By Mary Eileen Gallagher

Forget naughty or nice – what about price? When it comes to holiday shopping for all the people on your list this season, and I know those lists can grow awfully long, wouldn’t it be wonderful to give meaningful presents to your loved ones and still have cash to spare?

And besides, do you even remember what you bought your mom six years ago? Do you think she remembers? And what about your dad; hasn’t it been golf balls for three straight seasons? Doesn’t the monotony suck the spirit out of giving and receiving?

With small funds, however, limited time and a uniformity on store shelves that is sometimes sickening, finding the perfect gift at the perfect price for that special someone is one of the biggest challenges and stress-inducers of the holiday season.

But fear not, frugal friends!

Instead of wasting your dollars on trivial things just to have something to give, get the best bang for your buck by transforming your college kitchen into a gift-making workshop. Mouthwatering morsels can easily be made, packaged and bestowed upon everyone on your holiday list at prices you can agree with. So whether you decide to surprise grandma with some homemade candy, impress your co-workers with festive cookies or bake a cake for that special someone, holiday desserts say much more than a DVD ever could.

And while the sweets will be fleeting, as one-by-one they will be gobbled up, the memory of the taste, aroma and care you put into your gift will be priceless and savored for many years to come.

Candy Pecan Pretzels

Whether you say pe-CAN or PE-can is of little significance, as this dessert doesn’t discriminate. Three simple ingredients of mini-pretzels, Rolo candies and pecan halves are fused together with a little heat to fashion a crunchy yet luscious creation. This candy is perfect for recipients who live far away, as the morsels will withstand a cross-country trip, arriving fresh, intact and ready to devour.

Poppy Balls for Pops

Forget grandpa has dentures; he will love you for this sweet and salty gift. And, if it makes any difference to grandma, these popcorn balls stay fairly soft, so they are a little easier on the old man’s bite.

Lucky Lemon Balls

How about a lemon meringue pie? Too time consuming. What about homemade lemon bars? Too complicated. But your mother loves lemon desserts! Luckily, there is a recipe that is quicker than a pie, easier than a bar and just as tasty as the lemon drops in Candyland. With just five ingredients, these lucky lemon balls are as sweet and cheap as can be. —–

Nutty Pretzels Ingredients: 1 bag of Rolo candies, about 50 pieces 50 miniature salted pretzels 50 pecan halves

Directions: Preheat oven to 200 degrees. Line a baking sheet with foil. Spread 50 pretzels on top of foil in evenly spaced rows. Next, unwrap each Rolo candy and place on top of each pretzel. Place sheet in oven for 4 minutes or until candies are softened (candies will retain their shape). Remove sheet from oven and immediately place a pecan half on each candy, pressing down firmly into pretzel. Refrigerate until firm for about 10 minutes.

This recipe yields about 50 candies, which will work well for two gifts of 25 candies each. Total cost per serving is about $5.

Pucker-up Popcorn Ingredients: 1/3 cup butter or margarine 1 cup brown sugar 1/2 cup corn syrup 1 tsp. vanilla 10 cups popped popcorn (one bag yields about 15 cups)

Directions: Lay wax paper on a clean counter top surface. Pour popcorn in a large mixing bowl and set aside. Melt the butter in a soup pot. Then, add brown sugar, corn syrup and vanilla. Stir ingredients and increase heat to a boil. Remove from heat and carefully pour caramel mixture over popcorn, coating evenly. With clean hands, form popcorn into baseball-size clusters. Place on wax paper to harden.

This recipe yields about 12 popcorn balls. Two to three balls placed in a festive cellophane bag and tied with a ribbon would make a charming holiday gift. Total cost per gift is about $2.

Lemony Treats Ingredients: 1/2 cup butter, melted 1/4 cup lemon juice 5 cups confectioner’s sugar 3/4 cup nonfat dry milk powder 1 cup finely-chopped pecans

Directions: In a large mixing bowl, combine butter and lemon juice. In another large bowl, combine confectioner’s sugar and milk powder; gradually add sugar mixture to butter mixture, beating until smooth. Refrigerate for one hour. Shape into 1-inch balls and roll in the chopped nuts. Store in the refrigerator until ready to give.

This recipe yields about 6 1/2 dozen lemon balls, which would equal about six gifts. Placed delicately on a plate lined with a paper doily and covered with plastic wrap, these lemon balls would be a breathtaking surprise gift on any neighbor’s doorstep. Total cost per gift is about $4.