Not everyone is as easy to shop for during the holiday season as my little cousins… they always seem to know exactly what they want… and this year it happens to be a soap squirting dish brush. yup. Gotta love em… every time they come over they beg to do the dishes with my soap squirting brush.. and so last time one of them looks at me with huge, innocent eyes and says, “Maddie! This is what we want for Christmas!”… And they will get it.

When it comes to gifts for everyone else, soap squirting brushes don’t usually cut it. If you’re working with a budget, then you’re really screwed. You don’t want to be the family member who buys all of her gifts from the Borders clearance table. Um. not that I have ever or would ever consider doing that…

I decided that, with the exception of soap squirting brushes, all of my gifts would be DIY things, made with love. That doesn’t mean my aunts and uncles with get duct tape wallets, or eco frames created from old cereal boxes. no. nothing like that.

Today I will begin a list of DIY holiday projects… and perhaps a few.. or all of them.. will tickle your fancy

Everyone loves nuts– and better yet– everyone loves roasted, tasty nuts. Right? Well, my peeps do, at least.

If you’re not into the DIY gift guide, then this is even a fun dish to make for you and your loved ones at home– ideal for movie time, or in a cute dish on the counter.

Now.. the nuts have to be delicious, but keep on reading after the recipes… because presentation also has to be adorable and chic.

Cinnamon Roasted Almonds:

Ingredients:

• 1 egg white
• 1 teaspoon cold water
• 4 cups whole almonds
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 250 degrees F (120 degrees C). Lightly grease a 10×15 inch jellyroll pan.
2. Lightly beat the egg white; add water, and beat until frothy but not stiff. Add the nuts, and stir until well coated. Mix the sugar, salt, and cinnamon, and sprinkle over the nuts. Toss to coat, and spread evenly on the prepared pan.
3. Bake for 1 hour in the preheated oven, stirring occasionally, until golden. Allow to cool, then store nuts in airtight containers.

Chile & Honey Roast Nuts

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1/4 cup honey
• 3/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 pound unsalted roasted mixed nuts (about 4 cups)

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 325°. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment or wax paper. Lightly oil the parchment. In a bowl, combine the sugar with the salt.
2. In a large skillet, melt the honey with the cayenne. Add the nuts and stir to coat. Spread the nuts in a single layer on the baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes. Let the nuts cool slightly, then add them to the sugar-salt mixture and toss to coat. Discard the parchment and spread the nuts out on the baking sheet to cool completely, then transfer to a bowl and serve.

Everything Roasted Nuts

Ingredients:

• 1 cup whole blanched almonds
• 1 cup hazelnuts
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 tablespoon hot sauce, eyeball it
• 1 tablespoon grill seasoning (recommended: Montreal Steak Seasoning by McCormick)
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 2 cups smoked almonds (recommended: Diamond Smokehouse Almonds)
• 1 teaspoon poppy seeds
• 1 tablespoon sesame seeds

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Place blanched almonds and hazelnuts on a cookie sheet and roast 7 to 8 minutes; your nose will know when they’re done.
3. Melt butter in small skillet with hot sauce, grill seasoning, and cumin. Remove from heat.
4. Remove toasted nuts from oven and drizzle with butter and spices. Add smoked nuts and seeds to the cookie sheet and toss Everything Nuts to combine. Transfer nuts to a serving dish. Serve warm.

Good Ole Honey Roasted Nuts:

Ingredients:

• 2 cups sugar
• 1 cup water
• 4 cups peanuts

Directions:

1. Combine Ingredients.
2. Boil until all liquid is gone.
3. Pour on cookie sheet and bake in 350 degree oven for 45 minutes.
4. Stir every 15 minutes.
5. viola!

And now for the tres chic container that your delicious nuts shall be gifted in…

Depending on how many nuts you plan on making (pssst if you’re giving nuts as a gift, it should be a substantial amount), you can buy jars in bulk in most places– one I know for a fact is Wal-Mart. Reserve your comments- remember- we are trying to gift on a budget.

version 1: If you have unusually nice handwriting / don’t know how to use photoshop or paint on your computer:

While you’re at Wa-Mart pick yourself up paper punch. These things are UH-MAZING. Think of it as a very wise investment… you can use it for anything from scrap booking, if you’re into that sorta thing, to label making, which is what we’re doing here!

Go through old magazines, old photos, old wrapping paper etc, and punch yourself some shapes (this will be your label / jar decor). Make sure that you will be able to write on whatever you are punching out (aka make sure it’s light enough). Only take this route if you have really nice handwriting. Nobody wants roasted nuts with chicken scratch all over the jar as a gift. comon’.

Version 2: For those of you with infant handwriting / more computer savvy:

The other alternative is to find an image on your computer, bring it into photoshop, or paint, or whatever it is you use when you get all artsy up on your comp, and type directly onto it, punch that image out, and then use that. OR you can just type directly onto a white background, print that sucker up and cut it out.

For both Version 1 and 2:

Either Mod Podge, or carefully glue your label on the jar of nuts (careful, some inks run with mod podge.. test it out first)

Locate a pretty ribbon, or cut yourself a strip of fabric that suits the receiver of the gift and tie it around the jar.

If your heart desires… and I hope it does… embellish this jar o nuts with a beautiful pom pom flower. DO IT.