Gifts

Easy Homemade Crackers and Sweetest (&Savory) Holiday Gift Basket idea

December 2, 2020 By Asha Shivakumar

Crispy, quick and easy homemade crackers under 20 minutes! It is as easy as that. This whole wheat healthy cracker recipe, made with pepper, 3 ingredients comes together in few minutes. Perfect on a cheese board or for gifts. Thanks to Sante for sponsoring this post. Crafted in small batches, Santé‘s lightly-candied pecans are distinctively crunchy for the perfect, plant-based snack.

I don’t think I’m alone in falling back on cliché to express what has, for the most part, felt inexpressible. The unprecedented. The thing to do, I guess, is parse what I really mean when I fall back on the clichés that have come to define this very strange time.

What’s not strange is the love of home made food that has grown hundred fold. People have started making sourdough, yogurt, spiced crackers and more.

These spiced easy crackers have been made quite a lot of times at home. They are healthy and you can make it your own by adding any flavorings. What I love during the holidays is to make a cheese board gift box or basket with crackers, Santé Candied Pecans, and cheese.…

The Best Homemade Soap – Coffee-Chocolate Honey Exfoliating and Nourishing Soap

May 9, 2018 By Asha Shivakumar

This easy and nourishing homemade soap is easily customizable and makes for a perfect gift for Mother’s Day, Teachers’ Appreciation Week, for friends, or just for yourself.

Mother’s Day weekend is a few days away. Happy Mother’s Day to all you lovely mom’s out there. Including the moms to all the fur babies too!!

What is a better gift than chocolate, flowers, and homemade goodies for moms?

I’m a sucker for homemade skin care, and haven’t used a store bought soap in years. I first started out making homemade LIP BALM years ago. Then it was hair oil, BATH BOMBS, and soaps….

Hot Chocolate in a Stick – Edible gift idea

December 10, 2017 By Asha Shivakumar

Rich and decadent, with just four ingredients, hot chocolate in a stick just takes minutes to make. However, it is devoured slowly and cozily. Perfect for the holidays.

It’s a delicious combo of different kinds of chocolate, condensed milk, with a touch of coffee too.

I saw this on Pinterest a couple of years ago and had pinned it, and I finally decided to make it this year. Here is the original idea Inakatrinakitchen. What a delicious idea, and it’s so great for edible gifts.

‘Tis the season of giving, of togetherness and support. A sensitive subject I’d like to touch upon during this season of giving is giving credit….

5 RIDICULOUSLY EASY AND BEAUTIFUL DIY MOTHER’S DAY GIFTS

May 10, 2017 By Asha Shivakumar

Happy Mother’s Day!!!!

I am a big lover of handmade gifts and these ridiculously easy and beautiful DIYs are perfect for moms. They also make great gifts for friends and end of the year teacher’s gifts.

I wanted to get this post up before the weekend. Hope you get to make one of this and impress your mom, friends or teachers.

A universally appealing gift. This pretty marbled clay ring dish is probably the easiest that I’ve made which looks quite like it came from Anthropologie. I have found that not mixing the colors too much gives the best results, and lighter clay is gorgeous for ring or knick knacks. I got my clay from Amazon and baked it at 275 degrees for 2 hours and left it in the convection oven overnight. I make them a little thicker so it looks quite sturdy and is not delicate. Here is the link of the Marbled dish, it is beautiful with step by step.

…

Cocktail and Nuts Edible Gift for Christmas

December 11, 2015 By Asha Shivakumar

For a few minutes, delve into the past with me. Come with me into the 3rd grade classroom…

There she was, with a bright beautiful smile, blueish green eyes and the warmest personality I had seen. Modestly dressed and with no trace of makeup, she was a new teacher for this school. Instantly, I took a deep breath and knew this year would be a great one for my soft, gentle, and timid son. She got down to his level, welcomed him and gave him a hug. I watched everything standing outside the door. He looked back at me and gave me a smile. That was when I knew he will be alright. She came towards us with an inviting smile on her face. She introduced herself and told me, “Don’t worry, go have some coffee. He is safe with me.” With tears, I turned back to walk towards the car. Tears of happiness that my boy was well taken care of.

…

Rose-Lavender BATH BOMBS- Gift idea for Valentines

February 7, 2015 By Asha Shivakumar

Hello my friends! Yes, today we are making home-made bath bombs. We are going to mix, tint, flavor, and perfume them. It’s that easy. I am not a crafty person; really, I am not. Luckily, these don’t require any major technique. If you can measure and stir, you have a bomb :).

I am quite proud of making my own lip balms, moisture bars and even soap bars. The best thing is that you know exactly what you use. What’s even better is that they are cheap to make.

…

GIFT BASKET-Hot Chocolate gift basket

December 9, 2014 By Asha Shivakumar

We are a bunch of hot chocolate lovers. Now, that comes with its own disadvantages. The drink has to be a certain consistency; the teen needs it a bit bitter, and the little one needs it lighter. So my hot chocolate is always a bit on the thicker side.

This recipe is quite a rich chocolate drink and quite an indulgence.

…