Pat Brill is co-owner of Women's Group Busy Bites -http://www.womensgroupbusybites.com - a blog all about women. You can reach her at pat@womens-group.net.
Copyright (c) 2009 Pat Brill
Quality food baskets are a great gift idea to give to others. Everyone loves receiving these edible delights. You can stay within budget and still present a beautiful gift by creating your own basket. All you need is a little bit of creativity and some time.
Now, how do you go about creating a basket? Ask yourself:
*Who is receiving the basket and for what occasion?
*How much do you want to spend?
*Think about the recipient. What does he/she like to do or eat? Is it an indulgence for someone? What is his lifestyle?
Food Gift Baskets are the perfect solution for the difficult-to-shop-for person or for the one who has everything. Food baskets that you purchase are usually expensive and this is a great way to save some money. Handmade food gift baskets carry a nice personal touch and the recipient feels you have taken the time to think about him or her specifically. The personal touch brings a smile to the face of the special people in your life.
==>Contents
Here are some potential items that can create a fun and delightful gift:
*Special theme basket - for example, Italian meal, Scottish foods, Sushi, Barbecue. Add a cooking utensil to complement the special theme.
*Gourmet foods - desserts, crackers and cheese, and of course chocolate!
*Occasions - birthday, holiday or graduation gift baskets can be created with special items that add to the celebration.
*Personalized - find a company that creates personalized wrappers for their favorite food and wrap up the items in the basket with the recipient's name.
*Organic - create an organic food basket for the health conscious person on your list. Include nuts, dried fruit, organic grains and spices along with a note stating the organic basket was created to honor their lifestyle.
*Tea or Coffee Time - you can go gourmet on this one or go to your local market and gather a collection of different teas or flavored coffees. Throw in a box of cookies or a bar of yummy chocolate to compliment.
*Wine or Champagne - surround your bottle with fruit or chocolate to compliment the taste.
*All Around a Sweet Tooth - here you can indulge the taste buds of a "sweets lover". Treat them to cookies, candies, chocolates or their favorite decadent dessert.
*From the Kitchen - if you love to cook or bake, this is a perfect time to showcase your talent by creating a special home cooked gift basket.
Tailoring a food gift basket to someone else's cravings, choices and preferences can be hard at first, but you can decipher what it takes rather effortlessly.
Anything that can be consumed - fresh produce, snacks, treats, home-made goodies, meat, dairy, sweet, salty - fits into your Gift Basket. There are numerous options to choose from. Just be creative.
==>Presentation
It is not just about what goes into the food gift baskets, but also how you present and deliver it. Here are some ideas to add your own personal touch to the creation of the gift basket:
*You don't have to bring a large gift basket to make a statement. If you are going to a barbecue, create a gift with a large barbecue style mitt. Tuck into the mitt a brush utensil to coat the food, as well as some sauces that add extra flavor to the grilled food. It's different, appropriate for the host or hostess and not expensive.
*You can organize your basket in a see-through container, a special box, or a basket that has been shrink wrapped and tied with a beautiful bow. Don't limit yourself to the traditional basket format. Instead, look around the house and see what container type items you have ready to be included into a beautiful gift to someone. Obviously, the container needs to be in good condition or spruced up to look like new before it's filled with your goodies.
*All year round, collect interesting boxes and ribbons to use when you are in the mood to create a basket for someone. Save them and you'll always have one handy when needed.
*Need filler to elevate the items in the basket? Check out the site The Custom Basket for more information on how to build your basket.
What's the next occasion that you need a gift for? Are you ready to try your hand at creating your own gift basket? Start today! Go to the library and get a book on creating gift baskets. You will be surprised what can go into a basket that makes it interesting and economical for you. And don't forget to have fun creating your own gift basket!
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