THE GIFT OF FOOD Give a gift that will make all tummies happy this season.
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Everyone likes to give and get a homemade present during the holidays. These local businesses offer fun edible gift ideas that are perfect for friends and family or even as a hostess gift for a Christmas party.
COOKIE COUTURE Jessica Crouch, owner of Cookie Couture, offers fresh homemade decorated cookies, designed and personalized to your special event. “I give customers full freedom to be involved with choosing or designing their cookies,” says Jessica. “The themes and colors are their choice. I am available to help with ideas and give direction as needed, but I want each customer to walk away feeling like they have chosen the best cookie design ever.” Cookie Couture also offers DIY cookie kits in any theme in case you’re looking for a fun gift for the kiddo on your shopping list. For $22, you’ll get a dozen cookies, sprinkles and colored icing that coordinates with your requested theme. Jessica first began making decorated cookies as a fundraiser for a friend who was battling breast cancer. “The first cookies I made were simple shapes with drizzled icing created from a recipe a friend shared with me in December 2013,” she says. “I had never decorated cookies before, so the squiggly lines they were adorned with were a great way to hide the fact that I didn’t know how to decorate yet. Thankfully the recipe makes a tasty cookie, because those early designs sure weren’t Etsy or Pinterest worthy.” These days, Jessica offers not only decorated cookies but little works of art. To
Eye cookie photo courtesy of Cookie Couture; Popcorn photo courtesy of Giggles Gourmet Popcorn Company; Cookie Lab Cookie photo courtesy of Cookie Lab Ocala
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