Five food gifts you can whip up quickly

If you'd rather spend an afternoon in your kitchen than at a crowded mall, consider making treats for friends and family rather than buying presents. Homemade gifts are typically less expensive and more personal than what you find on store shelves.

They can also be better for the planet since they haven't travelled great distances to reach you. Using local and organic ingredients when you can and choosing the most minimal eco-friendly packaging (or what you have on hand) will add up to even bigger benefits for the environment.

The best part of homemade food gifts is that you know they taste delicious.  

Here are some simple recipes for mouth-watering treats:   

• It's takes less than an hour to make Mark Bittman's Carmalized Spiced Nuts.
• Whip up a dessert sauce and divide into small glass jars. Try Quick Hot Fudge Sauce or Caramel Sauce, or try dozens of other recipes.
• Even the most inexperienced bakers can tackle quick breads such as banana, spiced pumpkin, and zucchini.
• Everyone loves cookies baked from scratch. Gourmet Magazine features its favorite cookie from each year since it was founded in 1941. You're sure to be inspired by at least one of the 68 recipes. Bake them and wrap them up. Or make cookie batter, roll it into a log, wrap in wax paper, and tie ends with ribbon.   
• Make a spice rub that can be spread on chicken, pork, steak, or seafood and package it in cool tins or glass jars. Some suggestions: Five-Spice Rub, Moroccan Spice Rub, and Rustic Rub.

There's no shortage of ideas for treats you can make at home. Check out the following sources:

• Los Angeles Times' 50 ways to make your holiday gifts homemade.
• Martha Stewart has creative ideas for both food and packaging.
• Whole Foods Market provides easy recipes and labels you can print out and use.  

Environmental journalist Lori Bongiorno shares green-living tips and product reviews with Yahoo! Green's users. Send Lori a question or suggestion for potential use in a future column. Her book, Green Greener Greenest: A Practical Guide to Making Eco-smart Choices a Part of Your Life is available on Yahoo! Shopping and Amazon.com.