| Gifts of food can be given to anyone for holidays or | | | | Since an overflowing gift basket looks better than a |
| other special occasions. These gifts will be appreciated | | | | sparse one, fill in any empty spaces with colorful silk |
| by family, friends, coworkers, or anyone else on your | | | | flowers or greenery. A nice decorative touch is to |
| gift list. Creating your own food gift basket can be a | | | | include a wooden spoon or a wire whisk tied with curly |
| very special gift as you can personalized it with the | | | | ribbon or a bow. |
| recipient's favorite candy, cookies, wine, or other food | | | | Pizza Basket: |
| or beverage items. | | | | Create this gift basket for a student going away to |
| When selecting foods to place in your gift basket, | | | | college or anyone setting up their first home. |
| make sure they are fresh and check any expiration | | | | Use a pizza pan or pizza stone as a container to hold |
| dates. It's difficult to include foods that are perishable | | | | the food items. Place several red checkered napkins |
| and require refrigeration, so keep that in mind when | | | | or tea towels on the pan or stone to help position and |
| you are choosing items to place in a food gift basket. | | | | anchor the other items. Include gifts such as pizza |
| Fresh fruits and vegetables are wonderful items | | | | dough mix, pizza sauce, Italian seasoning, garlic powder |
| because they are inexpensive, colorful, and readily | | | | or a bulb of fresh garlic, red pepper flakes, a small |
| available. However, it's better if you choose fruits that | | | | bottle of olive oil, grating cheese, a cheese grater, and |
| are not yet ripe; oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruits, and | | | | a pizza cutter. If you prefer an easier method, use a |
| apples are good choices because they are more | | | | wicker basket instead of the pizza stone or pan. |
| hearty. | | | | Asian Food Basket: |
| In addition to wicker baskets, there are many other | | | | Make this gift basket for anyone who enjoys Chinese |
| containers to choose from. Unbreakable bowls are | | | | food. It's also a great gift for a bridal shower or |
| appropriate for most food themes and it is easy to | | | | wedding. |
| assemble your gifts in bowls. If you are trying to stay | | | | Use a wok or bamboo steamer as the container and |
| within a budget, shop at your local discount or dollar | | | | fill it with the makings of delicious Asian cuisine: soy |
| store. My local dollar store has a nice variety of large | | | | sauce, sesame oil, rice wine vinegar, fresh ginger, |
| plastic bowls and serving trays that are sturdy and | | | | ginger grater, a bulb of garlic, cornstarch, Asian noodles, |
| attractive. If you decide to use a serving tray, choose | | | | duck sauce, a stir fry spatula, and a cookbook. Tie |
| one with sides as the assembly will be easier. | | | | curly ribbon or raffia around several sets of chopsticks |
| Breakfast Basket: | | | | and position them throughout the basket. Don't forget |
| This make a great gift for a hostess when you are an | | | | to add some fortune cookies. |
| overnight guest, or as a housewarming, anniversary or | | | | After you have completed your food gift basket, you |
| wedding gift. It's also a nice gift idea for a large family. | | | | may want to place it in a cello bag or wrap it in cello |
| Choose a wicker tray or basket with handles as it will | | | | paper; the bags are much easier to work with. This will |
| be easier to work with than one without handles. Fill | | | | help in transporting your gift basket and keep it dust |
| the container with shredded brown paper, straw, or | | | | free. If you choose to use cello, you can place ribbon |
| purchased shred. If desired, add a couple of rolled | | | | or other decorative items before placing the basket in |
| napkins. Select food items that one would eat or drink | | | | the bag, on the outside of the cello wrapped basket, or |
| for breakfast; herbal tea, coffee or coffee beans, | | | | both. A nice idea is to place a decorative item |
| small bag or box of pancake mix, bottle of maple | | | | amongst the food items before placing it the cello. You |
| syrup, jams, jellies, and a small jar of honey for the tea | | | | will need to use ribbon or raffia to tie the bag closed |
| drinkers. If there are small children in the family, include | | | | above the basket. It looks really nice if you allow curly |
| several serving size boxes of dry cereal. Add several | | | | ribbon or steamers to cascade down the front of the |
| fresh oranges or grapefruits and a couple of lemons. | | | | completed basket. |