There are so many gifts that you can make in your kitchen that are great to give and great to get.
Gift baskets don’t have to be traditional. You can also use bushel baskets, small barrels, or metal wire baskets. Copper or steel water and ice buckets work well too. They all can be lined with linen napkins, dish towels or craft paper. A nice addition would be recipe cards tied in rustic raffia, twine or festive ribbon. For a special touch you can wrap bottles or lids in burlap or cotton. Not so random additions include tongs for grilling, a two handled arched chopping blade, or any other specialty tool for the kitchen.
Savory Food Basket Ideas
A combination of bread, jams, jellies, chutneys, salsas, unique fruits, homemade or unique cheeses, pickled vegetables or sun-dried tomatoes, pesto, tied bundles of fresh herbs from the garden, homemade ketchup, mustard and barbeque sauce are all great in a basket. Flavored oils and vinegars are easy to make and will be received well along with homemade wine or cider. Preserves can be unusual flavors like onion jam or pepper jelly. Edible flowers with recipes on how to use are also a big surprise. Another addition would be a regional food or flavor that brings the recipient fond memories like seasoning from their home state or country. I sometimes add Old Bay seasoning or hazelnut chocolates when sending to my son in California (both conjure memories of his childhood). Some things you can find on Etsy if you don’t have the time to make everything yourself.
Sweet Food Basket Ideas
Sweets are the ultimate gift and an assortment will keep them happy for days! Dessert sauces, candies, chocolates, dried fruits, sugared citrus rind, Brandy-soaked fruit, jams, jellies, chutneys are all great to include. Don’t forget a nice bottle of wine!!
Garden Basket
You have a lot of choices when making a garden gift basket. Seed packets, soft leather gloves, hand garden tools, tongs to grill vegetables, fresh herb plants, bundles of garden flowers or herbs wrapped in craft paper all are well received, and again… a nice bottle of wine!!!