The Homemade Gifts Continue…

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I was trying to think of another homemade gift to give with my Cinnamon Honey Butter and although I know it's delicious on bagels there's no way I was going to learn how to make bagels. Or English Muffins. And the thought of store bought bread just didn't seem right. So…I came across a recipe for Classic Pound Cake via Martha herself and thought…perfect!

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I made 3 batches of the recipe, separately of course and each batch made four loaves which I baked in these beautiful Paper Loaf Pans from Sur La Table. Oh, and I did have one disaster batch because I thought it was a smart idea to microwave the butter, which made it too soft. The Man seemed sorta happy about my fiasco. He's snacking downstairs as I type this.

But with my successful ones cooled and ready to wrap, I gathered my stash of supplies and had fun!

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After I finished embellishing them I went out to the potting bench to get a wooden crate to tote them in. I lined it with an antique French hand towel and tucked them all inside.

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Now that my first batch is packed up and ready to be delivered, I sure wish I was coming to your house. Because if I was I would surely bring you some of my goodies. And we would sit and talk about the holidays and how much shopping we have or don't have left and our favorite Christmas memories and why people drink Egg Nog. And it would be the perfect afternoon. Just perfect.

42 Responses to “The Homemade Gifts Continue…”

  1. Sylvia

    Just beautiful Heather…I will have to try the pound cake and honey butter, they sound delicious! You are welcome here anytime!

  2. Maria

    Gosh, I wish we were neighbors! I LOVE the way you package stuff!
    Christmas Blessings to you.
    Maria

  3. Stacy~Creativemuse

    Aren’t you the CUTEST! I’d love to have you visit!These are awesome photos! Love them
    I’m in DEEP CLEAN and PUrge mode I just don’t
    think it goes away with 4 little ones and me
    being a Creativemuse!I had planned on tons
    more being made for Christmas but the daunting
    task of MY mess making kept me from attempting t too much just a few homemade ribbon ornaments
    to adorn packages …and lovely christmas bark
    I maybe making Marthas lovely fruit cake the chocolate one….I’ll let you know …
    warmly
    Stacy~Creativemuse

  4. Kimberly

    H~ You are the queen of packaging! Absolutely gorgeous. Blessings, Kimberly

  5. maryann

    Man-oh-man, I sure wish you were coming to my house too!! 🙂 Still, I am blessed that reading your blog is the “next best thing to being there”, so thank you for sharing! May your Holydays be blessed!

  6. Debbie

    Your messages are always so sweet and heart-warming!
    Thank you so much for sharing your ideas so that I can
    attempt to give them a try also! You are the Queen of
    Inspiration!

  7. kathy

    That would be lovely. I’d brew pot of English afternoon tea to go witht that lovely pound cake. I’d chat your poor ear off.
    As always your photos are beautiful and put me in a happy state of mind.
    Peace,
    kathy

  8. Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions

    It would be perfect ~ if you could get here through the snow! This looks so great ~ I love the way you decorated the packaging. Is that a roll of greenery? It made for great little wreaths! Nicely done!

  9. Grace P

    I came to visit to “escape”! It is snow storming here in NY and I have a ton of things still to do before Christmas. I thought I was ahead of the game..I guess not. Beautiful pictures and lucky friends receiving those goodies. Thank you for sharing…Grace

  10. wendy

    Homemade gifts are the most fun to give and receive! The bread and butter are packaged so beautifully!

  11. jamie

    Love these Heather, That is what my Tuesday and Wednesday will be, Baking, Baking, Baking.. Beautiful Presentation. Happy Holidays, xo Jamie

  12. Mandy

    I would love to sit with you and eat pound cake with cinnamon butter. It would be perfect!!! Love reading your blog!!!

  13. Lisa

    I wish you were coming to my house too with your goodies. As always, Heather, your ideas and execution are amazing and flawless. The presentation of simple pound cake and your special butter couldn’t be prettier. Thanks so much for sharing this fabulous idea. I may just have to steal it!
    XO,
    Lisa

  14. Kimberly Shaw

    What a stunning presentation you’ve created with your lovely pound cake and cinnamon honey butter. It’s simply elegant!!!

  15. Karen B

    Heather, I’m just down the road! Your cakes look scrumptious! The recipients are going to be so thrilled!
    Karen @ Elderberry Street

  16. leigh of Tales from Bloggeritaville

    Heather, those recipes sound wonderful and the end products look scrumptious! Wish we could visit. I would love some. And seriously…why do people drink egg nogg? Eww.
    Stop by Bloggeritaville anytime. Merry Christmas!
    Leigh

  17. Lori-Anne

    Yeah, I wish you were coming to my place, too! I would drink eggnogg and happily share all the reasons. You could drink tea, coffee, hot chocolate or whatever your heart desires. Your packaging of both butter and pound cake is as tantelizing as what’s inside, btw!

  18. Carla

    Looks delish! I sure wish you were coming to house too . . . but, you’d have to trudge through the 24 inches of snow that fell yesterday. Lovin’ it, though. Your bread with some of the warm honey butter sure would be nice on this frigid, snowy morning.
    Thanks for sharing!

  19. Brenda Kula

    Yes indeed it would be perfect. Your homemade baked gifts look wonderful. The friends who receive them will be in awe of your talents and packaging. You make everything look beautiful!
    Brenda

  20. sashagirl

    Oh Miss Heather, you just have THE BEST ideas EVER!!!!! I know the people you give these gifts to will SO love them!!! And I just adore the way you pay attention to details, love the sprigs of boxwood and ornaments you attached to your wooden crate!!! I am learning SO much from you and your blog about the details!!!!! That’s cute about “the Man” loving your “mistake batch” of cake, my husband eats my “not so perfect” cookies and breads, too!!! Hope you and your family have a Merry Christmas and A Happy and Blessed New Year!!!
    (((hugs)))
    Milli Wagoner (sashagirl on flickr)

  21. Sylvia

    Heather, I have to tell you that I made the cinnamon honey butter and it turned out so delicious! I had to laugh because while I was making the butter for my neighbors, one of them walked over and gave us a big tray of cookies!! OK…I am off to make gingerbread man cookies. Thanks for all your wonderful ideas…
    Merry Christmas…

  22. Susan

    I will make Cinnamon Honey Butter as soon as I get back from the store! And I was thinking I should borrow my daughter’s bread maker. Mmmm, I really have a hankerin’ for homemade bread and honey butter! YUM!
    Your cakes look beautiful! Sure wish you’d stop by!
    Presentation is everything! Thanks for sharing the inspiration!

  23. Ramona

    Absolutely delightful! You have made cinnamon honey butter and pound cake a food group!!!
    Have the Merriest of Merry Christmases.
    Smiles ~ Ramona

  24. teresa

    Sounds perfect =) Have a wonderful Christmas and thanks for making mine a little brighter. Thanks for sharing your talents.
    Merry Christmas

  25. cielo

    Oh Heather, everything you do, turns out perfect! You’re incredible… everythings always look so pretty perfect… may you and your have a joyful and blessed Christmas…

  26. Carol Smithback

    Hi Heather,
    The cakes and honey butter look fantastic! Don’t you just love those tiny canning jars? Sometimes, I have a hard time finding them. Hope things are going well on the new magazine- can’t wait to buy the first issue! Have a very blessed Christmas and New Year.
    Carol

  27. jackie

    Thanks Heather for sharing these homemade goodies…….I have made two batches of the Cinnamon Honey Butter for my friends and neighbors. They loved it. I have enjoyed it to.

  28. Crystal

    Simple and gorgeous. What did you use to put the pound cakes in? It looks like some kind of cello bag. Where can I find them. I’m going to bake some of these tomorrow. Thanks for sharing this idea with us.

  29. Anita

    Umm, I wish you were coming here too. But I will be making these two recipes and have them around for snacking the next couple days as we are expecting ahuge ice storm and we are snuggling in for Christmas as a family. I want to wish you a Merry Christmas, tell you enjoyed meeting you at Junk Bonanza this fall and look forward to more fun ( an inspiration from you) in 2010.

  30. Jen

    Beautiful presentation! And just in time to inspire me–must wrap 5 chocolate peppermint stick loaf cakes for my boys to bring to school tomorrow–really wishing I had a few of those miniature boxwood wreaths. Merry Christmas to you and your family!

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