Blogs

I just finished making a few hot chocolate gift mugs! Do you remember when we featured those on You're Home with Jill back in October? (I nearly didn’t—it’s a good thing all my recipes and DIY projects are online!) That same day, we also made DIY Vanilla Extract which you can whip up this weekend, if you like. By the time Christmas Day is here, the vanilla will have released its flavor into the vodka and your lucky recipients will be so grateful for such a prized ingredient!

As we near the holiday, and spend more and more money on gifts, decorations, food, and things, don’t forget that gifts of food really are appreciated and are sometimes seen as more heartfelt than your average gift. I was going through my recipes in hopes that I’d do a little holiday baking this weekend and stumbled upon this gem: Lemon-Poppy Seed Bread. As I noted in the recipe, you can make one big loaf or make several mini loaves which are just the nicest little gifts.



Lemon-Poppy Seed Bread

Makes 3 large loaves, or 6 mini loaves.

This recipe is prepared with the Temp-tations® Sweet & Savory 10-piece Baking Set (K39454).

Ingredients:
Bread:
•    2 cups sugar
•    3 eggs
•    1–1/2 tsp baking powder
•    1–1/2 tsp salt
•    1–1/2 Tbsp poppy seeds
•    1–1/2 cups milk
•    3/4 cup vegetable oil
•    1–1/2 tsp vanilla extract
•    1–1/2 tsp almond extract
•    1–1/2 tsp butter extract
•    3 cups flour

Glaze:
•    1 cup powdered sugar
•    1–1/2 Tbsp water
•    1 tsp lemon extract

Preparation:
1.    Preheat the oven to 350°F.
2.    Combine the first ten ingredients in a large bowl and mix well. Then, slowly add the flour, making sure to scrape the sides of the bowl.
3.    Pour the mixture into a loaf pan, or into a muffin pan if you would like mini loaves. Bake for 30 minutes, or until a toothpick in the middle of the loaf comes out clean. (Mini loaves may take less time, check them after 20 minutes.)
4.    While bread is baking, prepare the glaze. Combine all glaze ingredients in a small bowl and whisk together until the sugar is dissolved. Set aside.
5.    When finished baking, remove the bread from the pan and let it cool. Once it's completely cooled, brush it with the lemon glaze.

And, don't forget about hostess gifts! Wine is always a safe bet for the party-thrower, but it's not the only option. And, for those who don't drink alcohol, wine can seem impersonal. Before you go to a holiday or gathering, try to find out what your host or hostess likes, or what might be helpful at the event. If that's not possible, food-gifts are terrific options sure to be appreciated by all. To a busy planner who's been cooking and baking for days, there's nothing more welcoming than a Lemon-Poppy Seed Bread they can enjoy later, or use to supplement their existing spread.

For all the bakers out there…you know that stand and hand mixers not only make your job easier, but they actually produce better baked goods. It's true--cookies and breads rise better and everything you make has a fluffier texture than goods that are hand-mixed. If you’re looking for a Christmas gift for a new baker, it’s not too late to treat them to a KitchenAid.



I’ll see you tomorrow from 1-3pm ET for more great gift ideas. Join me!

From my home to yours,
—Jill