Edible Christmas Gift for the Teacher

I have been reading many posts by parents on facebook about not knowing what to get for the teacher.  If you want something that's not too expensive, if you like to bake, and if you want something specially made by you or your child, here are a few recipes that you can prepare and then put in some cellophane with a pretty ribbon!  All of these recipes are courtesy of allrecipes.com.  

Candy Cane Popcorn

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup unpopped popcorn
• 4 ounces vanilla-flavored confectioners' coating, or as needed
• 6 peppermint candy canes, crushed

Directions

1. Using an air popper, pop the popcorn, place into a large bowl, and discard unpopped kernels. Melt the confectioners' coating according to the package directions.
2. Pour the melted coating over the popcorn, and sprinkle the crushed candy canes over the mixture. Using your hands, work the candy coating and crushed candy canes all through the popcorn. Let the mixture cool, and break apart into bite-size pieces.

Eggnog Quick Bread

Ingredients

• 2 eggs
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 1 cup eggnog
• 2 teaspoons rum flavored extract
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

 

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease bottom only of a 9x5 inch loaf pan, or three 6x3 inch loaf pans.
2. Beat eggs in large bowl. Stir in sugar, melted butter, eggnog, rum extract, and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking powder, salt, and nutmeg. Stir into eggnog mixture, just enough to moisten dry ingredients. Pour batter into prepared pan or pans.
3. Bake bread in large pan for 40 to 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Breads baked in the smaller pans require 25 to 40 minutes. Let cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack, and cool completely. Wrap tightly, and store in the refrigerator.

Oatmeal Gingersnaps

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup shortening
• 1/4 cup molasses
• 1 egg
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup sugar
• 3/4 cup quick-cooking oats
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• Additional sugar

Directions

1. In a mixing bowl, cream shortening, molasses and egg. Combine dry ingredients; stir into creamed mixture. Roll into 1-in. balls; roll in sugar. Place on greased baking sheets. Flatten slightly with a flat-bottomed glass. Bake at 350 degrees F for 10 minutes (do not over bake).