Lynne's Last-Minute Holiday Gift Ideas
December 21, 2002

Lynne's creativity knows no bounds, and neither does her ability to come up with clever last-minute gifts. Here's a few of her latest inspirations:

1. Inspired by cheese monger Steve Jenkins and a hit at a recent party, Lynne served a chunk of good sharp cheddar along with candied orange peel. She used Greek candied peel in syrup from a Middle Eastern market in her area. Plop the cheese and a jar of the candied peel in a gift bag and you're done.

2. Brandied Vanilla Fruit is one of Lynne's hallmark gifts. Soak dried fruits in brandy for several hours. Drain, reserving the brandy, and boil it with sugar, water, and vanilla to make a syrup. Pack the fruit in jars, fill 1/4 of the way up with syrup and top off with more brandy. Make sure the fruit is covered, and that's it.

3. Pull together an instant crock of spread: Combine your favorite hot salsa with a blend of cream cheese, sour cream, and chopped onion. Pack into a crock or attractive bowl and add a box of good crackers.

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