diy holiday gift

Over the last couple of weeks, my co-workers have been bringing cookies, banana bread, cheesecake and, well, lots of dairy filled desserts to the office. The way that everyone has been devouring these holiday treats got me thinking... what a perfect time of year to share healthy, cruelty-free goodies with non-vegans. This simple DIY gift put smiles on the faces of everyone I work with, and not just because of the pretty packaging.
I found the recipe for these perfectly crunchy and flavorful Almond-Anise Biscotti from Isa Chandra Moskowitz & Terry Hope Romero's Veganomicon. This was my first shot at biscotti, and I was so pleased with the outcome. Moskowitz and Romero provide ideas for creating other flavors too, like cranberry-pistachio and orange-chocolate chip, so I can't wait to try another yummy variation.

While browsing the isles at the fabric store, I found a package of little cellophane bags for storing decorated pretzels, which were the perfect size for wrapping up my biscotti. Most craft stores should carry something similar, especially during the holidays. I also chose some pretty holiday ribbon to finish of my project, but you can certainly use any of the ribbon you've been storing in your craft box for an occasion like this.

Once the biscotti have cooled, simply place each piece inside of a cellophane bag and twist the bags shut using a wire twist-tie. Carefully trim the ends of the twist-tie and tie a ribbon around the closure to hide wire underneath. Viola!
After my co-workers explained to me how much they enjoyed the biscotti dunked into their morning coffee or how they couldn't wait to get home before tearing into their treats in the car and loving every bite, I was so happy to know that I had given them all a chance to enjoy a simple, vegan pleasure.