The custom of gift-giving on Christmas goes back to Roman festivals of Saturnalia and Kalends. The very first gifts were simple items such as twigs from a sacred grove as good luck emblems. It wasn't long before food, small items of jewelry, candles, and statues of gods were given as gifts. To the early church, gift-giving was a pagan holdover and therefore severely frowned upon. However, people would not part with their traditions. Most Christian holidays are merely adaptations of local Pagan traditions. To appease the masses, some justification was found in the original gift giving of the Magi, and from figures such as St. Nicholas. By the Middle Ages gift giving was accepted.

I'm all about returning to the basics. Years ago, the holiday seasons meant simple parties. Homes were decorated simply and the aroma of coal- and fire-burning furnaces permeated through the cold winter days. Every day, new Christmas goodies would appear on the kitchen table as the neighborhood bakers went into overdrive, creating holiday goodness. To this day, I truly feel the best gifts are those that are made by hand. These gifts take thought, planning, and most important ... time.

Just how do you create a holiday treat that fits within your time schedule? Start early and plan the types of goodies you want to make. Come up with ideas that can be used and enjoyed by your neighbors. Sweet and savory breads, cookie mixes, hand-dipped chocolates and candies are all commonplace during the holidays. Whatever you plan on making, start your planning now.

When you plan out your holiday treats, think small. Don't waste your time and money on monster platters. These large platters are cumbersome and many items are simply thrown away because they're not eaten. Choose treats that won't break the bank. Chocolate, sugar, butter and spices are expensive. When planning what you would like to make, be sure it fits within your budget. My favorite treat to share with neighbors and friends are small bread loaves. The small loaves don't overwhelm the senses and can be accompanied by many options. For example, if you want to make a jar of jam or jelly to accompany your loaf, you can. You could include a can or a mix of your favorite soup with your loaf of bread. A simple cube or stick of butter may be an option to be enjoyed with your fresh loaf of bread, too. These options are only limited by your imagination.

To make a small loaf of bread, you will need to pick up some bread molds that are small and accommodate what you are trying to accomplish. These small bread molds can be purchased at most kitchen specialty stores. Plan a day when you can allocate about 3 to 4 hours of baking time. This is a great opportunity to get your housework done, whereas, most of bread making is waiting for bread to proof. Before starting, do a quick check to make sure you have everything you need to make the type of bread you've chosen to create. Flour, milk, water, butter, sugar, yeast, salt and eggs are all common ingredients in the household pantry making bread loaves a perfect holiday gift item.

Common mistakes with bread making include getting your liquids too hot, adding too much flour or trying to rush the dough. Don't add the yeast to liquids that are too hot. Liquids should never be hotter than 110 degrees. If you are using milk to make your dough, be sure to scald your milk first then cool it down to appropriate temperatures. Be careful not to add to much flour to your dough. Most importantly, have fun and enjoy some old fashioned Christmas gift giving.

Here is a wonderful recipe for enriched bread dough. This dough is soft, delicious and will make a wonderful gift for any neighbor, friend or yourself.

Enriched Bread Dough

» 1 cup scalded milk cooled to room temperature (use whole milk)

» 1 tablespoon instant yeast

» 1 large egg

» 1/3 cup sugar

» 1/3 cup unsalted butter, softened

» 1 tablespoon cardamom

» 2 1/2 cups high protein flour

» 1 1/2 teaspoon salt

1 » In a large mixing bowl add the milk, yeast, egg, and sugar. Let sit for 10 minutes

2 » Add the butter, flour, and salt.

3 » Knead until mixture pulls together into a soft dough, (About 10 minutes).

4 » Place dough into a lightly greased bowl, cover with plastic wrap and allow dough to double in size.

5 » Shape dough as desired.

6 » Brush shaped dough with melted butter, and allow to double in size.

7 » Bake in a preheated 350-degree oven for approximately 30 minutes. Baked bread should have a beautiful golden color to it.

8 » Remove from oven, allow to cool.