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DECEMBER/JANUARY 2013 MACON MAGAZINE I 91 WHITE CHOCOLATE- DIPPED PEPPERMINT STICKS 12 (5-inch) peppermint sticks 7 ounces white chocolate, melted ¼ cup white nonpareils Dip peppermint sticks, one at a time, into melted chocolate. Transfer to a baking pan lined with wax paper or parchment paper. Allow chocolate to set slightly, about 5 minutes. Roll chocolate end of peppermint sticks in nonpareils. Return to lined pan and let stand at room temperature until chocolate hardens. To gift, place a few decorated sticks into a cello bag, tie with holiday ribbon and tag. PERSONALIZED CHOCOLATE BAR Large chocolate bars Colored or white printer paper Using a word-processing computer program, design a simple personalized message for a large-size chocolate bar. Measure the length and width of the bar, and ensure the message will fit on the front of the bar once printed. Print a sample first, cut to size, and wrap around the bar with the seam on the back. Use double-stick tape to secure to the bar. BUCKWHEAT PANCAKE & WAFFLE MIX 2 cups flour 1 1/2 cups buckwheat flour 4 teaspoons baking powder 2 teaspoons baking soda 1/3 cups sugar 1 teaspoon salt Place all ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Stir with a whisk to combine thoroughly. To gift, place in a clear bag or jar and label with preparation directions below. To prepare pancakes: Heat a griddle over high heat. Place 1 cup mix in a medium mixing bowl. Beat 1 egg, 1 tablespoon melted butter, ½ cup buttermilk, ½ cup milk and ¼ teaspoon vanilla together and stir into the dry mix until just combined. Let the mixture rest 1 to 2 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low. Lightly brush the griddle with oil or butter. Pour 1/3 cup batter for each pancake, leaving two inches between each one. Cook until bubbles form on the pancake surface and the underside is golden, about 5 minutes. Flip pancakes and cook until golden, about 2 more minutes. Makes 6 pancakes. For waffles: Heat a waffle iron according to manufacturer's instructions. Place 1 cup mix in a medium mixing bowl. Beat 1 egg, 1 tablespoon melted butter, 3/4 cup buttermilk and 1/4 teaspoon vanilla together. Stir into dry mix until just combined. Lightly oil the iron plates and add batter. Cook until waffles are golden brown and crisp, about 5 minutes. Makes about 4 waffles. Quick & Crafty Last-Minute Holiday Gifting 101 Share the gift of creativity when you craft gifts for the array of recipients on your holiday gift list this year. From classroom teachers to mail carriers to coaches, babysitters and dance instructors, the gift list can become overwhelming. But it doesn't have to be time-consuming or expensive to remember everyone important in your family's life with something special. Last-minute gifts that cost little but give much are great to have on-hand. Simple homemade goodies from the kitchen or the garden are gifts from the heart that your recipients will remember. Presentation is everything: stock up on festive ribbons, cello bags and gift tags that will make your gifts stand out. Try placing gifts of homemade hot cocoa or teabags in a festive holiday mug. Months after the Christmas tree comes down and the decorations are packed away, gifts of fresh plants will continue to flourish. For an extrasensory experience, give fragrant plants such as rosemary, lavender or paper-whites that please through both sight and scent. Enhance the presentation by adding decorative elements: scented pinecones, faux berries, mini ornaments and ribbons to the containers. Pots of herbs make beautiful, useful gifts and are convenient to purchase as most grocers stock them year-round. Reuse paper grocery bags to wrap the bags and embellish with ribbons, cards or Christmas candies to bring the gifts to life in just a few minutes. Tasty treats from the kitchen look beautiful and taste even better. Step outside the box and create one of the easy goodies below as a quick and inexpensive gift everyone will enjoy. M DECEMBER/JANUARY 2013 MACON MAGAZINE I 91 Photography by danny gilleland