Spice Rub

Our 12 Days of Edible Gifts series is here! Over the next dozen days, we'll be sharing our favorite new homemade gifts for the holidays. Make them for loved ones as a budget-friendly heartfelt gift — but be sure to make extra to enjoy for yourself.

First up: the easiest edible gift of all, an all-purpose spice rub that comes together in one single, five-second step. Think of this rub as a magic elixir for everything from roasted vegetables to grilled chicken and pan-fried fish.

You could even sprinkle some on top of ramen, or add a spoonful to oil and vinegar for an intriguing salad dressing. If you've got lots of friends and family, multiply the batch and hand out tins as a thoughtful stocking stuffer. You can't go wrong! Now, for the recipe.

Last year, after reading countless turkey recipes, I finally decided on one from a somewhat unexpected source: Every Day With Rachael Ray. I didn't follow the method exactly — the magazine's recipe grills a turkey breast and I roasted a whole turkey — but I used the brine, spice rub, and glaze recommended. The resulting turkey, with a fiery brown color and slightly charred skin, was fabulously moist and super flavorful. The meat was so succulent it almost didn't need gravy. To check out the recipe, read more

Although this delectable chicken looks like he's running away, he's actually perched atop a beer can! Grilling chicken on an aluminum can is an excellent way to ensure that the meat stays moist and succulent. While it cooks, the beer evaporates and flavors the chicken's inside cavity. There's lots of ways to season the outside of a beer-can chicken, but I think the most satisfying is a classic spicy-sweet barbecue rub with a finger-licking good homemade sauce. My dad has a metal can holder that makes grilling a little easier, however, this tool is not necessary: one can cook the chicken on the can alone. To learn the technique to this campfire favorite, read more