Peanut Butter Filled Chocolate Chip Cookies in a Jar

I've got an easy and tasty late minute gift idea for you! Christmas is just a week away and I'm still trying to finish up my Christmas gifts. I thought I'd share this cookie recipe with you as a quick gift you can put together. I think it would make a great hostess gift. Heck, I love this for myself. It's all the tasty rewards of baking with less measuring and dish washing. Plus, it looks pretty in a jar.



To check out all the tutorials in my 6 Weeks of Gifting series, check out my DIY Holiday Gift Guide.

I think one of the first (if not the first) cookie recipe I ever made as a kid was chocolate chip cookies. And guess what? I'm still using the same recipe. Do you want to know my secret for the yummiest chocolate chip cookies? Pick up a bag of Nestle Toll House Semi-Sweet Morsels and look at the back. Yep, that's it. As much as I like to try and perfect my recipes and make them my own, I think this one is just perfect as is.

Mini Potholders: a sewing tutorial

I have a tutorial here for you today for my 6 Weeks of Gifting series. The theme this week is DIY gifts for people who love to cook and bake (you can find more gift ideas here. Today, I'm going to show you how to make these little potholders with pockets for your fingers. They're perfect for gripping edges of muffin tins and cookie sheets, as well as pot and casserole dish handles. I also love to use them to take hot dishes and trays out of the microwave and toaster oven. Don't sew? I have some for sale in my Etsy store.

10 for Tuesday: DIY Gift Ideas for the Chef

Today I'm kicking off my 6 Weeks of Gifting. Counting down to Christmas, each week I'll feature different DIY gift ideas and new tutorials. I love to give gifts that I made myself. I think it gives a personal touch and makes a unique gift. This first week is dedicated to those who love to cook and bake and spend time in the kitchen. I have for you today 10 kitchen-themed DIY gifts that involve sewing, crocheting, or just a bit of crafting.

10 for Tuesday: Free Sewing Tutorials for the Kitchen

I spent a lot of time in the kitchen cooking and baking. Especially now that is cooler outside and I can run my stove and oven without heating up the whole apartment. I admit that it's a bit drab in my kitchen with boring hand towels and old, burnt hot pads. It could definitely use a face lift and a bit of decor. So I've gathered 10 free sewing patterns for the kitchen. Grab a few yards of coordinating fabric and sew some matching hot pads and appliance covers.

The Sweetheart Apron

Last year for Christmas I made my brother's girlfriend an apron using a tutorial from WhollyKao. I'd pinned that tutorial ages ago to make one for myself, but had not gotten around to it. I think what turned me off for awhile was making all that ruffle. However, I picked up a remnant last fall from the fabric store that just screamed "apron" to me. In the spirit of giving, I decided to turn it into a Christmas present. I dedicated a whole afternoon to just making the ruffle. It was a lot of work, but I love how it turned out (and so did the recipient!) so I think it was worth it.

I was left with extra ruffle, but not quite enough to make a whole 'nother apron. As cute as the original had been, I just didn't want to spend the time consuming process of making more ruffle. Still, I really wanted to sew a cute apron for myself.