Nothing makes a gift more personal than taking the time to choose something suited specifically for the recipient. What could be more pleasing to show your sentiment than a gift from the kitchen? Spending the time to make something from scratch shows how much you treasure the relationships with friends and family. If time is not on your side just contact Chef Crusco and his team to place your orders.
Sweet & Savory Nuts
Ingredients
- 4 cups of walnuts or pecans or a combination of the two
- 1/3 stick unsalted butter – Use good French or Irish butter
- 1/2 cup of vanilla sugar
- 2-3 pinches of good coarse sea salt
Directions
- Heat a non-stick sauté pan over med-high heat and add butter. After 30 seconds add sugar and once it melts add the nuts. Shake pan so they get covered all over with the butter and sugar mixture. At the end add the salt and shake again to distribute evenly
- Put nuts onto a sheet pan so they cool and completely dry. Place nuts in a plastic container and add another pinch of sugar and salt and shake the container. You do not want the nuts to clump together but instead to remain single and not sticky
- After 1 day, package the nuts in any container you wish to use as a present.
Nutella Palmiers
Ingredients
- 1 package of puff pastry – you can purchase at Phoenicia or Central Market
- 1/2 cup of flour – no need to measure
- ½ cup of hazelnuts – roasted and crushed into small pieces
- 1 jar of Nutella
- 1 egg (beaten with 3 tablespoons water) for the egg wash
Directions
- Let puff pastry sit at room temperature to soften and Pre heat oven to 450°F. Put hazelnuts onto a sheet pan and into the oven to toast for 3-5 minutes. Put hazelnuts into a kitchen towel – take the rolling pin and crush the hazelnuts
- Fill deep bowl with water and into the microwave until water is almost boiling. Place Nutella jar into water & leave for 20 minutes or until Nutella is spread able.
- Toss some flour on the counter and with the rolling pin, roll out the puff pastry into a large rectangle so you have a larger surface to spread out the Nutella. Using a spatula spread Nutella in a very thin layer all over the puff pastry leaving about an inch border on all sides. Sprinkle hazelnuts all over the Nutella
- Working from ends of pastry begin rolling towards the center where both ends will meet like a book – use some water to assure pastry sticks together. Place pastry onto sheet pan & into freezer to set up. Once cold, take a sharp knife & slice ½ inch slices.
- Place cookies onto a parchment paper covered sheet pan, brush the egg wash onto each cookie and cook at 375 degrees for 12-16 minutes or until you see the cookies rise and are golden in color.
Limoncello
Limoncello is a very traditional Italian liquor mainly found near Naples and the Amalfi coast but also further South in Sicily and Sardinia. Unlike many other types of liquor, Limoncello is easy and inexpensive to produce. All you need is sugar, water, alcohol, the zest from the lemons and some time so that the liquor matures.
Ingredients
- 10 lemons
- 1 liter vodka
- 3 cups white sugar
- 4 cups water
Directions
- Zest lemons and place into a large glass bottle or jar. Pour in vodka. Cover loosely and let infuse for one week (at least 4 days) at room temperature. After one week, combine sugar and water in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil and cook for 15 minutes. Allow syrup to cool to room temperature.
- Stir vodka mixture into simple syrup. Strain into glass bottles, and seal each bottle with a cork. Let mixture age for 1-2 weeks at room temperature. Place bottled liquor into the freezer to use when needed.
- When icy cold, serve in chilled vodka glasses or shot glasses. You can also add it over some ice cream!
When making or ordering these gifts just remember to think of the person receiving them: Do they drink alcoholic beverages or not? Do they like to bake or would they prefer a food gift that’s already made and ready to eat? Are they on a special diet or do they have specific food allergies? This kind of thoughtful touch is what makes these gifts so special. As one can see there are many easy and creative ways to make Christmas kitchen gifts. These gifts can be given individually or you can develop a theme and group them in a large basket or box. For example, you’re home made Limoncello would look great in a beautiful wooden box with a letter describing the liquor, a list of ingredients used and maybe a shot glass or two for measuring and drinking. Remember, tap into your creative side this Holiday season and give a few gifts from your kitchen and heart.
*Please contact Chef Crusco and his team to place your orders early for this Holiday season
