4 - gift giving 101

TO: MY HUSBAND
For Valentine's Day I gave my husband 14 Hallmark Valentine cards.

I started on February 1st and hid a card around the house everyday.

I hid cards in the bathroom, in the refrigerator, in his laptop and in the car. I even left a fortune cookie card on the table at a restaurant.

TO: MY SECRET CUPID
At work I hosted a secret Cupid swap for Valentine's Day!

This is what I gave.

My theme was sweet & savory.

SWEET
Cupcake Pebbles rice krispie hearts
I made heart shaped rice krispie treats with Cupcake Pebbles cereal.

You may remember my March 2010 review of the cereal when it 1st came out.

I used Wilton heart silicone molds. Next time I'd use a metal mold. The silicone mold was too flimsy for the mixture. I had to form the heart shape with my hand, using the mold as a guide.

I also used too many marshmallows. I used a 16 oz package. Next time I'd use a 10 oz package for 1 box of Cupcake Pebbles cereal.

Chocolate Meringues
May 2009 I 1st tried to make chocolate meringues and they turned out great! Then I tried again and they didn't turn out so hot. But I was ready to try again.

THEY TURNED OUT GREAT! Here are the meringues in the oven.

 

Here is the SWEET box.

SAVORY
Rosemary & sea salt heart shaped polenta
My secret Cupid co-worker is a vegetarian too. So I decided to cook her some items that we both like.

I sliced the polenta and used a mini heart cookie cutter to cut out the hearts. Then I brushed the griddle with some olive oil and placed the heart polenta on the griddle when it got hot. I used fresh rosemary and sea salt as I cooked on both sides until the polenta hearts got brown and firmer.

BBQ tofu hearts
My secret Cupid co-worker told me her recipe on BBQ tofu a couple of years ago. My husband and I have adapted it and made it a staple in our household.

I sliced some hickory smoked tofu and used the mini heart cookie cutter to cut out the hearts. Then I brushed the griddle with some olive oil and placed the heart tofu on the griddle when it got hot. I seasoned it to taste and cooked until golden brown on each side. Then I brushed on some BBQ sauce.

Here is the SAVORY box.

In the smallest box I put a retro JELL-O mold cookbook as a joke. It had some great fruit molds, and some nasty meat and veggie ones too.

I also purchased some white doily coasters from Urban Outfitters to match my food theme.

I put a pink sugar Valentine cupcake bath fizzie in a takeout box along with a coordinating Hallmark fortune cookie card.

I got the heart containers from JoAnn's on sale for 60% off!

It was funny because when my secret Cupid receiver walked into the room she said, "I love those boxes." I laughed to myself because she didn't know that in moments she's be receiving them!

I stayed within the $20 budget on the whole gift and she loved everything I gave her!

To see other gifts that I gave this year & gift giving tips visit gift giving 101.

Comments

[Anne-Marie Faiola]

What a cute idea! And I can't believe you were able to stay within your $20 budget for the whole thing, great job.

PS. Your snacks look super delish!

[Jeanee]

Thanks Anne-Marie! Homemade goodies are always the best & least expensive gift.

[Lisa {With Style and Grace}]

Your blog is too cute! Thanks for visiting With Style and Grace - love "meeting" other bloggers!

[Jeanee]

Thanks Lisa! Love you blog too. I'm a new follower to With Style and Grace. Great recipes!!!

[jessi]

Ok, I want to be your secret cupid, that is my kind of present! What a cute idea! I just came across your blog and I love the thought and effort you put into gifts, I feel the same way and try my hardest to give the best gifts I can think of.

[Jeanee]

Oh thanks Jessie. You're so cute for wanting to be my secret Cupid. And I'm glad you found my blog!