How To Personalize A Homemade Food Gift Basket

Gifts of food can be given to anyone for holidays orSince an overflowing gift basket looks better than a
other special occasions. These gifts will be appreciatedsparse one, fill in any empty spaces with colorful silk
by family, friends, coworkers, or anyone else on yourflowers or greenery. A nice decorative touch is to
gift list. Creating your own food gift basket can be ainclude a wooden spoon or a wire whisk tied with curly
very special gift as you can personalized it with theribbon or a bow.
recipient's favorite candy, cookies, wine, or other foodPizza 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 expirationUse a pizza pan or pizza stone as a container to hold
dates. It's difficult to include foods that are perishablethe food items. Place several red checkered napkins
and require refrigeration, so keep that in mind whenor 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 itemsdough mix, pizza sauce, Italian seasoning, garlic powder
because they are inexpensive, colorful, and readilyor a bulb of fresh garlic, red pepper flakes, a small
available. However, it's better if you choose fruits thatbottle of olive oil, grating cheese, a cheese grater, and
are not yet ripe; oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruits, anda pizza cutter. If you prefer an easier method, use a
apples are good choices because they are morewicker basket instead of the pizza stone or pan.
hearty.Asian Food Basket:
In addition to wicker baskets, there are many otherMake this gift basket for anyone who enjoys Chinese
containers to choose from. Unbreakable bowls arefood. It's also a great gift for a bridal shower or
appropriate for most food themes and it is easy towedding.
assemble your gifts in bowls. If you are trying to stayUse a wok or bamboo steamer as the container and
within a budget, shop at your local discount or dollarfill it with the makings of delicious Asian cuisine: soy
store. My local dollar store has a nice variety of largesauce, sesame oil, rice wine vinegar, fresh ginger,
plastic bowls and serving trays that are sturdy andginger grater, a bulb of garlic, cornstarch, Asian noodles,
attractive. If you decide to use a serving tray, chooseduck 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 anto add some fortune cookies.
overnight guest, or as a housewarming, anniversary orAfter 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 willpaper; the bags are much easier to work with. This will
be easier to work with than one without handles. Fillhelp in transporting your gift basket and keep it dust
the container with shredded brown paper, straw, orfree. If you choose to use cello, you can place ribbon
purchased shred. If desired, add a couple of rolledor other decorative items before placing the basket in
napkins. Select food items that one would eat or drinkthe 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 mapleamongst the food items before placing it the cello. You
syrup, jams, jellies, and a small jar of honey for the teawill need to use ribbon or raffia to tie the bag closed
drinkers. If there are small children in the family, includeabove the basket. It looks really nice if you allow curly
several serving size boxes of dry cereal. Add severalribbon or steamers to cascade down the front of the
fresh oranges or grapefruits and a couple of lemons.completed basket.