip and really experience that gift in person and see how we're paying it forward.

Make A Gift - DIY - most years when it comes to my co-workers I give a homemade gift.  Last year I made a homemade peppermint sugar scrub - coconut oil put to good use!  I come from a family that food really is a sign of affection.  So what better way to give food but as a gift?  I haven’t thought about what I’ll make this year, but I’m sure food will be involved.

                          DIY Peppermint Sugar Scrub - coconut oil, sugar, and peppermint essential oil

It might be a difficult transition weaving minimalism into the holidays, from what people normally expect this time of year.  The truth is your experiences build and strengthen the bond between you and the people you care about.   They'll understand, even if it takes a little bit of time.  Happy Holidays!