Thank you so much for the birthday wishes yesterday! I'm always surprised that so many of you remember.
Anyway, on the weekend Wille and I made some homemade edible gifts. Vanilla sugar and lemon salt.
It’s super easy and smells divine while you make it.
For the vanilla sugar you scrape the seeds out of a vanilla pod and mix it (the pod too) with about a cup of sugar in a blender. Strain and pour the vanilla flavored sugar into a jar. For our three jars we also cut an additional vanilla pod in three and put one piece inside each jar with the sugar.
For the lemon salt you zest a lemon. We used a zester and also a micro plane so we’d both get pretty long strips along with finer zest and then we let it dry over night. The next day we mixed the zest with sea salt flakes and poured it all into jars.
Simple and pretty gifts.
Yummy, yummy, yummy! I love using vanilla sugar in baking. Have never tried lemon salt, but sounds devine. Just to be clear; how/ where do you dry it? On a plate on the work surface, or in the oven on a low heat?
Posted by: Carin | December 22, 2011 at 08:55 AM
Wonderfully simple gifts. I have been making vanilla sugar for awhile. Will be adding the lemon salt to my repertoire now.
Posted by: Monica | December 22, 2011 at 09:15 AM
I just left it out in the contertop over night.
Posted by: Benita ~ Chez Larsson | December 22, 2011 at 09:25 AM
Such a good (=theftworthy) idea. When I think of homemade food gifts I usually just think of jellies and such, and I never feel like messing with all that goop when there's so much else to do for Christmas.
Posted by: Judith | December 22, 2011 at 10:52 AM
So glad to see the last few posts. I was getting concerned that you were too busy/ tired/ not in the mood for Christmas! It was selfish of me, because I know how much work it is to do all that you do, and then have to blog about it! Also, you and Willie are having to create new traditions together this year, which might require extra energy, but is so worth it. Anyway, I was thinking of you and sending wishes for great happiness for you both this year. Your blog gives me such pleasure, but if you ever need to take a break I totally understand. I hope knowing how much enjoyment you give other people spurs you on. Also happy birthday (late).
Posted by: Valerie | December 22, 2011 at 12:33 PM
Sounds delicious x
Posted by: Flyingblindonarocketcycle.blogspot.com | December 22, 2011 at 01:13 PM
i have been following your blog for about 6 months. love that you update every day. i've learned so much from your projects. thank you for taking the time to blog. i hope you and your son have a wonderful holiday and a great 2012.
Posted by: marsha brown | December 22, 2011 at 01:57 PM
the simplest gifts is always the most enjoyed :)
Posted by: G.Sims | December 22, 2011 at 03:35 PM
Simple and lovely, the Chez Larsson way! Thank you for the how-to's. And wishing you and Wille a wonderful holiday!
Posted by: Lisa Flaherty | December 22, 2011 at 06:23 PM
Thanks for the tip. Do you need to sterilize the jars or just wash them well? I figure salt is a preservative by itself, so maybe not for the salt? Not sure about sugar.
Posted by: Zosia | December 22, 2011 at 08:54 PM
MMM mums!
Burkarna var ju bara helt underbara, var kommer de ifrån?
Posted by: MiaKvack | December 22, 2011 at 09:20 PM
Lovely idea!
Oh, happy birthday Benita. I hope it will be a great year ahead of you.
Posted by: Azy | December 23, 2011 at 02:31 AM
Jag köpte dem på Åhléns. Tog den minsta av storlekarna.
Posted by: Benita ~ Chez Larsson | December 23, 2011 at 09:58 AM
I just made sure they were clean.
Posted by: Benita ~ Chez Larsson | December 23, 2011 at 09:59 AM
Dear Benita, happy birthday!!!! And have a nice holidays with your familiy :-)
Posted by: jja | December 23, 2011 at 07:16 PM
Okay, love this but I'm feeling a little clueless... What do you use them for?
Posted by: Pam | December 23, 2011 at 07:29 PM
The vanilla sugar can be used instead of the store bought version for baking recipes that requires vanilla sugar. The lemon salt is great for fish dishes.
Posted by: Benita ~ Chez Larsson | December 23, 2011 at 08:37 PM
Nice! Thanks! I've only dabbled in scented bath salts and sugar scrubs. Now, I'll be trying some edible ones! hehe. ;-)
Posted by: Pam | December 23, 2011 at 09:14 PM