Many stores sell gift baskets with foods, but the choices tend to be dull. Using at least some homemade items makes for a much more personalized and interesting gift that says "I really thought about you" instead of "I went to Wal-Mart and grabbed the first thing I found".
Examples of homemade food items to include in a gift basket:
- herbal teas
- cookies, cakes, brownies or other baked goods
- jelly candies, fudge, chocolates or other homemade sweets
- cake or cookie mix
- flavoured oil or vinegar
- marinated garlic cloves
- mustard
- jams, jellies or other fruit and berry preserves
- other preserves
- dried or preserved wild mushrooms
- dried fruit or berries
- roasted chickpeas or other legumes
- roasted and seasoned nuts
- dried herbs or wild vegetables
A good number of items to include is usually 3-6. Homemade food products can be supplemented with store-bought ones, such as exotic fruit, teas, gourmet coffees, flavoured syrups, spices and chocolates. Many farmers' markets and Christmas fairs sell hand-made gourmet groceries.
It is important to remember any special diets of the recipient, such as if they have allergies, diabetes or are vegetarians or vegans. Vegans do not eat any animal-based ingredients, including dairy, eggs, honey, gelatin and some food additives. On the other hand, people with dietary limitations are often delighted to receive foods they can eat - sugar-free jam or vegan fudge.
Homemade non-food items like soap and candles can be included. Some crafters make soaps that looks just like real fruit, vegetables or other edible things. They would make a fun addition to a gift basket - but some of them look so real that one might want to add a note that they are not to be eaten!
Packaging a Homemade Gift Basket
Labels or tags should be added to products if their contents are not immediately obvious. They could be written by hand, or made using words cut out of packages or newspapers. For ingredients rather than ready-made foods (such as dried mushrooms or a homemade chili sauce) adding a few recipes that utilize them is a good idea.
A beautiful decorative basket is an obvious choice, but there are also other options. For example, for an avid indoor gardener the foods could be packed into a pretty (store-bought or hand-painted) flower pot.
The basket or other container can be padded with fabric, tissue paper, newspaper or napkins - or a tea towel to make a part of the gift. Gift baskets are often wrapped in cellophane, but a more ecological choice is to leave out the plastic and just add a pretty ribbon.
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