Autumn Gifting

In yesterday's post, I told you about the book Sentimental Living by Alda Ellis. Ms. Ellis likes to give out "friendship gifts" to those who visit her home. I think that's a very gracious idea and I am keeping these bags of party mix right by front door to give out to guests during Autumn. My husband loves this mix and so does his Pinochle group! It is quite tasty and easy to prepare. The recipe* is from my mother-in-law, Mary Gibson.

Friendship Gifts

Friendship Gift--Party Mix

*Recipe for Mary Gibson's Party Mix
2 cups corn chex
2 cups wheat chex
2 cups rice chex
1 1/2 cup nuts
2 cups broken pretzels
1/3 cup melted butter
2 tblsp. Worcestershire sauce
Garlic salt to taste
Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Mix dry ingredients, blend melted butter and Worcestershire sauce, and pour over mixture. Stir all in a 13 x 9 x 2 pan. Add garlic salt and mix well. Bake one hour and stir every 15 minutes.

The thoughtful guest always brings a gift for the hostess. My mother taught me that you should never arrive at someone's door empty handed. The gift says "Thank you for inviting me." Of course, afterwards, a thank-you note should be sent to the host/hostess, thanking them for their hospitality. Here are some gifting ideas you might consider for your host/hostess:

~Pumpkin bread is yummy to eat at this time of year! I baked this pumpkin bread in a coffee can, wrapped it in cello, adorned it with a festive pumpkin-motif label, and tied it with ribbon. This is a great idea for a hostess gift and the recipe* is from the Alda Ellis book, Sentimental Living. The label is also found in the book and can be printed onto cardstock.

Alda Ellis's Pumpkin Bread

*Recipe for Alda Ellis's Pumpkin Bread
3 1/2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
2 tsp. soda
1 1/2 tsp. salt
2 tsp. cinnamon
2 tsp. nutmeg
3 cups sugar
4 eggs, beaten
2/3 cup water
1 cup salad oil
2 cups (16-oz. can) pumpkin
1 cup pecans, chopped
Combine flour, soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and sugar in a large mixing bowl. Add eggs, water, oil, and pumpkin. Stir until blended. Add nuts and mix well. Butter and flour three 1-pound coffee cans. Pour mixture evenly into cans. Bake 1 hour at 350 degrees. Cool slightly in cans and turn out on cooling rack to cool completely.

~This is a quick gift if you are in a rush--whip up some pumpkin cookies, wrap them in cello, and put them back into the pumpkin mix can. Attach a gift tag (found in Sentimental Living) and print the cookie recipe on the back.

Pumpkin Cookies-To-Go

~If you are an overnight guest in someone's home, Ms. Ellis's book, The Gentle Art of Hospitality, is a sweet gift to leave behind for the gracious hostess. Simply wrap the book with a ribbon and leave it on the bed. Don't forget to inscribe it with your message to Make it Memorable.

Hostess gift after an overnight stay...

Our friends, Nicoletta and Jeff Puklavetz, travel the world extensively. After a recent visit in our home, they left a framed photo of themselves--looking so happy during one of their travels. This gift is a great idea and what a pleasant surprise to find when you are cleaning up the guest room!

Framed photograph left behind as a gift...

When I was young I would always ask my mother "Why do you always take something to people when we go to their house?" She said "That's what my mother taught me to do...no matter how small the gift--take something"!