How to Make Grainy Apricot Mustard

1 of 10 in Series: The Essentials of Inexpensive Christmas Gifts from Your Kitchen

Make a budget-friendly batch of Grainy Apricot Mustard for Christmas gifts — a welcome change from cookies and candies. Sweet dried apricots team up with mustard seeds to create this homemade mustard. Try this palate-pleaser in everything from sandwiches to salads.

You can divide the recipe into half-pint or pint jars depending on how many gifts you need. And don’t forget to make a nice label for your jars. The label is a great place to let recipients know that the mustard must be refrigerated.

Grainy Apricot Mustard

Preparation time: 20 minutes, plus 30 minutes for the apricots to soften and 48 hours sitting

Cooking time: 5 minutes

Yield: 4 cups

1-2/3 cups chopped dried apricots

2-1/4 cups water

2/3 cup mustard seeds

3/4 cup cider vinegar

2 tablespoons packed brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg (preferably freshly grated)

1/4 teaspoon salt

1. Simmer the apricots and water in a medium saucepan over low heat for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and let soften for 30 minutes.

2. Blend the mustard seeds in a blender until coarsely chopped. Add the apricots, vinegar, brown sugar, nutmeg, and salt. Puree until the apricots are smooth. The mustard seeds will remain coarse. Add a little water if the puree is too thick, although the mustard should be a thick consistency.

3. Spoon the mustard into jars that have been thoroughly washed with hot, soapy water. Cover with clean lids.

4. Store in the refrigerator. Allow the flavors to develop for 2 days before using. The mustard keeps for 1 month or longer.

Thin the mustard with a healthy splash of a vinaigrette salad dressing and use it as a basting sauce for grilling or as a tangy dressing for salad.