To Reciprocate Generosity: Make Treats to Say THX!

Sometimes, I like to be like, gracious and stuff. I like to say THANK YOU for bein' a friend. Travel down the road and back again. Your heart is true, you're a pal and a confidante... Shit, sorry. I often break into the Golden Girls theme song. 

But, so. To me, the best way to say thank you (for any number of things! Here are some examples: "Thank you for hosting me at your party!" or "Thank you for being nice front office staff in my apartment." or "Thank you for taking me out to a birthday dinner." or "Thank you for coming to my party." or "Thank you and here's something I made to show off how adorable I am." The last one is a bit spiteful, but let's be honest, we've all been there. Not you? Liar.) is by giving people some foods that have been wrapped up real nice. 

The other night, my friends graciously took me out to dinner because I turned older. And, while I love celebrating myself, I sometimes feel guilty about people spending money on me (my mother and father are like, "say whaaaaaaaaaa'? why has that never applied to us??"). I am also very cognizant of the whole controversy with the birthday dinner (or any sort of group dinner). GRANTED, the party the other night was different because I didn't invite everyone to eat at the most expensive restaurant and then order the $300 raw seafood platter and eat it all myself while slapping my friends' hands away, BUT THE POINT IS, I had an inkling they'd insist on paying, and knowing me, I'd be slightly embarrassed. And so I thought: why not say thank you with a treat? Give in the name of reciprocal generosity (a term I've made up).

homemade wax paper bags with washi tape

So, I made brown butter chocolate chip cookies courtesy of Joy the Baker. I also picked up some pralines while in New Orleans. Then, I put them into a festive little bag. Something of a travel gift + a homemade treat. Why not?

UMMMMM. These cookies were for the other thank you gift. AND, I might have put a tablespoon of baking soda in instead of a teaspoon. DON'T DO THAT! Just don't.

Another of my go to thank you food prizes is the lemon yogurt loaf from Smitten Kitchen (recipe adapted it from Ina Garten). I love this option for its ease and versatility. You can give it to the front office staff of your apartment to enjoy it with their cookies (like I did!) or, you can bring it to a dinner party for the hosts to enjoy as breakfast in the morning (I've done that, too!). 

But for me, aside from making/finding something delicious is to ensure you've wrapped it up real pretty. I rely on a few things: parchment paper, washi tape (which doesn't always stay too sticky, but it's so cute!!), baker's twine, and leftover Trader Joe's bags for the kraft paper look. I'll throw some cursive on whatever sized labeling I've decided on using this fancy technique (fancy = easy). Most importantly, I make sure there's at least a pop of a fun color or two. 

It's fun being gracious.