A combination of nuts coated with sugar and spice are perfect cocktail companions.

A No Bake Christmas or Holiday Gift of Food: Christmas Compound Butter.

Preserved Lemons: A wonderful gift for a friend and for you

Peppermint Kiss Cookies by Recipe Girl (photo by lori lange)

Chocolate-Peppermint Covered Sandwich Cookies make a great (and semi-homemade gift)

Bake and give Chocolate Sand Cookies for the holidays.

These nuts are perfect for a party, for holiday gifts or to nosh on at home!

Food lover gift ideas, Teavana chai and a little history lesson on German Rock Sugar.

Holiday Gift Idea: Bottling Homemade Vanilla Extract, plus a free label printable.

Easy Homemade Peppermint Liqueur–great for sipping or mixed in hot cocoa or cocktails. Makes a fun holiday gift.

Fast & easy homemade Cranberry Liqueur recipe–delicious for sipping by itself or as a cocktail mixer. It makes a great holiday gift, too.

Black as coal, but so much sweeter: Black Gingerbread Bars.

Autumn-Spiced Buttered Popcorn – light, air-popped corn slightly sweetened and laced with pumpkin pie spice.

My Top Ten Stocking Stuffers for the Kitchen. A holiday gift guide.

Need a special gift? Chocolate won’t do? Try these nuts–they strike the perfect balance between sweet and salty!

Homemade Twix in bite sized form, and with a more adult flair. Plus an embarrassing history of my high school years.

Vanilla Spiced Pear Butter – it tastes like FALL!

Easy Caramel Apples with a gourmet flair! Try this simple method for adding fancy drizzles and flavors to caramel apples.

A post about some “Syrian Sweets”

Skillet Strawberry Jam with a hint of vanilla.

I saved the best for last in the Mother’s Day gift guide series. “The Aspiring Chef” Shopping ideas!