Vanilla Sugar & BBQ Spice Rub

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Christmas is in a little over two months!  I'd like to start sharing some GIFT ideas with you, as I see many people are pinning, not only food ideas/recipes, but homemade gift ideas as well.

Homemade is so much more personal - to think you give a gift {or receive...} which was made for a specific person, whether it is a child, parent, aunts/uncles, cousins or friends, makes is much more special.

{Of course, I am not saying NO to certain hinted, by me, bought gifts!}  Gifts, especially Christmas time, are getting more expensive every year.  Many people buy in advance, when it is cheaper or on sale, but in the case of buying for kids, you will find that the specified gift {usually in big demand} - as per the kids' letter to Santa, naturally... - is unavailable till a few weeks before Christmas.

What do we do?? We love our kids and want to give them what they have been waiting for, for a year ... and that again means we fall into the marketing pit of "..you pay whatever, as soon as this specific item appears in the store.." Kids gifts are usually a problem and they do not always appreciate the work put into a handmade item.

That is why I will mostly {over the next few weeks} share gifts, which you can make, suitable for adults - you can sort out your kids as usual BIG Whink here!

Today I am sharing how to make Vanilla Sugar Hearts - or any shape you want. It looks so fancy, even the plain white cubes... love them!  But, have you seen the store prices on these..?  Ridiculous - and it is so easy to make.  {for the lady recipients}

I am also sharing a recipe for a very nice BBQ Spice Rub - there are many on the internet, but I like this one which we use at home.  {for the guy recipients}

Here we go:

Vanilla Sugar Hearts

You will need:

- 1 cup Sugar

- 1 t Water

- 1 t Vanilla Essence

- a Drop of Pink Food coloring     (this all depends on what color you want)

- a Mold   (I used my Silicone Ice Tray)

Mix all the ingredients together until it feels like wet beach sand - you can add a drop or two more water.

Press tightly into the mold and even out on the tops - press a spoon over the sugar

As soon as you are done with the tray, place a paper plate on top, tip it over and gently tap out the sugar shapes - they loosen very easily

Leave on the paper plate (this helps to dry them out) overnight

Next morning - rock hard and very pretty  !

BBQ Spice Rub

You will need:

1/4 cup Dry Coriander Seeds

2 TB Chilli flakes or crushed

2 TB Ground Cumin

1 TB Black Peppercorns, coarsely ground

1 TB Lemon Peppercorns, coarsely ground

2 TB Mustard Seeds

2 TB Salt

2 TB Paprika

2 t Brown Sugar

Mix all the ingredients together using a fork, pressing lightly - 10 minutes - Done !

Place in jars or plastic bags - I used  cup size jars, added a wooden scoop (wrote the name on the scoop) and (for the Vanilla Sugar Hearts) a thin ribbon - (for the BBQ Spice Rub) I added a leather cord-like ribbon.

Pretty as a gift or for yourself!

Have you started buying/making gifts yet ?  What do you prefer, .. as a recipient..?Bought or Homemade?

Bye-bye now,

Happy gift making!

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