Food Gift Baskets for the Holidays

Here's a great gift for that neighbor, co-worker, friend or family member that has everything - make them an elegant gift basket filled with purchased and homemade goodies. You can find baskets and the cellophane wrap for the baskets at craft stores like Michaels and Franks. Gift baskets are a wonderful treat for the recipient, and you don't have to break the bank if you are on a tight budget.

It's usually a good idea to stick with a theme for your gift basket. For example, fresh fruits and some cookies and gourmet tea bags. Now you can make your own cookies, or buy a nice box of cookies or small cakes. Another nice theme is cheese, wine, fruit and crackers. This one must be prepared and delivered right away, or refrigerated until you can give it to your gift recipient, since you should keep the cheese chilled.

One of my favorite baskets to make for friends combines pasta, pasta sauce, bread sticks, and a homemade cake or cookies. Jar mixes are also popular gift items. Have you seen them? You layer ingredients in a jar, and then seal it. Attach the instructions and it can be enjoyed at a later date.

Here's a good jar mix recipe, and you can find many more jar mix recipes at FreeOnlineRecipes.net.

Sun-Dried Tomato and Penne Soup Mix in a Jar

2 cups penne pasta
1 cup sun-dried tomatoes
1/2 cup dried shiitake mushrooms (or other dried mushrooms)
1/4 cup onion flakes
1/4 cup parsley flakes
Bouquet Garni

Layer mix ingredients into a quart home canning jar in the order given. Adjust cap. Prepare Bouquet Garni.

Attach Bouquet Garni and recipe card to neck of jar.

Sun-Dried Tomato and Penne Soup
Contents of jar
Bouquet Garni
8 cups vegetable broth
1 (14.5 ounce) can diced Roma tomatoes
1 (15 ounce) can cannelloni beans
1/4 cup Madeira or other sweet white wine, optional
Salt and pepper

Combine soup mix, Bouquet Garni, vegetable broth and tomatoes in a 6- to 8-quart saucepot. Simmer, covered, until pasta and vegetables are tender. Stir in cannelloni beans and wine, if desired. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Continue simmering for 15 minutes. Remove Bouquet Garni.

NOTE: If there is not enough liquid in soup, add additional vegetable broth or water.

Bouquet Garni
1 tablespoon dried minced garlic
1 1/2 teaspoons dried crushed thyme
1 1/2 teaspoons dried minced basil
1/2 teaspoon dried crushed red pepper

Combine herbs in a bowl and gently stir to blend. Place herb mixture in the center of a 5 x 5-inch square of cheesecloth. Bring corners together to form a bag and secure with a piece of white cotton string, or use a muslin spice bag. Tie Bouquet Garni to jar of Sun-Dried Tomato and Penne Soup Mix.

If you enjoyed this article Subscribe to my RSS Feed.