Holidays Are Upon Us

I cannot believe it is the end of October.

It felt like just a few weeks ago we were having picnics in the park and now we are calling family to discuss Thanksgiving dinner plans.

When does time start to move so quickly?

I didn’t feel like months came on two quickly when I was a child.  Unless it was summer ending, I suppose.  But time moved at a reasonable pace when I was younger.  Now, I blink and weeks have gone by.

So, here we are.  Looking at the start of November.

It’s the holiday season. The time of year for parties.  The time of year to thank those who have helped you through-out the year with a small gift, an extra tip, or the like.  The time of year when you get together with your family and thank them for sticking by you and being yours.

I am one of those people that leave cookies for the mailman.  I give a sweet treat to the maintenance person in my building.  I bring a bottle of wine to the women who perform the much needed maintenance of my hair (head and body!)… trust me… they deserve alcohol for what they have to put up with!!!

I am always trying to figure out the best way to make some of my treats a little easier to gift.

I figured I would share one quick trick.

I love making quick breads for gifts. Especially, the mini-loaf size.  A lot of people are getting treats this time of year and will be on occasion increasing their calorie intake.  And, while, I try to make my treats swaying towards the healthier size, so why not make it larger, I just think it’s nicer to give a gift that is moderate in size.

However.

I often like to frost my breads to make them a bit more decadent. (Oops…. so much for reduced calories.)

As you know it is hard to gift wrap anything with frosting on it.  You can’t use saran wrap; the frosting will stay on the wrap!   Same with aluminum foil.  It is costly to buy tins for every person you want to gift.  You could get a cardboard box, but the budget appeal might not be all that.

I think I have found a wonderful way to give the bread and the frosting, too… and it adds a little bit of fun and ‘do-it-yourself’ness.

TO-GO CONTAINERS!

This has become the greatest way for me to give breads as a gift.

1.) I can make the breads in advance and store them in the freezer.

2.) I can make the frosting in small batches, as needed.

3.) You can wrap the bread easily and effortlessly and include the frosting on the side.

4.)  The recipient can then add as much or as little as they desire for their bread.  Some have even asked for two containers.  Some, none.

I have even done this with a lemon glaze that soaks into the bread and, on occasion, made the bread a little too soggy.  Voila! Problem solved.

I think this trick is such a life saver!  It has allowed me to give gifts that I might otherwise have decided against.  People really appreciate being able to have a less messy treat and choose what level of caloric intake they are having for the day.  And, it is totally fun for someone with kids!  With a butter knife, a child can participate in cooking and decorating with a little bit less of a headache for the parent.

All told… I think this is a winner!

The bread in the pictures is zucchini bread from Colleen Patrick-Goudreau‘s The Joy of Vegan Baking.  I think her recipe is the best I have found and if it ain’t broke…. She has a lot of variations in the book to make it to your taste and liking.  I love using apple sauce for some of the oil and substituting with the whole wheat flour.  This also has walnuts… cause I love them!

I did however include my recipe for cream cheese frosting!! YUM!

Cream Cheese Frosting