Ideas for gifts homemade in the kitchen
The pale, embossed cookies -- made from 4 whipped eggs mixed with a touch of salt, lemon zest and anise extract, 1 pound each flour and powdered sugar and a 1/4 teaspoon baking powder -- are formed using beautiful wood or ceramic molds to create patterns such as snowflakes, acorns or the “little knights” after which they’re named. (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)
Thaw frozen puff pastry, butter one side and top with chopped fresh herbs. Use a pizza cutter to slice into thin strips, twist them and bake at 375 degrees until puffed and golden. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)
Combine 1/2 cup beer, and 1 cup each sugar and corn syrup and boil until a candy thermometer reaches 310 degrees, being careful it does not boil over. Carefully add a little salt and vanilla, along with a cup of toasted nuts. Spread out on a foiled and greased rimmed baking sheet, then break the brittle into pieces when cooled and hardened. (Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times)
Roll prepared pizza dough through a fettuccine cutter on a pasta machine or cut it by hand as thinly as possible. Brush lightly with beaten egg white and season with salt, pepper and a sprinkling of chile pepper or chopped fresh herbs. Arrange on a baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees until golden brown. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)
Beat an egg white until stiff, then stir in a half cup of sugar along with a pinch of cinnamon or cayenne pepper. Toss with a pound of almonds and spread out on a foil-lined baking sheet and bake at 250 degrees until the coating is crisp and browned, an hour or so, stirring every once in a while. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)
Toss 4 cups oats with 3 cups mixed nuts with 1/2 cup each oil, brown sugar and maple syrup along with a touch of salt and vanilla (or tweak the spices to suit your tastes), spread out on a baking sheet and bake at 325 degrees until golden brown. Cool, then stir in 4 cups dried fruit. (Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times)
14 cups popped popcorn is tossed with rich caramel -- 2 cups brown sugar, 1 cup butter, 1/2 cup corn syrup and a little salt boiled to 255 degrees and then tossed with a teaspoon of baking soda -- and spread out on a sheet pan to bake until set. Cool the popcorn and break into clusters before baking. For a little something extra, add nuts to the popcorn before tossing with caramel. (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)
