Okay you creative minds, I have the responsibility of coming up with "Hospitality Gifts"

dawn_mo

dawn_mo

Well-known member
for the teachers and staff at my son's school, for the next 5 months. I have a budget of $350 to make/buy small gifts for approx. 37 people. That is not a lot of money for that many gifts. Since I am more than willing to make the gifts, that will help cut down on the cost a little.

For December, I am thinking of making red pepper jelly (on the mild side) along with a note/recipe card for pepper jelly over cream cheese appetizer with crackers. I paid $18 for 36 half-pint jars. I am pretty sure I will be able to stay under $30 for this gift. I also have to come up with a catchy little saying of appreciation, like "you warm up our children's day with your kindness" or something like that. Any ideas will be much appreciated. Thanks!

 
REC: Savoury Cheddar Cheese Thumbprint Cookies (LOVE THESE!!)

You could include a few recipe cards on how to use the jelly. Here's one, T&T:

Savoury Cheddar Cheese Thumbprint Cookies
Makes about 36

1-1/2 cups shredded white cheddar cheese
1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 egg yolk
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup finely chopped pecans or unblanched almonds
1 cup hot pepper jelly

Preheat oven to 350 F. In food processor, pulse together cheddar and parmesan cheeses and butter until smooth. Add egg yolk and pepper; pulse until blended. Add flour; pulse just until soft dough forms. Place pecans on plate. Place 1 cup water in bowl. With hands, roll scant tablespoonfuls (15 ml) of dough into 1-inch balls. Dip in water; roll in nuts to coat. Place on ungreased baking sheet. With thumb, make indentation in center of each. Refrigerate for 15 minutes. Bake 15 minutes or until firm outside and lightly golden. Remove the baking sheet from the oven and place the baking sheet on a cooling rack, allowing the cookies to cool directly on the baking sheet. At this point cookies can be stored in airtight containers at room temperature or frozen. Before serving, fill indentations with hot pepper jelly. If you have stored the cookies for a time before serving them, you can re-crisp them by baking them at 350 F for 3 minutes, then allow them to cool fully before adding the jelly.

Note: These thumbprints were originally posted to Gail's Recipe Swap at Epicurious.com by Sylvia. Original source unknown.

 
Thanks Mimi,

and I can have the kids decorate the recipe cards with thumbprints, which they will love doing. Thanks for the recipe. And I can thank the teachers for the "impression" they make on our kids. Thanks for this one! Now for Jan. Feb. March and April.

 
I made cheddar thumbprints w/red pepper jelly

(not hot pepper but sweet) for a neighborhood party and they loved them! Yummy! Colleen

 
Yes, very clever! What a great combination...you two make a great team!

Have you posted your red pepper jelly here Dawn? I'll do a search.

 
Re:"Hospitality Gifts" two ideas from this site

that I plan on trying - and may work for you - are Dawn's Cabernet Cranberries and the Sugared Trail Mix sent in by Sandy in Hawaii. I think they could work for either the holiday season or Valentines.

Or else coffee beans from Costco and divided into cellophane bags.

Good luck.
Betty

 
Oreo Truffles or Mint Oreo Truffles

My husband and I made truffles for PTA teacher gifts in December one year. I bought small candy boxes sized for 3 truffles and candy paper cups.

I mintified Deb-in-MI's Oreo Truffles (original recipe in T&T). For the filling, I used mascarpone cheese instead of cream cheese - less than 8 oz with less than 20 oz plain Oreo's ... PLUS 3/8 tsp (1/4 and then half of 1/4 tsp) of peppermint extract.

I processed the Oreos, mascarpone and peppermint extract together, chilled, balled with my small cookie scoop (2 small bites size) scraping the scoop on the bowl edge to create a flat side, chilled balls, and then coated them by melting 6-1 oz. squares semi-sweet chocolate, 1 flat package Andes Mints (about 1/4 pound if you use the chips) and 2 tsp veggie oil (coating held at around 90 degrees on warming tray in water bath).

For "perfect" coating, I dropped the truffle balls in the warm chocolate, removed the balls with the flat side sitting on the tines of a fork, scraped the bottom of the fork 3-4 times on the bowl edge to remove excess chocolate and then used a small knife point to push the coated ball off onto a wax paper lined chilled cookie sheet. Chill or freeze.

I won't use cream cheese again - the centers are so sweet, creamy wonderful! The peppermint extract laced filling is amazing with the semi-sweet/Andes coating. And the 18 oz plain Oreo pack makes more truffles than the smaller mint Oreo package! Colleen

OREO TRUFFLES in T&T Candy
Deb in Mi
Grind 20 oz of oreo cookies in food processor Add 1 8-oz cream cheese. Blend together. Roll into small balls (makes over 75) and then dip in melted chocolate. For dipping you can use either couveture chocolates or use a 12-oz bag of semi-sweet chips with 1 tsp or so of oil added to thin it out.

http://www.finerkitchens.com/swap/forum7/22_OREO_TRUFFLES

 
Thanks everyone for the ideas and kudos. I came across this cute site

while looking for ideas. I thought if I started collecting coffee mugs at the Dollar Store and Big Lots, then used this template with a packet of latte, and said something like, "Thanks a latte for all you do!", but someone is going to have to tell me how to make an accent mark on the computer. These might be cute for holiday gift baskets.
This is a cute site. They have free printables for some really cute things. I also like the "Jiffy-Pop" but haven't come up with something for that one. Here is the latte design.
http://alenkasprintables.com/freeprintables/teabags/packets/cocoa.jpg

http://alenkasprintables.com/free_printables.shtml

 
Would it be tacky if I went to Goodwill and collected cute teacups and mugs?

Of course they will be sterilized in my dishwasher, but it that tacky? I am just thinking that I can find some cute ones, very inexpensively, with different themes, and have a variety of different kinds. And of course, from my lips to yours only. What I am trying to do, is have very inexpensive gifts, and then a splurge at the end of the year. This wouldn't bother me, but I know other people aren't the same way. Thoughts?

 
I recall Deb in MI making fortune cookies; You could

add how "fortunate" the children are to have you as their teachers...etc Place in Chinese take out boxes with tissue paper.

Valentines Day...I know I have posted this before...BUT, I am a fan of the Rice Krispie Treats made in the shape of a Hershey Kiss (Use a funnel) and you can add a clever message to mimic the white "kiss" paper.

Will keep my thinking cap on for other ideas!

What a nice project to recognize the teachers! I am sure they will be thrilled!

Barb

 
And I will definitely put that in my "to do" list for the deserving person. Thanks again Scott!

 
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