Three Host and Hostess Gifts to Make Ahead

The Fall entertaining season is about to start and if you are traveling to someone else's for a party we would like to recommend a few hand-made gifts that you can create to take as a present for the hosts.

Three Handmade, herb infused gifts to present to your hosts:

1. Homemade Bitters
2. Hand-blended Teas
3. Flavor infused Mixers

Handmade Bitters

In my mocktail program I always say I am going to share this recipe for citrus bitters on my blog, but i never seem to do it, so for those who have been waiting, here is the recipe.  you need to plan ahead to make this as a gift, as it takes 6 to 8 weeks to cure properly, but one batch will give you may jars of bitters to use for gifting and yourself!

Bitters are a special ingredient in cocktails that lends a tang to a drink and are great in drinks based on gin or vodka.  Bitters are also a digestive aid and these two recipes made with citrus are high in anti-oxidants and can assist with keeping blood sugar levels, well level.

Citrus bitters

The bright flavor these lend to your ginger ale, seltzer, sparking water or spirits is amazing and unique; you may find you cannot live without it.

• 1 750-ml bottle of plain (unflavored) vodka
• 4 oranges, zest only from the entire orange
• 2 lemons, zest only from entire lemon
• 1 Tbls fennel seeds
• 1 3-inch cinnamon stick
• ½ tsp whole cloves
• ½ tsp coriander seed

Zest the lemons and oranges, getting all the orange and yellow peel, but none of the white pith underneath.  Place the zest and the fennel, coriander and cloves in a 1-quart mason jar.  Seal tightly and shake, then place in a cool, dark area for 4 to 8 weeks shaking every other day.

Once infused, strain the bitters using a fine mesh strainer and transfer the liquid to 4-ounce amber dropper jars for long term storage at room temperature. Recipe makes 6 4-ounce jars. These never spoil!

TO USE: 

• Bitters can be added to a tall glass of iced ginger ale, just a few drops will make a refreshing drink.
• Swap them in for extracts in baked goods.
• Toss them with popcorn.
• Shake them into lemonade or juice.
• Infuse honey and maple syrup.
• Add them to poaching liquid for fruit.

Try this Cocktail--  Tea Time Tippler

• 2 oz. Green or Herbal Tea
• 1 oz Lavender Simple Syrup
• 1 oz Ginger Beer
• 1/2 oz Lemon Juice
• 2 Dashes of  Bitters

Directions:

Combine ingredients in a shaker and shake. Strain into chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with grapefruit disk. Recipe makes 1 cocktail.

Hand-blended Teas

A dry herb tea blend is quick and easy to make. Then just place the mixture in a canning jar with a decorative label with instructions and attach a tea infuser and you have a perfect little gift. Choose a relaxing blend to help your host wind down after the stress of entertaining. This recipe has cooling and restoring mint along with immunity boosters in lemongrass and rosehips.

Winter Serendipitea Tea 

• 1 teaspoon dried spearmint
• 1 teaspoon peppermint
• 1 teaspoon crushed rosehips
• 1 teaspoon dried chopped lemongrass 
• 1/2 teaspoon each of orange peel 
• 1/2 teaspoon raspberry leaf
• dash of cinnamon

Mix ingredients together well.  Store in a tightly lidded container.

TO USE: Bring cool water to a boil.  Place 1 tsp of the tea blend in a tea infuser, pour 1 cup of boiling water over and allow to steep for 3 – 5 minutes, preferably in a covered container.  

For iced tea, allow to steep up to 10 minutes, then allow to cool to room temperature and add ice and a squeeze of lemon if desired.

We have shared a number of recipes for herb teas here in the blog, so if you want something different check out this list: Tea Recipes at Backyard Patch

Or you can just pick up a Backyard Patch Tea blend by visiting our website.

Flavor-infused Mixers

My last recommendation is to make a flavored alcohol or a faux gin for your hosts. We have recipes here: Faux Gin. Or you can craft something with our simple cocktail kits, like Apple Cinnamon Bourbon or a quick and easy Faux Gin, or even an Old-Fashioned Cocktail.

To make your own Old-Fashioned --

• 2 ounces bourbon or rye whiskey 
• 1/4 ounce simple syrup 
• 2 dashes bitters 
•  orange slice & maraschino cherry to garnish

Combine all ingredients in a low ball glass, add ice and garnish and sip!