Paleo holiday gift ideas for the foodie on your list may seem tricky, but rest assured: I’ve combined some of my favorites – both homemade (if you’re crafty like that) or store bought – to assist in your quest to spread holiday cheer!
Paleo Holiday Gift Ideas #1: Homemade Extracts!
Extracts are great for flavoring all sorts of dishes, from coffee to baked goods, but they can be pricey in the store for what you get. Making them at home is so simple, but it takes a bit of time. If you’re thinking of making these for holiday gifts, start them now! Know what’d be nice? Making a trio of three flavors for the foodie on your list.
I make them in a plain mason jar, then transfer to a decorative bottle like this or this with a hand-written tag or label. These recipes all make one cup of extract.
Homemade Vanilla Extract
4 – 5 vanilla beans
8 ounces (240 mL) vodka or brandy
Split the vanilla beans down the middle and put in a mason jar. Add 1 cup of vodka or brandy. Let the vanilla beans steep for at least 4 weeks. The alcohol will darken in color. You can leave the beans in.
Homemade Orange or Lemon Extract
Zest from two oranges or three lemons
8 ounces (240 mL) vodka or brandy
Use a veggie peeler to remove as much of the zest as you can from the citrus. Add 1 cup of vodka. Let the zest steep for at least 4 weeks. Strain the zest out and bottle.
Homemade Mint Extract
1/2 cup mint leaves, washed
8 ounces (240 mL) vodka or brandy
Crush the mint leaves and put in a mason jar. Add 1 cup of vodka. Let the leaves steep for at least 4 weeks. Strain out the leaves and bottle.
Bottles like these are great for gifting extracts:
Paleo Holiday Gift Ideas #2: Homemade Spice Mixes!
These recipes make about 1/2 cup. Mix them up, put them in a decorative jar like these mason jars, attach a homemade label and you’re good to go! I could see making a gift set with a few spices mixes and extracts (or mix and match). I’d be super stoked to get that as a holiday treat!
Homemade Gingerbread Spice Mix (see the full post here)
2 Tablespoons cinnamon
2 Tablespoons ground ginger
2 Tablespoons allspice
1 Tablespoon nutmeg
1 Tablespoon cloves
Pinch of black pepper
Homemade Pumpkin Pie Spice Mix
4 Tablespoons cinnamon
2 Tablespoons ground ginger
1 Tablespoon allspice
1 Tablespoon nutmeg
1 Tablespoon cloves
Homemade Taco Seasoning Mix
2.5 Tablespoons chili powder
4 teaspoons paprika
2 teaspoons cumin
2 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon garlic powder
Paleo Holiday Gift Ideas #3: Cookbooks!
Long gone are the days when you couldn’t find Paleo cookbooks…now there are titles to fit every single niche. Here are a few of my favorites – tried and true from Paleo’s best food bloggers – that I highly recommend:
Real Food. Real Good. eCookbook by yours truly! 20 mouth-watering recipes in an ebook format…grain-, legume-, dairy- and refined sugar free.
Well Fed and Well Fed 2 by Melissa Joulwan (aka The Clothes Make the Girl). Mel’s one of my Paleo heroes and her food is simple but delicious. Both books are fantastic (read my review of WF2 here)!
Food For Humans by Michelle Tam and Henry Fong (aka Nom Nom Paleo). What can be said except that Nom Nom Paleo is a classic Paleo site loaded with flavor-making recipes and amazing photography! You can pre-order the book…it comes out on Dec. 21, 2013!
Gather from Bill and Hayley Staley (aka Food Lovers Primal Palate). Want a gorgeous book for someone who loves to entertain? Gather is the one!
Paleo Holiday Gift Ideas #4: For the Novice Cook!
If the Paleo foodie on your list is just starting out and needs to build up her / his kitchen arsenal, I highly recommend these staples:
Crock pot. Bar none, this is one of my favorite kitchen tools. If you’re trying to buy a useful gift for someone who’s really busy, I can’t think of something better. Want to make it extra special? Print out a copy of my (free) PDF Crock Pot Guide for some recipe ideas.
Cast iron cooking set (the one in this link is still on sale!). I love my cast iron pans…they go from stove top to oven really easily for dishes like stews and frittatas.
Spiralizer. This little device makes oodles of veggie noodles from everything from zucchini to butternut squash.
Paleo Holiday Gift Ideas #5: For the Experienced Cook!
If the Paleo foodie on your list is more experienced and or for someone who has almost everything, check these out:
Vitamix. What can I say? This is the Cadillac of kitchen blenders. I have one. It’s worth the cost (IMO) for someone who loves to cook. Soups, homemade mayo, nut butters, nut milks…they’re all possible (and more) with the Vitamix, and they last forever!
Le Creuset 3.5 Quart Dutch Oven. These Dutch ovens are enameled cast iron and stand up to stovetop and oven cooking…anything you need braised or cooked slowly does so beautifully in these pots.
Kombucha Starter Kit or Fermentation Crock. If the foodie on your list is into home fermentation, these are great options for helping them diversify their operation.
Paleo Holiday Gift Ideas #6: For the Life Long Learner (aka Nerd)!
If the Paleo foodie on your list is into learning all (s)he can, check out these options for e-courses and books:
Real Food. Real Good. eCourse by yours truly. This is great for anyone who’s really a beginner and wants to learn more. Click the link for more info.
It Starts with Food by Dallas and Melissa Hartwig of Whole9. This is *the book* for learning about how problematic foods affect us and why.
Paleo Holiday Gift Ideas #7: Fun Gifts for Anyone!
Hangry Mug
Paleo-themed t-shirts and trinkets
Still searching for a gift that’d be just right for your Paleo foodie? Let me know below and I’ll see if I can give you some ideas!
The post Paleo Holiday Gift Ideas for the Foodie on Your List appeared first on Stupid Easy Paleo - Easy Paleo Recipes to Help You Just Eat Real Food.