I am baking ahead this year and freezing the baked goods.  I have found that gives them a more moist taste, and doing it all ahead gives me a calmer spirit.

Now, why the can of Carnation Evaporated Milk?  I like the size of it(5 fl oz size).  After I used the evaporated milk, I took off the label.  I baked "Erna's Apple Pie Muffin" recipe in them.  Oh dear, this is such an amazingly good apple recipe!  Ask my husband, he will agree.  You can find it here...
... www.food.com/ - 57629

When you spray the inside of the can, add batter, and bake, the loaf is easily removed.  After the loaf is removed, I wash the inside of the can and put the loaf back in.

 

 I put the cupcake paper on top of the can, and I added a thick red rubber band around it to hold it.  I found these gingerbread muffin papers from last Christmas, and I think they look cute on the can tops.  I made a tag, with gingerbread stickers from Michaels.

 

 

I also had these snowman muffin papers from last Christmas, and put them on another can. 
Who would have thought that an empty can of milk, apple bread, and a muffin paper could look so cute?

 

 

Snowman tag from Michael's Store too.

 

 

 

I purchased some coffee bags from Michaels, for 35 cents each.  I cut out pictures from an old Christmas magazine, a Christmas sticker, and added a clear bag of mini apple muffins.

I punched a hole in the top and tied with a bow.

Another fun way to give baked goods as a gift.

 

 

 

 

 A few months ago, I found this pack of 24, oven safe, paper bakeware, mini free standing baking pans, at T.J. Maxx store.  Their website is ... welcomehomebrands.com

 

I baked the tiny loaves of apple bread in them. They looked so good sitting on the Christmas plate.  I never baked such small loaves before.  I baked them for 15 minutes at 350 degrees.

 

 

 

I put the loaf in a clear cellophane bag(which I found in the cake section of the A.C. Moore store).

I decorated it simply with a ribbon, some faux greens and berries.

I liked this tiny gift and will have fun giving them away in a few weeks.

 

 

 

Since I doubled the recipe, I used some of it to bake some small bundt cakes.  I set them on my dollar store plates, added some powdered sugar and a tiny faux poinsettia.

 

I will wrap the baked goods carefully and put them in my freezer until Christmas.

 

Just thought I would share these few simple ideas with you today.