Do It Yourself Holiday Gifts

I know the holidays can be a stressful financial time for many people, so here I have provided some creative, cheap holiday gifts everyone will love!

Mason Jars

Oreo Cheesecake:

   

Makes 6 to 8 ounce jars of cheesecake 

INGREDIENTS

8 ounces cream cheese at room temperature
1/2 cup sugar
3 large eggs at room temperature
4 ounces sour cream (1/2 cup)
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
12 oreos, divided
¼ teaspoon salt

SPECIAL EQUIPMENT
Electric beater
Six 6-ounce or 8-ounce mason jars
Deep baking dish 
Optional: Twine and wooden spoon to tie to gift

PREPARATION
1. Preheat your oven to 325°F.

2. Using an electric mixer, beat room temperature cream cheese on medium speed until it is smooth. Add the sugar, then beat on medium speed for 3 more minutesReduce speed to low. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Raise speed to medium. Add sour cream, lemon juice, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Beat for 3 more minutes.

3. Put a pot of water on to boil. (You will need enough water to fill the baking dish and reach ½ way up the sides of your jars.)

4. Using your hands, break 8 of the oreos into small pieces, then gently fold the oreo pieces into the batter.

5. Divide batter among the six jars. Fill each jar half full. Put the jars in a deep baking dish, then pour enough boiling water into the dish to reach halfway up the sides of the jars. Cover the dish with foil and cut 8 slits in the foil to vent. Bake at 325°F until they are set in the center, about 25 minutes. Let cool. Refrigerate overnight to set.

6. Make the oreo topping: Put the remaining four oreos in a plastic bag and seal it, then whack at them with the back of a spoon to crush them. Top each cheesecake with a spoonful of oreo crumbs, seal jars, and tie a spoon around each.

No prep tag required for this one! Already made and ready to eat!

Blondie Bars: 

INGREDIENTS

Blondie Mix
1 cup all-purpose flour
Pinch of salt
½ cup bittersweet or semisweet chocolate chips
½ cup peanut butter chips
1 cup brown sugar

HOW TO PREPARE THE GIFT
Combine flour and salt in bottom of jar. Carefully top with a layer of chocolate chips, then with a layer of peanut butter chips. (Try to sprinkle the chips around the perimeter of the jar to create a layered look.) Wrap brown sugar in plastic bag, plastic wrap, or parchment paper to keep it separate, then place it on top.

DIRECTIONS TO INCLUDE

How To Make Chocolate-Peanut Butter Blondies
Makes 8 blondies

You will need: 
Blondie Mix from gift
1 stick butter, melted
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract or 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
Pinch salt

Special equipment:
8”x8” baking pan
Electric mixer

PREPARATION  (Include this on the tag as well)
1. Preheat oven to 350°F

2. Butter an 8”x8” baking pan.

3. Carefully lift brown sugar (top layer) out of the jar.

4. Pour as many of the chocolate and peanut butter chips as you can into a bowl, then, in a separate bowl, dump the remaining flour mixture from the jar. It’s OK if there are some chips in the flour and some flour in the chips, just separate as best you can.

5. Combine melted butter and brown sugar and beat with electric mixer until smooth.

6. Add egg and beat 1 minute more.

7. Add vanilla and beat just to combine.

8. Add dry ingredients to butter-egg mixture and fold in with a spatula until just combined. Don’t overmix. Add chocolate and peanut butter chips fold until just combined.

9. Pour batter into greased baking pan. Bake at 350°F 20-25 minutes, or until set in the middle.

Be sure to include the preparation of the treats somewhere on the jar, or make a tag like shown above!  

Bath Bombs

 DIY Peppermint Bath Bomb - yields 3 bath bombs

1 cup baking soda
1/2 cup Citric Acid
1/2 cup cornstarch
3 tablespoon epsom salt
2 teaspoons Sweet Almond Oil
3/4 teaspoon water
15-20 drops Peppermint Oil
food coloring (optional)

Snowflake Silicone Mold

In a large bowl combine baking soda, citric acid, cornstarch and epsom salts.
In a small bowl combine almond oil, water, essential oil, and food coloring.
Pour wet mixture into dry mixture. Mix with a whisk until fully combined. Use your hands to press bath bomb mixture into mold.

You can use the ornament balls I mentioned above or make creative shapes with baking molds.  Tip: carefully press the mixture into the silicone mold, try not to press too hard to avoid having the mold widen and distort the design. I let the ornament balls set for 2 hours before removing the plastic ornament ball, then setting them on a towel to dry overnight. For the snowflake mold I let  them dry overnight. The dry time will depend on the humidity in your area and home.

Holiday Driving Safety 

Drinking and Driving Statistics 

Perhaps you have heard of the holidays as the "DUI Season", maybe not. But did you know 52% of deaths on Christmas Day, and 57% of deaths on New Year's are caused by drinking and driving? The holidays bring time for celebration and parties. 

This is a busy time for travel throughout the year. With gas prices being so low this year, it is expected for even more people to be out on the road traveling for the holidays. The average travel for a person on Christmas is 275 miles. More people on the road traveling longer distances only increases chances of traffic fatalities.

Safety Tips

Here are a few tips to lower your risk and keep you safe during this time of the year:

1. Avoid driving early in the AM or late in the PM

2. Carpool with friends and family members to parties and holiday events to keep less cars on the road. 

3. Take turns with friends and family members and be the designated driver for the day/night.

4. If you are driving, be very aware of other drivers on the road.

5. Report any suspicious drivers to the police.

6. Use your resources! The Uber App is a great alternative to find a ride.  

Keep in mind, we are one of the most competitive insurers for teenage drivers. You can save almost 40% if the student driver has good grades (3.0 +)  and takes our free online safety course. 

Hope everyone has a wonderful, safe holiday season! 

Healthy Holidays

Many people try to stay fit throughout the holidays, or realize they should start making healthier choices around this time. With all the holiday parties spent with family and friends this can be rather challenging. A couple of my biggest weaknesses is the snacking before the meal and the delicious desserts after. Below I gave some of my favorite snacks and dessert recipes that you can make as a healthy alternative without the guilty feeling.

Snacks:

Instead of reaching in the chip bowl time and time again, try making these Cinnamon Apple Chips while you have some down time at home that you can provide at your own party or take with you.

You will need:
1-2 apples of your choice
1 tsp cinnamon


Instructions:
Preheat oven to 200 degrees
Use a sharp knife of mandolin, slice the apples thinly. Prepare baking sheet with parchment paper and arrange apple slices without overlapping. Sprinkle cinnamon over apples.
Bake for about 1 hour, then flip. Continue to bake for 1-2 hours, flipping occasionally, until the apple slices are no longer moist.
Store in airtight container.

Another great healthy appetizer is a fruit tray.

You will need:
Any fruits of your choice sliced. I like to use apples and bananas for this dish.

Instructions:
Mix 1/4 C of peanut butter with 1 C yogurt of your choice. I like to use strawberry.
Slice up your fruit and serve chilled.

Last but not least, a veggie tray is always a go to, quick option. Carrots, snap peas, cucumber, and broccoli are a few simple veggies you can display nicely while providing a nutritious appetizer.

Dessert:

No Bake Brownies

You Will Need:
1 1/2 C Walnuts
Pinch of Salt
1 C Pitted Dates
1 TSP Vanilla
1/3 C Unsweetened Cocoa Powder



Instructions:
Add walnuts and salt to a blender or food processor. Mix until the walnuts are finely ground.
Add dates, vanilla, and cocoa powder to the blender. Mix until everything is combined. As the blender is still running, add a couple drops of water to ensure the ingredients is stuck together.
Use a spatula and transfer the mixture into a bowl.
With your hands, form small round balls by rolling them in your palm.
Store in airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.

Hope this helps; enjoy the holiday season! Best wishes of health, fitness, and happiness!