kimberly – Page 8 – One Homely House

Posted on March 18, 2021April 7, 2021 by kimberly — 14 Comments

Rhubarb Custard Kuchen

This pretty springtime dessert will delight your family with sweet, creamy custard and tart rhubarb.

At the first signs of spring, I want to fill my kitchen with fresh flavors and colors. This pretty pink dessert will grace any springtime spread, from elegant brunches to simple suppers. The tart flavor of rhubarb marries surprisingly well with a sweet custard filling inside a delicate crust. It’s dainty enough for tea parties, yet simple enough for busy weekdays.

Even better, it’s quick to prepare: you can make the crust and filling in the time it takes to heat your oven! (Well, admittedly, my oven takes longer than most to preheat. Give yourself about 20 minutes.)

Last but not least among its virtues, this rhubarb custard kuchen is always a favorite treat–even among those who profess to dislike rhubarb! If you have such a one in your family, I suggest you serve him this dessert, and see if he doesn’t change his mind about rhubarb!

What is a kuchen?

“Kuchen” is a German word for cake. Usually, it means a cake that is served with coffee. There are several different types of German cakes that fit this definition, but one common type is the custard kuchen. Custard kuchens can be more cake-like or more pie-like depending on how thick the crust is. They usually have a creamy, custardy layer with fruit on top, and a thick or thin crust on the bottom.

Many traditional recipes contain little sugar; they are mostly sweetened by the fruit they contain. This recipe, you will note, has a fair amount of sugar! That is needed to balance out the tartness of the rhubarb. (You could probably decrease the sugar a little with no ill results, if you think this looks like too much. I would rather rest assured that my family will eat it!) This particular recipe is an old family recipe. I adapted it slightly from a recipe handwritten by my great-grandmother.

Method

Prepare the crust

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.

For the crust, combine the flour, sugar, and salt in a medium size mixing bowl. Cut the cold butter into small pieces, then cut it into the flour mixture until crumbly. You may use a pastry blender, a fork, or the tips of your fingers to work the butter into the flour. It should be thoroughly incorporated, so that you can’t see any chunks of butter larger than a small pea. I find it helpful to finish mixing with my fingers, even if I start with a pastry blender. This allows me to feel the mixture and make sure there are no big pieces of butter hiding!

Pour the crust mixture into a 7×11-inch baking pan with sides at least one inch high. If you don’t have this size of pan, you can also use a 13×9-inch baking pan.

NOTE: if you use a larger pan, make sure to read through the recipe first and note the adjustments you will need to make!

rhubarb kuchen crust — The crust should be crumbly when you pat it into the pan.

Press the crust mixture into the bottom of the pan and about one inch up the sides. You will note that the crust is very crumbly and delicate. That’s fine; it can be spread very thinly. Just make sure there aren’t any holes in it.

If you are using a 13×9-inch pan, you will not need to press the crust mixture very high up the sides. (Nor will you be able to!) Make sure the bottom of the pan is covered with crust, then press it as far up the sides as you can. One-half inch is fine.

Set the pan aside carefully. Try not to jar it, as the crust mixture will shift easily. If this happens, just use your fingertips to spread it back as evenly as you can.

Adding the rhubarb

You may use fresh or frozen rhubarb for this recipe. If you choose to use frozen rhubarb, don’t thaw it before preparing the kuchen, or you will end up with a mushy mess! The rhubarb should be chopped into 1/2-inch thick slices. You may use green or red rhubarb; but red is, of course, much prettier!

The amount of rhubarb you need will depend on the size of pan you use. As a guideline, it should be about 2-3 cups. You may need a bit more if you are using a 13×9-inch pan. Or if you like rhubarb a lot!

This pretty rhubarb custard kuchen will delight your family with sweet, creamy custard and tart rhubarb. — Use as much rhubarb as you need to fill your pan. I used about 2 1/2 cups of frozen rhubarb here.

Carefully spread the chopped rhubarb in a single layer on top of the crust mixture. Use as much as you need to cover the crust.

Making the custard

The last step is preparing the custard filling. In a medium size mixing bowl, beat 3 eggs with a fork. Stir in the sugar, light cream, and a dash of salt. If you can’t find light cream, use half & half. Or mix heavy cream with milk. In a pinch, you can even use whole milk. It won’t affect the consistency.

Preparing the custard for the kuchen. — Pour the custard over the rhubarb. Try to cover all the fruit evenly.

Stir the custard mixture until it is well combined. Then pour it evenly over the rhubarb in the pan. Bake the kuchen for 45-50 minutes if using a 13×9-inch pan, or for 50-60 minutes if using an 11×7-inch pan. The center should be set and the edges slightly browned.

Set the pan on a wire rack to cool. Chill at least 2 hours before serving. You may dust the kuchen with confectioner’s sugar just before serving, if you wish.

This rhubarb custard kuchen will keep in the refrigerator for 4-5 days, but ours never lasts that long!

Print Recipe

4 from 3 votes

Rhubarb Custard Kuchen

This pretty dessert will grace any table, from elegant brunches to simple suppers. Tart rhubarb with creamy custard is the perfect spring treat!

Prep Time20

Cook Time1

Chilling2

Total Time3 20

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: German

Keyword: Brunch, Custard, Dessert, Kuchen, Rhubarb

Servings: 18 to 24 servings

Author: kimberly

Ingredients

1 cup all-purpose flour unbleached
2 tbsp sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup cold butter
2-3 cups rhubarb chopped in 1/2" pieces
3 eggs lightly beaten
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup light cream or half & half
dash salt
2 tsp confectioner's sugar optional

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare crust: mix together flour, sugar, and salt in a medium mixing bowl. Cut in butter with a pastry blender or fork until the mixture resembles fine crumbs.
Pat crust mixture into the bottom and sides of an 11×7" pan. Crust should come at least 1" up the sides of the pan.
Line crust with pieces of chopped rhubarb. Use enough for a single layer of rhubarb pieces.
Prepare custard: in a mixing bowl, lightly beat 3 eggs. Stir in sugar, salt, and light cream. Pour the custard mixture over rhubarb.
Bake for 50-60 minutes, until the center is set and the edges begin to brown. Cool pan on a wire rack. Chill for at least 2 hours before serving. Dust with confectioner's sugar just before serving, if desired.

Notes

You may use fresh or frozen rhubarb for this recipe.

To prepare in a 13×9″ pan: press crust mixture into bottom of pan and 1/2″ up sides. You will need more rhubarb, at least 3 cups. Bake for 45 minutes.

Posted on March 4, 2021April 7, 2021 by kimberly — 2 Comments

Overnight Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal

Wake up to a warm, comforting breakfast when you prepare this apple cinnamon baked oatmeal the night before! Just perfect for chilly mornings when you need something satisfying. Breakfast is in the oven!

I love waking up to a warm, comforting breakfast on chilly mornings. But I don’t always have time to prepare something fancy, especially on weekdays. That’s why this overnight baked oatmeal is a perfect choice when you need to feed your family something filling and nutritious that doesn’t take much time to prepare. Just take it out of the refrigerator and pop it in the oven when you get up, and enjoy a delicious breakfast in less than half an hour!

Jump to Recipe

If you have some time to spare in the morning, you can still mix it up while the oven is heating. The batter is very simple, and it only takes a few minutes to stir everything together.

Best of all, you can change up the flavors very easily. I adapted an Amish recipe for a simple baked oatmeal, and added fruit and spices. You can use peaches instead of apples, dried fruit instead of fresh, maple extract instead of vanilla… whatever strikes your fancy!

I hope your family enjoys this warm, cozy breakfast as much as mine does. Be sure to serve it with plenty of milk and cream for extra protein and creamy goodness!

If you have a picky eater who doesn’t like the texture of oatmeal cooked on the stove, try this baked oatmeal recipe! It’s crumbly rather than sticky and mushy, so your picky eater might just love it!

Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal with plenty of cream... that's what perfect mornings are made of! — Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal with plenty of cream… that’s what perfect mornings are made of!

Method

Melt the butter in a microwave or on the stovetop. Cool slightly and pour into a large mixing bowl before adding the brown sugar and eggs. Mix thoroughly and set aside.

In another bowl, combine the quick oats, salt, baking powder, and spices. You can use cinnamon alone, or with nutmeg, or go all out and add cloves and ginger as well! If you do choose to use more spices, stick to 1/4 teaspoon of each additional spice. Stir well to evenly distribute the spices.

You can certainly substitute regular rolled oats for the quick oats if you are preparing the oatmeal the night before. Regular rolled oats don’t work so well if you prepare the oatmeal right before baking, because they don’t have as much time to soak up liquid, and the resulting texture is a bit chewy.

Pour the oat mixture into the butter mixture and stir well to combine. Add the milk and vanilla extract, if desired.

If you are mixing this up at night, use 1-1/3 cups of milk. If you are mixing it in the morning just before baking, use only 1 cup of milk. The reason is that the oats will soak up more liquid as they sit, so the oatmeal will dry out too much if you leave it overnight with only 1 cup of milk.

Last, mix in the chopped apple pieces. Feel free to add some chopped nuts if you like; 1/2 cup should be enough.

Butter a 13×9″ baking dish. Pour the oatmeal mixture into the dish and cover tightly with plastic wrap. Refrigerate overnight.

In the morning, preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Remove the plastic wrap from the baking dish. Bake uncovered for 25-30 minutes, until the center is set and the edges are just beginning to brown.

Serve warm with milk and cream. You can serve this apple cinnamon baked oatmeal straight from the oven; the milk or cream poured over the oatmeal will cool it enough for even the littlest mouths!

For more cozy and comforting recipes, try this Best Banana Bread or Cranberry Sweetheart Scones!

Enjoy!

~Kimberly

Print Recipe

Overnight Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal

Warm, spicy apples and cinnamon mixed with oatmeal in a make-ahead dish you prepare the night before makes this comforting breakfast easy as pie!

Prep Time10

Cook Time25

Refrigeration8

Total Time8 35

Course: Breakfast

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Apple, Cinnamon, Oatmeal

Servings: 8

Author: kimberly

Ingredients

1/2 cup butter melted
2/3 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
3 cups quick oats
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg optional
1-1/3 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla extract optional
1 small tart apple peeled and chopped

Instructions

Combine melted butter and brown sugar in a large mixing bowl. Add eggs, stirring well to combine.
In another bowl, combine oats, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg if desired. Mix thoroughly.
Pour oat mixture into butter mixture, stirring well. Add milk and vanilla extract, if desired.
Stir in the chopped apple pieces.
Butter a 13×9" baking pan. Pour oatmeal mixture into the pan. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
In the morning, preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Bake the oatmeal uncovered for 25-30 minutes, until the center is set and edges are just beginning to brown.
Serve warm with milk and cream.

Notes

You may substitute regular rolled oats for quick oats if you prepare this the night before.

If you are preparing this dish in the morning, reduce milk to 1 cup.

Posted on February 27, 2021February 27, 2021 by kimberly — 3 Comments

How to Refresh Your Home Without Spending Money

Does your house need a refresh? Sometimes organizing and rearranging is all that's needed to make you happy in your home!

Around February or March every year, I get the urge to change things up around my house. Maybe it’s due to the long Alaskan winters, when I’ve just spent several months inside. Maybe it’s some ancient instinct for cleaning and tidying in anticipation of spring. Maybe it’s just my fickle nature that likes to see something new once in a while. Whatever the reason, I always seem to find lots of energy to thoroughly clean, tidy, and reorganize our cabin this time of year.

This desire to see something new sometimes makes me want to go out and buy things to make my house look pretty. But this isn’t always the best solution. I like to see what I can do with what I already have, before heading out shopping. You can too, and you might be surprised at what a change you can make to a familiar space just by a few simple fixes.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you click the link and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Please read my full disclosure here.

1. Clean and Discard

This is usually the first step. Take one room at a time, and one cabinet, shelf, or counter in turn. Take everything out and clean it before putting the items back.

As you put the items back, ask yourself if you really need them. Is there any expired food in your kitchen? Are you keeping clothes that are worn out or you’ve never worn? Have you ever opened this textbook you saved from college? How many blank notebooks does one really need?

Discarding some items always helps with organization later! During your initial cleaning and discarding, you might find yourself with empty boxes or storage containers. Save these! You might find a different area to use them during a later step of the process.

The cleaning step doesn’t have to mean completely turning your house upside down and cleaning every nook and cranny. If you don’t want to combine tidying with spring cleaning, I understand. Spring cleaning is a big enough job on its own! However, I can’t take everything out of a cupboard to organize it and NOT wipe down the cupboard while it’s empty.

So, you have two options: you can either consider this organization spree as getting a head start on some of your spring cleaning (without trying to tackle it all), or don’t think about spring cleaning at all, and just clean messes as you come to them in the course of organizing.

2. Step back and look at each room

Sometimes this step actually has to come first, before you take everything apart to clean. (This is true for areas that are already messy.) Are there problem areas in a room, places that are always messy? How can you reorganize the items in that space to make them fit better, or reimagine the space to make it less of a dumping place?

(Sometimes this can take a while. I’ve sat and stared at an overflowing bookshelf for longer than I care to admit before inspiration struck!)

Here’s where your saved storage containers and boxes come in handy. Even cardboard boxes can be helpful to visualize whether or not a rearrangement idea will work in a particular space. For example, if you’re trying to organize a shelf that’s always messy, some baskets or boxes placed on the shelf can help keep things contained better. But if you don’t have enough pretty baskets or bins lying around, you can use cardboard boxes as a temporary solution.

I know it’s not pretty, but this prevents you from running out and buying more storage containers before you’re finished organizing the whole house. Remember, you might find more storage containers in a different room that could be repurposed! It’s a good idea to wait until the whole house is organized before you buy anything new.

Give each shelf a purpose

Sometimes the answer to a problem area is that you just need to change or define its purpose. If a table or shelf doesn’t have a specific function, it can easily become a place where random objects get set down and forgotten.

I had a shelf in my kitchen that didn’t have a specific purpose, and it was always messy. Papers piled up there, objects that needed to be put away, things that didn’t have a home… it was always an eyesore! I decided that since I obviously didn’t need that shelf for storing kitchen things, I would turn it into a decorative shelf. Now it’s the prettiest place in my kitchen, and (almost) never messy.

Think about whether or not any of your problem areas need a real purpose. This can be a great opportunity to find decorative spaces you didn’t even know you had! You can even use prominent tables or shelves for extra storage, if you need it. Find pretty baskets or boxes to arrange neatly, and you’ve created an appealing space that also serves a useful purpose.

3. Try different furniture arrangements

Even if there are no specific problem areas, you may want to look around the room and imagine some different furniture arrangements. If the furniture isn’t too heavy, you might enjoy moving it around to different places, just to see what looks nice.

You could discover that different furniture arrangements make more sense in the spring and summer, as the light changes and the trees eventually get their leaves. Perhaps you could move your favorite chair closer to a sunny window, which might have been too chilly in the winter.

You might think this step is a waste of time, because you’ve found the ideal placement for all the furniture in a room. I know the feeling, but I’ve been surprised when we suddenly gained more space by adding another piece of furniture, which forced us to rearrange the pieces that were already there! Since then, I have tried to keep an open mind about different ideas, and embraced the opportunity to occasionally change furniture arrangements!

4. Ask yourself if there is anything that particularly bothers you about each room

Are the curtains hung wrong? Maybe it’s time to set them straight. Do some colors or patterns clash? See if moving the offending object across the room or to a different room helps.

Is there some piece of furniture or artwork that you just don’t like? Aside from getting rid of the object entirely, you could try covering a piece of furniture with a pretty cloth or slipcover.

If you have a fabric stash in your house, you can work magic without heading to the store. New curtains, or even new trimmings on old curtains, can add interest to your windows. Fresh pillow covers can hide stained or worn ones. A pretty blanket thrown over an ugly chair can completely cover that pattern you don’t like.

In the case of smaller objects or artwork, it might not bother you as much if it was moved to a different location, or grouped with a set of other objects so it is not the sole focus of attention. Or consider putting it away in a closet for a month or two. If you forget about it, you probably don’t really need or want it. Feel free to send it on to a new home!

Finding Time to Organize

If all this sounds great to you, but you can’t just drop all of your other responsibilities to tidy and rearrange your house for a few days, try these tips for making time to organize:

Set aside an hour or two each day

It’s okay to take a little bit at a time, and work through your house slowly. Unless you can come up with a totally free weekend, you will probably need at least a week of smaller increments to finish the job.

Find a time when you’re in a positive mood and not too tired

After supper is probably not the best time, unless you’re a night owl! And if you get to the scheduled time but you’re feeling frazzled or worn out, don’t even start organizing. You will only get more frustrated with yourself. It’s much better to skip a day or two if you’re really too busy, than to try and force yourself to accomplish too much. We want this to be a pleasant task, remember?

Start with an area that’s not too big, but really bothers you

The satisfaction from tidying and organizing a perpetual eyesore will help to motivate you to keep going. However, trying to tackle a big area first can be overwhelming, so don’t pick the biggest mess in the house to start with!

I like to start with something I know I can finish in an afternoon, like one dresser. Maybe even just the top of the dresser, if it’s really messy. If I start with something that I’ve been meaning to organize, that gives me energy to plow through the rest of the house!

Other tips for organizing

Deciding what to keep

Keep things because you like them, not because you think they might come in handy some day or because you think you ought to. Sure, you just might find a use for that metal fitting some day. But 37 plastic containers? A broken bicycle? That vase (or sweater, or picture) which you don’t even like, but it’s from a relative?

Some things are precious because they are family heirlooms, and hold special memories. Some things are objectively useful (like storage containers), but having too many of them makes them just one more thing to store.

The more stuff you have in your house, the more time and energy you must spend in cleaning and organizing it. You must decide yourself which things to keep, but I know for myself, I would rather live with less stuff in a space that is neat and uncluttered, than with a lot of stuff I might need someday.

A Note on Paper

Papers can be some of the most time-consuming things to sort through and organize. One piece of paper takes up barely any space, but when you’re going through them, you have to look at each one individually. This takes both time and energy–and you don’t always see a huge improvement when you’re done, even if you throw out a lot of paper!

For this reason, I always save papers for last, or close to last. If I come across a file or binder of papers while I’m organizing, I move it to my desk until I have leisure to sit down and decide which ones I really need to keep.

Methods of Organization

Some people like to organize room by room, while others advise organizing by each type of item: clothes, kitchen utensils, books, etc. I have done both, and found both to be helpful.

I did read Marie Kondo’s book, “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up,” and tidied my house using her method about a year ago. It was very thorough, and I think everyone could benefit from tidying that way… once. It’s not a process that needs to be repeated every month, or year. (Hopefully!)

However, her method of tidying doesn’t keep your house perfect forever. You still have to put things away where they belong, of course. And if anything new comes into your house, you will need to find a home for it. That is why I still do an organizing or tidying spree once a year: because during the past year, things came into my house, so now I need to rethink the storage spaces that worked earlier.

This time around, tidying went much faster, and I barely had to touch some areas. (I didn’t gain any new kitchen utensils, so they’re still organized from last year.) But in the end, I still gained the same sense of satisfaction in surveying a clean, tidy home.

Tidying and organizing makes me happy to live in my home. I hope it has the same effects for you!

Happy Homemaking!

~Kimberly

Posted on December 5, 2020December 5, 2020 by kimberly — Leave a comment

Gift Ideas for Homemakers

This is the time of year where you start seeing “gift guides” pop up everywhere, claiming to tell you the perfect presents to buy for just about anyone. There’s nothing wrong with the idea per se; thinking of gifts for everyone in your family can be quite a task!

However, the best gifts can’t be found on Amazon. Some of the most meaningful gifts I’ve been given are handmade, and some of them aren’t tangible things at all!

This gift guide for homemakers is designed to stretch your imagination and help you think creatively about your gift-giving. It is geared toward homemakers or any women who appreciate homey things, whether that’s your mother, daughter, next-door neighbor, or an elderly lady from your church.

Handmade vs. Purchased Gifts

I love making gifts for friends and family members… and I’m always terribly disappointed when I run out of time (or steam) for all of the projects I planned! Also, I know that not everyone has the time or patience for projects like this.

Therefore, I have included links to several small homemaker-run shops in this article. I am happy to support these ladies and their families, and delighted to share their goods with you!

1. Homemade Soaps, Lotions, and other toiletries

Soaps, lotions, and other handmade toiletries make lovely gifts.

These common household items don’t have to be the plain drugstore variety. Brighten someone’s toilette or vanity with a pretty bar of handmade soap or a jar of hand cream. If you wish to avoid fragrances altogether (or just can’t decide which scent to choose), opt for unscented varieties.

Katie has some easy beginner tutorials for soap making and lotion making, if you’re just getting started. She also has many other recipes for pretty, scented soaps on her website, Heart’s Content Farmhouse.

Soap making is a useful skill, and mixing your own scents with essential oils can be fun, but not everyone enjoys this type of messy or lengthy project. If you would rather buy a finished product than make your own, check out these shops:

Soaps: Bowling Bee Co.

Herbal Bath Salts: Under a Tin Roof

2. Candles

What’s more homey than a flickering candle on the windowsill or in the corner of your kitchen? Pretty and practical, candles not only provide light on dim evenings (or during power outages); every room looks more cheerful, bathed in their warm, soft glow.

Making beeswax tapers or jar candles is on my list of projects to try, but I haven’t gotten there yet! Browse through a gift shop for locally-made candles, or visit Laura at CandlesandCoffeeHouse.com for candles, cute mugs, and more! Old Light Candle Co. is another great resource!

3. Baking or Cooking Mixes

These mixes can be anything from the soup or muffin “gifts in a jar”, to spice blends, to hot drink mixes… you get the idea. These gifts show that you took the time to make something special, but they can be saved for later instead of added to the already-overwhelming stash of Christmas goodies!

Even better, these mixes help homemakers by speeding up the cooking or baking process. We all know that anything that can make dinner prep less stressful is a winner!

Here are some of my favorite mixes to get your creative juices flowing:

Hot Cocoa Mix
Herbal Teas
Taco Seasoning Mix
Steak Seasoning Mix
Italian Herb Seasoning
Ranch Dressing/Dip Mix
Bean Soup Mix
Muffin mix (with mix-ins like chocolate, dried fruits, and/or nuts)

If you need a recipe for any of these, I find Pinterest very helpful — for pretty packaging ideas as well as actual recipes! You can visit my Pinterest board DIY Pantry for more inspiration!

4. Stationery or Greeting Cards

Kitchen and garden stationery by OneHomelyHouse on Etsy

Do you know someone who sends thoughtful cards or writes letters by hand? I think it is a wonderful practice, and I really enjoy both writing and receiving penned greetings from friends and family alike.

Pretty papers and cards make these friendly missives so much nicer! Why not give your favorite correspondent a pack of pretty stationery or greeting cards?

You can make your own with colored cardstock and rubber stamps, or choose a design from a friendly little stationery company. *This is a shameless plug for my Etsy shop!* I have greeting cards, letter paper, and recipe cards in several kitchen and floral designs in my shop right now!

5. Kitchen accessories

Old fashioned housekeeping tips for the modern homemaker

Homemakers spend a good deal of time in their kitchens, so kitchen-themed gifts are often very welcome. Anything pretty and new (to the recipient, at least) for the eye to rest on in the course of daily tasks brightens the eye and prompts a smile.

If you are worried about not matching the style of the recipient, choose something with neutral colors that will not be displayed prominently. Here are some useful kitchen accessories that make nice gifts for homemakers:

Wooden spoons – new or thrifted, you can never have too many!
Tea towels – look for seasonal prints or more neutral hues
Recipe cards – you can find many lovely designs on Etsy, such as these!
Potholders or trivets – they do wear out or get scorched, and fresh ones are nice
Cutting boards – vintage or new, engraved or painted
Cookbooks – almost every homemaker I know collects cookbooks to some extent. These are a few of my favorites!

6. Gift Baskets

I love to look at the pretty gift baskets at silent auctions and fundraisers! They are usually themed: family game night, spa day, cookie baking, wine and cheese… the options are endless.

For me, it’s a fun excuse to pick out some pretty things I wouldn’t buy for myself, and arrange them in a thrifted basket with a festive cloth and ribbon!

Here are some more basket themes perfect for a homemaker:

Beginner Baking Basket
Coffee & Chocolate
Holiday Table Trimmings (table runner/cloth/placemats, cloth napkins, napkin rings, etc.)
Gardener’s Delight (garden tools, seed packets, bulbs, garden stakes)
Simple Sewing Basket (basic sewing supplies plus a simple apron pattern or such)
Teatime (fancy teas, silver teaspoons, lacy napkins, scone mix)
Wine & Cheese

For even more lovely ideas, see Jamie’s post for 22 different gift baskets!

7. Intangible Gifts

The best gifts aren’t always things. Sometimes it’s hard to think of presents for certain people because they already have everything they need, yet they don’t appreciate frivolous trinkets.

In this situation, sometimes the gift of your time or attention can be the perfect gift. Here are some intangible offerings that many homemakers would appreciate:

Babysitting for an evening, an afternoon, or an entire day!
Help with yard work (especially for older folks)
Organize friends to provide meals for a family with a new baby, during a move, or going through tough times for whatever reason
Visit, call, or write to the recipient at least once a week for the next several months. These simple acts show how much you care.
Spiritual Bouquet: offer prayers for this person (your family can participate!) for a set period, and send the recipient a card telling her how much she is loved & prayed for.

***

I hope you have enjoyed this list of gift ideas for homemakers! Of course there are many more options for homemade and purchased gifts, but this should help you to start thinking creatively for your gift giving!

Last but not least, if you know a homemaker who could use some homemaking inspiration, send her my way!

Happy Homemaking!

~ Kimberly