Have you started shopping yet? Gifts for the family this year are a little tricky as we’ll be bringing them home on a plane, but I’m already almost done. (My secret is online shopping ) In the past, I’ve always given something homemade and I think I’ll have to make a few of the items below, even if they don’t make it back to the midwest with us.

Here are some of my favorite savory (and a few sweet) ideas for homemade food gifts to give to loved ones this year!

Curried Pecans – via me

Salted Maple Caramel Sauce – via me!

Pineapple-Infused Vodka – via me

Rosemary Olive Oil – via Whole Foods

Curried Lentil Soup – via Good Housekeeping 

Tuscan Spice Rub – Eating Well

(source)

Slow-Cooker Bacon Jam – via Martha Stewart (my friend Mary Beth gave this to us last year and we LOVED it!)

Hot Mango Chutney – via Tinned Tomatoes

Limoncello – via Hedonia 

Caramel-Almond Popcorn – via Martha Stewart

(source)

Olives with Fennel Seeds and Orange – via Martha Stewart

Do you give homemade food gifts? Or, if you are on the receiving end, do you eat them? I just read an article that said most food gifts go to waste – the horror! 

Don’t forget to donate to the Haiti Medical Mission of Wisconsin!  

I’m not really sure how to describe this dish to you.

It’s definitely Asian, I can tell you that much.

It has curry paste, but it’s not quite a curry.

It has peanut butter, but it’s not quite a peanut sauce.

Along with the fact that it most certainly has an Asian vibe, I can also tell you that it is out of this world. Did I mention that it can be made while you work all day? Or alternatively, while you go watch football at a bar all day, or alternatively, while you go Holiday shopping all day??

Whatever you do while your asian chicken stew is cooking is really up to you. Heck, maybe you’ll be all healthy and workout! But when its finished cooking and you serve up a big bowl over some brown rice, you’ll be a very happy person.

This, I know.