Chic, Cheap Gifts For Party Hostesses

With the economy in a slump, many folks are opting to stay home this summer and entertain a bit more, which means there'll likely be a few more summer soirees than usual on your calendar.

Of course, you won't want to show up empty-handed, so Early Show contributor Katie Lee Joel offered some great ideas for "in," and inexpensive, gifts for party hostesses.

Joel loves hosting friends and family, so she knows how much effort goes into planning -- all the more reason to show your appreciation by bringing a little something.

You can even make some of these yourself!

Know Your Hostess: Show your hostess you put thought behind your gift by giving her something that compliments her interests and hobbies:

Voluspa Japonica Candle Gift Set: A classy set of beautifully wrapped candles that have lovely and unique scents. $30; www.anthropologie.com

Eco Tote Bag: For the environment-conscious hostess, this eco-friendly bag can serve multi-purposes for food shopping or as a beach bag. $10; www.katespaperie.com

Kate's Paperie Recipe Box: A recipe box is a great culinary keepsake for any cook. This one comes with 50 traditional recipes and 50 blank recipe cards. For a personal touch, add in some of your own favorites. $16.95; www.katespaperie.com

Satisfy Your Hostess: Everyone loves food gifts, but remember to be creative. These are some of Katie's all-time favorite indulgences.

Homemade Treats

Homemade Granola: Fill a mason jar with homemade granola and tie recipe around the neck of the jar with raffia ribbon. This is an excellent gift for a hostess, because it can be served for breakfast.

Sugar-Spiced Nuts: Fill a cellophane bag and attach recipe with a beautiful ribbon. Buy a chic snack bowl, so the hostess can serve them during cocktail hour.

Chocolate Chip and Dried Cherry Cookie Mix: In a jar, layer homemade cookie mix with the recipe attached to it, and instructions for how to use it.

SEE PAGE 2 FOR RECIPES FOR THOSE ITEMS

Store-bought Treats

Garrett Popcorn: It's the BEST popcorn and can be mail-ordered online. You can customize the kind of tin you like and the kinds of popcorn you'd like to fill it with. Flavors range from caramel crisp, cheese, cashew caramel crisp, pecan caramel, etc. The Joel household always has a tin of Garrett's in the pantry. $28-$185; www.garrettpopcorn.com

Graeter's Ice Cream: Located in Cincinnati, Graeter's is the BEST ice cream you'll ever eat, anywhere in the world. Joel went to college in the area and now orders it online for herself and sends it as gifts all the time. You choose the flavors, such as blackberry chocolate chip, mint chocolate chip, toffee chip, etc., and it's packaged in dry ice in a Styrofoam container and shipped anywhere in the continental U.S. $80 for 6 pints; www.graeters.com

Jacques Torres Chocolates: Joel loves the chocolate-covered cheerios (4oz bag, $5), cornflakes (4 oz bag, $5), graham crackers (2.5oz bag, $4.50), and macadamia nuts (1/4 pound bag, $7.50 to 11oz. cylinder, $20). They also offer a Chocolate Heaven Gift that sends chocolates once a month for three months for $120 -- a gift that keeps on giving! www.mrchocolate.com

RECIPES

Homemade Granola

Yields 8 cups (10-12 servings)

3 cups rolled oats
1/2 cup unsalted hulled sunflower seeds
1/2 cup unsalted hulled pumpkin seeds
1/2 cup flaked coconut
1/4 cup wheat germ
1-1/2 cups chopped unsalted mixed nuts (almonds, pecans, walnuts, Brazil nuts, cashews, etc.)
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
4 tablespoons (½ stick) unsalted butter or canola oil
1/3 cup pure maple syrup
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup chopped mixed dried fruit (raisins, cranberries, dates, apricots, figs, prunes, etc.)

Preheat oven to 350°F.

In a large bowl, mix together the oats, sunflower and pumpkin seeds, coconut, wheat germ, nuts, cinnamon, and salt.

In a small saucepan melt butter in the maple syrup over low heat. Stir in the vanilla. Add to the oat mixture. Add 2 tablespoons water and stir until well combined. Spread the granola evenly on a large baking sheet. Bake for 30 minutes, stirring at 10-minute intervals to ensure uniform baking, until golden brown. Remove from oven and let cool in the pan. Stir in the dried fruits.

When completely cooled, place in an airtight container. Granola will keep at room temperature for 1 to 2 weeks. It also freezes well for future use.

Sweet-n-Spicy Nuts

2 egg whites
1 Tablespoon water
4 cups unsalted mixed nuts
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 Tablespoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1/2 teaspoon cumin
Pinch cayenne pepper (optional)

Preheat oven to 300 F.

In a large bowl, whisk egg whites and water until frothy. In a separate bowl, combine sugar and spices. Add nuts and sugar mixture to egg whites. Mix until all of the nuts are evenly coated with sugar mixture. Evenly spread onto a parchment lined baking sheet. Bake 20-25 minutes, until nuts are crisp. Let cool completely before serving or packaging.

Dark Chocolate Chunk and Dried Cherry Cookies

Yields 36 cookies

2-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon kosher salt
8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
2/3 cup packed dark brown sugar
2/3 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
8 ounces dark chocolate, coarsely chopped
1 cup dried cherries (about 6 ounces), coarsely chopped

Preheat oven to 375°F. Position a rack in the middle of the oven. Grease two cookie sheets, or line with parchment paper.

In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.

In a large bowl, using a handheld electric mixer, cream the butter and sugars until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time beating until incorporated. Beat in the vanilla. Mix in the dry ingredients with the mixer on low speed until just combined. Stir in the chocolate and cherries with a wooden spoon.

Scoop by the heaping tablespoonful onto the cookie sheets. Bake until golden and chewy, 12 to 15 minutes. Transfer the cookies to a rack to cool. Store in an airtight container.