Now, as much as I love to shop, I also love making gifts from my kitchen. Last year it was homemade extracts and all-in-one beer bread kits. This year it's homemade liqueurs and do-it-yourself flavored sea salt. Next year I'm thinking do-it-yourself flavored sugars, lip balms, and sugar scrubs.
For instance, say that I made these flavored sea salts and then lovingly packaged them into a zippered baggie and labeled it with a marker. Very thoughtful. Sometimes, very necessary. But not very pretty. Now, say that I found some amazing little round glass jars with cork lids and their own little spoon. And say that I put the same salt in there that I put into the baggie. With a simple strand of rafia...maybe a bead or a bell...and you've got a package that not only has magical things inside - it's pretty darn gorgeous. Which one do you think your eyes would naturally gravitate towards?
Flavored Sea Salt {DIY}
I use Light Grey Celtic Sea Salt in all of these flavored salts. Each batch makes enough to fill approximately an 8-ounce jar (give or take).
Lavender Sea Salt
3/4 cup sea salt
1/4 cup dried lavender buds
Place the dried lavender buds into a mini food processor and pulse until it breaks down as much as you can get it; some of it will still be fairly big, some of it will be powder. Add the salt and pulse again until everything is well-combined, and the larger lavender buds have broken down a bit more. Transfer to a jar with a lid.
when to use it: In recipes in place of the called for salt, or as a finishing salt. From savory dishes (chicken, fish, veggies, stews) to sweets (shortbread, brownies, cake, chocolate, cookies, ice cream), it's uses are only limited by your imagination.
Porcini Sea Salt
3/4 cup sea salt
1 ounce dried Porcini mushrooms
Grind the Porcini mushrooms to as fine a powder as you can in a mini food processor. Add salt and whiz a few times until they are well combined. Transfer to a jar with a lid.
when to use it: In recipes in place of the called for salt, or as a finishing salt. Great emphasis in mushroom dishes, hearty stews, on meat, or anywhere else that you want that deep, earthy scent of Porcinis to permeate; great with chicken, turkey, beef, pork, vegetables, hearty grains.
Southwestern Sea Salt
3/4 cup sea salt
2 tablespoons dried, ground Hatch chiles
1 tablespoon honey granules (granulated honey)
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1 teaspoon roasted, ground coriander
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon chipotle chile powder
pinch ground cayenne
pinch ground cinnamon
Place everything into a mini food processor and pulse until all of the spices are evenly distributed throughout the salt. Transfer to a jar with a lid.
when to use it: In recipes in place of the called for salt, or as a finishing salt. Season your chicken, chops, fries, freshly fried tortilla chips, veggies, or anything else savory that you can get your hands on with this blend; it has a pleasant heat to it.
Bacon Sea Salt
1/2 cup sea salt
2 ounces cooked bacon
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
Tear the bacon into large pieces and put into a mini food processor; process until you have very small crumbs. Add the salt and the smoked paprika; pulse until everything is well-combined. Transfer to a jar with a lid.
Since it is so salty and it is now sitting in salt, small amounts should be okay kept on the counter in a cool room for a day or two. If it's not cool in the room, or for larger quantities, store the jar in the refrigerator.
when to use it: In recipes in place of the called for salt, or as a finishing salt. Use it on your eggs or potatoes in the morning. Add a pinch to your pancake or waffle batter. Season your chicken, pork, or veggies with a hit of this slightly smoky salt. I say top a chocolate truffle with it for a bit of fun.
I'm extremely happy with myself for the decision to make flavored sea salts as gifts this year. And I've only just begun. I have some more on deck: citrus, herb, jalapeño, matcha, vanilla, and so many more. What flavors would you like to see?
Today I'm teaming up with Freund Container and 8 of my food blogging friends for a Handcrafted Holidays event, in which we each share different ideas for making gifts from your kitchen and pairing them one of Freund's many, MANY containers. Please check these awesome ideas, and then enter for your chance to win 1 of 3 Freund Container gift certificates (valued at $100 each) below!
- Candy Cookies in a Jar from Alida's Kitchen
- Chai Tea Blend from Curious Cuisiniere
- Flavored Sea Salts {DIY} from girlichef
- Homemade Bailey's Irish Cream from That Skinny Chick Can Bake
- Homemade Coffee Liqueur from Cooking for My Peace of Mind
- Homemade Crunchy Granola from Magnolia Days
- Homemade Flavored Simple Syrups from The Girl in the Little Red Kitchen
- Homemade Mexican Hot Sauce from Juanita's Cocina
- Homemade Steak Sauce from The View from Great Island
To enter: (mandatory) Answer this question in the comments on this post - Which Freund product would you choose, and what type of handcrafted holiday project would you make? Be sure to record your answer in the rafflecopter widget after you've left your comment.
(optional) Once you've completed the mandatory entry, there a bunch more ways to earn more entries via rafflecopter.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
This giveaway is for three $100 gift certificate to Freund Container & Supply. Gift certificate will expire on February 28, 2014. Gift certificate is a one-time use certificate and must be used in its entirety; any leftover monies on the gift certificate will be forfeited. This giveaway is open to both US and Canadian residents. However, it should be noted that due to current International shipping rates, any Canadian winners will pay higher shipping costs for orders. This giveaway will run from Friday November 22, 2013 through Saturday November 30, 2013 (11:59 pm ET). Winner will be notified within 48 hours of the close of this contest, and given 48 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen.
Freund Container & Supply has been helping build businesses since 1938 as the largest distributor of glass bottles, containers and wholesale packaging supplies online. Freund offers over 5,000 items in stock every day, 98% same day shipping and low-price guarantees. Take a look at Freund’s wide selection of jars, tins, bottles and vials for all your crafting and food related needs!
I was not compensated for this post, however Freund Container supplied me with a case of jars/bottles for making this project. They are also supplying the gift certificates for the giveaway. All opinions are my own.
