FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Try cooking your gifts for the holidays

By Wanda A. Adams
Advertiser Food Editor

At Macy's the other day for a photo assignment, I nearly ran screaming when I noticed Christmas decorations. That time again!

Over the years, I have opted out of more than my share of holiday "musts."

I don't decorate. I don't buy wrapping paper. I don't send Christmas cards. I don't bake or make fruitcakes. And when I'm at my mother's, I don't even cook (gasp!).

But I do give gifts. For the past couple of years, my husband and I have been making guava jam in the fall to give as holiday gifts. And last year, I also made apple butter with the good, crisp new-crop apples that are in stores around this time.

This year, we didn't vacation in guava country, so no jam. And I've been too busy testing other recipes, anyway.

But those Christmas decorations at Macy's gave me jolt: time to figure out what to make.

I have a couple of guidelines: Nothing that has to be eaten right away (there's too much already). Nothing that has to be frozen or refrigerated right away, because who has the space?

If, you, too, are considering a weekend of gift-cooking, here are ideas.

Books to check out: "Fancy Pantry," by Helen Witty (my favorite — it's out of print, but available in the Hawai'i State Library and from Amazon.com); "The Big Book of Preserving the Harvest" by Carol W. Costenbader (freezing, drying, canning, pickling); "Modern Food Gifts" by Martha Gill (food gifts beautifully packaged, many of which do not need to be cooked).

Web sites: See www.allrecipes.com/cb/w2m/seaspec/holiday/gifts/default.asp (ideas for cookie and brownie mixes in a jar, drinks, rubs, infused mixtures and other easy preparations); www.christmasrecipe.com/hints/list.asp (more gift hints). If you have an idea but no recipe, see www.google.com and do a search using key ingredients or recipe name and the word "recipe." For example: Let's say you have access to lots of sweet pineapple and want ideas, type "pineapple recipes" or "pineapple preserves recipes."

Think beyond jams and jellies to chutneys, ketchups (yes, there is more than one type), relishes, conserves, vinegars, spice or salt mixtures, rubs, marinades, homemade mixes, preserved lemons or "seed." Include a recipe and ingredient list when you give something with which the recipient might not be familiar. Try to come up with a recipe for which the main ingredient is readily available here and at least reasonably priced — not berries but citrus or tropical fruit. I made a spicy banana ketchup a few years ago (for use as a relish on grilled or roasted meats) when bananas were on sale, and it was a great success with friends.