Paleo and Whole30 Gifts From The Kitchen

Preparing quality food is among the most caring things we can do for ourselves and the people we love… especially during the holidays.

Way back in the day, when Dave and I lived on a houseboat in Sausalito, California, I had way more time than money, so I made gifts from my kitchen from this Williams-Sonoma book. I whipped up Spiced Nuts and Fancy Olives and buttery shortbread and pine nut brittle and chewy caramels. I wrapped everything in clear cellophane and tied it with curly ribbon. I stamped brown paper lunch bags with silver snowflakes and stuffed them full of the cellophane-wrapped treats,then I hand-delivered my gifts with a kiss and hug. It was the most fun I ever had getting ready for the holidays.

Handmade holidays don’t need to take a ton of time: a simple mason jar with a handmade tag is all it takes for a pretty presentation. With the goodies I’m recommending—Spiced Nuts, Jerk Seasoning, and Lizard Sauce—your gifts from the kitchen can be delicious and healthy. Plus, no one will be the wiser because these things don’t taste like health food. It’s our own Christmas miracle.

All three of the recipes can be made pretty quickly, so you don’t need to devote a whole day to making them. Just crank up some Christmas tunes, enlist an elf assistant if you’ve got one, and mix up a batch of holiday love in under an hour.

We’ve got all the info you need to make the recipes in “bulk” quantities, and Dave drew colorful, custom labels that you can download and print. Smudge stress-tested the metallic ribbon to make sure it can stand up to the demands of holiday wrapping. And at the bottom of the post, you’ll find links to jars and other supplies.

Get the recipes, labels, and details right here!