Homemade Christmas Gift

You know I really must be bored with this unemployed life when I start making crafts I saw on the Today Show. Well today I did and with this economy maybe it can give someone else an idea of a gift to make for somebody.

Seriously these things are 10 bucks in a store so why not make it at home for a dollar. I'm no Martha Stewart but it was fun and they came out looking pretty good (but tasting better)

Ingredients:

12 ounce package of chocolate chips. You may use semi-sweet, white chocolate, milk choco or dark. Get a super good quality such as Ghiradelli.

20 heavy plastic clear spoons
Shortening
Measuring cup
Colored cellophane or Saran Wrap
Waxed paper
Thin Ribbon

Instructions

Pour the chips into a heatproof container, such as a measuring cup. A deep cup is the best for this project.
Microwave the cup of chips at half power for one minute. Stir. Repeat in 30 second bursts until chocolate is smooth and fully melted, but do NOT over cook.

Add to the melted chocolate one teaspoon of shortening for each cup of chips. Stir lightly until just blended.
Dip plastic spoons into the chocolate to coat the bowl and about one inch of the handle. If the chocolate starts to harden, microwave 30 seconds at half power.
Lay spoons on wax paper to set. When chocolate spoons have set, put them in the freezer for 15 minutes. This makes them easier to handle when you start to wrap them.Take squares of colored cellophane and wrap the coated spoons. Tie with a pretty ribbon.

Now you can experiment- Try drizzling streaks of white chocolate over dipped spoons to create a design. Sprinkle colored sugar on chocolate before it sets for a holiday look.
A bundle of chocolate spoons set in a coffee mug makes a nice gift.
Tie a few spoons to a bag of gourmet coffee beans or hot cocoa.