Gifts From the Kitchen

The fires burn, and the kettles sing,
and the earth sinks to rest until next
spring. ~Clyde Watson

The following recipes are great for giving as gifts with a basket of muffins or scones. You can also take any of them to potlucks surrounded by breads and muffins on a pretty platter. Feel free to use regular, light or fat free cream cheese for these recipes.

Cranberry Cheese Spread

Ingredients:
2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup confectioners' sugar
6-ounce package sweetened dried cranberries
1/2 cup flaked coconut
15-ounce can crushed pineapple, well drained
1/2 cup chopped, toasted pecans, divided

In a mixing bowl, combine softened cream cheese and sugar. Add the dried cranberries, reserving 1/4 cup of the cranberries, coconut (if desired), drained pineapple and pecans into cream cheese mixture. Spoon into a serving bowl and sprinkle with reserved dried cranberries. Cover and refrigerate several hours. Serve the dip with gingersnaps, as a spread for bread, muffins or scones.

Pumpkin Butter Recipe

Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups pumpkin; cooked and pureed (fresh or canned)
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup apple cider
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground cloves
1/4 tsp. ground ginger
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg

Combine all of the ingredients in a heavy saucepan. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes or until the mixture thickens. Cover and chill. Serve with pancakes, waffles, scones, muffins or bread.

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Dip/Spread

Ingredients:
8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
10 ounces pureed pumpkin
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
2/3 cup confectioners' sugar

Blend the cream cheese and sugar until smooth with a mixer. Add pumpkin and remaining ingredients. Mix until smooth. Chill 2 hours or until ready to serve. Serve with gingersnaps, apples, pears, breads, muffins or scones.

Toffee Spread

Ingredients:
8 ounces softened cream cheese
1/2 cup brown sugar-packed
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 pkg. toffee baking bits

Stir all ingredients together. Slice the apples and arrange on a plate or platter with the apple spread in center. You can also serve it as a spread with any type of apple bread or muffin.

Cinnamon Apple Spread

Ingredients:
1 pkg. (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened
3 tbsp. apple cider
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
3/4 cup finely chopped apple

BEAT cream cheese, apple juice and cinnamon in a medium bowl with an electric mixer at medium speed until light and fluffy. Stir in apple. Refrigerate at least 1 hour to blend flavors. SERVE as a spread on breads,muffins, fruit slices or wafer cookies. Makes 1 1/2 cups.

We have more savory gifts from the kitchen on OFL here:
http://oldfashionedliving.com/holidays/savory.html