Has Christmas snuck up on you this year? Looking for homemade gift ideas? We always have ideas for gift giving... some our own, and plenty that others send us.

First, for those recipients that may or may not be low carbing, you can always give them thoughtful handmade gifts that are not edible...

For example:

Candy Cane Bath Salts

• 2 cups Epsom salts
• 1/2 cup sea salt
• 4 to 6 drops peppermint oil
• 2 to 3 drops red food coloring

Place one cup of Epsom salts and 1/4 cup sea salt in a bowl or resealable plastic bag. Add 2 to 3 drops of peppermint oil.

Place the remaining ingredients in a second bowl. Mix all ingredients well. Layer the red and white salts in a clear bottle or jar. Half liter Naya water bottles work well because they already have the stripes in the bottle's design.

Tie with a ribbon and some small candy canes (yes, you can use sugar free candy canes!) This makes a great holiday gift for friends!

• 1 cup applesauce
• 1 cup cinnamon *
• 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon ground cloves

Mix until the dough has the consistency of Play Dough, adding more applesauce or cinnamon as needed. Roll flat, dusting countertop and rolling pin with cinnamon if the dough sticks.

Cut out shapes with knife or cookie cutter. Use a toothpick to make a hole for hanging. Dry at room temperature for 5 to 7 days, turning over at the end of the third day to ensure even drying.

They dry even quicker in a food dryer, and give your house a wonderful smell!

* The quality of this cinnamon doesn't have to be gourmet, as it won't be eaten. Stores like Dollar Stores, Odd Lots (or Big Lots) etc. often sell cheap cinnamon for as little as 40 to 50 for a large bottle.

Make a batch of salt dough using:

• 1 cup flour
• 1/2 cup salt
• (about) 1/2 cup water

Mix well and roll out to about 1/8" thick. Cut into long thin strips. Turn a small pin tin (like one from a frozen pot pie) upside down on the table. Lay the strips over the bottom of the pie tin and weave into a lattice pattern, (like on the top of a traditional cherry pie.) Take the remaining dough and roll into a long rope.

Place the rope along the bottom edge of the "crust" and crimp together. Brush the entire thing with a lightly beaten egg white.

Bake at 225F until the dough is hard and golden brown. Remove from oven and let cool completely. Carefully remove the crust from the pie tin. Turn the tin back over and fill with potpourri.

Using a glue gun, glue the crust on to the top of the pie tin. It looks like a real pie and smells great when you place it on top of your stove (not on the burners)!

If you like, you can also spray it with a lacquer spray before you remove it from the bottom of the tin. It will prolong the life of your "pie."



For the low carbers on your list, you can always make them holiday treats that fit our sugar free lifestyle.

Choose one of our low carb festive bread recipes at the site:

Such as Banana Sour Cream Bread, Pumpkin Bread, or Eggnog Quick Bread and bake them in clean empty cans (canned good cans). Spray the inside of the can with Pam and flour generously. Remove bread from can, wrap in plastic wrap. Place it in center of large square of colored cellophane. Draw up edges of cellophane and tie with curling ribbons.