Personalized gift baskets... a Major idea that takes only minutes

The best gifts are often those that reflect the special tastes and interests of the person to be gifted. Fortunately most people like to eat, and most people have favorite categories of foods. There are those who would love a basket of healthy snacks, others who would rejoice with a basket of specialty teas or coffees and still others who might appreciate a basket of herbs and spices accompanied by a few of your favorite recipes.

Fortunately, for last-minute gifts there is nothing like a gift basket of goodies that you know the person will both like and use.

We need look no further than Major Market for any number of possibilities for gifts for persons who remain on your gift list today. Just think about what they like. Gather items for your special gift basket in your shopping cart. Take the items to the floral center at the market to select a woven basket of the right size, pay for your items and get them wrapped and beribboned. Your personalized gift is complete.

Here are some ideas to get you thinking. Have a good time with your gift basket shopping, remembering that every gift from the heart can reflect the reason for the season: the birth of Christ, God’s precious gift to mankind.

There are generations of people who like mugs of hot chocolate. You can make the gift basket for one… or for a family. This gift basket could contain a combination of hot chocolate mixes plus ingredients for a classic recipe for hot chocolate.

Hot Chocolate Gift Basket for One

1 mug

1 spoon

1 whisk

3 hot chocolate mixes

Marshmallows

Made-from-Scratch Hot Chocolate Recipe

Dry ingredients for recipes:

1 box unsweetened cocoa powder

1 jar vanilla

1 box sugar

All-American Hot Chocolate

¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder

2 tbsp. sugar

Pinch of salt

1/3 cup water

3 cups milk

Few drops vanilla

Whipped cream, optional

Mix cocoa, sugar and salt with water in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil.

Add milk and heat slowly to a simmer. Beat well with a whisk. Add vanilla. Pour into cups and top with spoon of whipped cream.

Ice Cream is a favorite dessert for toddlers, teens, in-betweens and adults. So, an ice cream lover’s basket could be a mélange of bowls, scoopers, flavors and toppings. Again, it’s a gift for one… or a family. Here’s a list to get you started… and two homemade ice cream toppers: Hot Caramel Sauce and Hot Fudge Sauce.

Ice Cream Lover’s Gift Basket

Ice cream scooper

Ice cream bowl(s)

Ice cream toppings: chocolate, caramel, strawberry, butterscotch

Sprinkles and other decorative sugar toppers

Recipe for Hot Caramel Sauce

Ingredients for Hot Fudge Sauce

Bar unsweetened chocolate

1 (6-oz) pkg. chocolate chips

1 (15-oz.) can sweetened condensed milk

1 bottle vanilla

Hot Fudge Sauce

1 (1-oz.) square unsweetened chocolate

1 (6-oz.) pkg. chocolate chips

1 (15-oz.) can sweetened condensed milk

Pinch of salt

1 tsp. vanilla

Melt chocolate and chocolate chips over very low heat, watching carefully that mixture does not scorch. When melted, stir in milk, salt and vanilla. Stir well. May be thinned, if desired, with water or cream. Serve hot over ice cream. Makes about 2 cups.

Hot Caramel Sauce

½ cup butter

1 cup sugar

½ cup whipping cream

Combine butter and sugar in a heavy saucepan. Cook, stirring occasionally, until mixture is a rich caramel color (mixture will also appear quite thick). Remove from heat. Blend in cream. Serve hot over ice cream. Makes 1 ½ cups.

Cooking outdoors is becoming more and more popular. Gift the grilling person with a BBQ basket of herbs, spices and the ingredients for Smoky Sauce, a homemade sauce that is perfect for beef.

BBQ Gift Basket

Assorted bottled sauces for grilling

Assorted purchased rubs for grilling

Basting brush

Tongs

Package of metal skewers

Package of wooden skewers

Napkins, plates, plasticware for outdoors/picnic

Dry ingredients for Smoky Sauce recipe

Bottle of vinegar

Brown sugar

Yellow mustard

Catsup

Worcestershire sauce

Liquid smoke

Smoky Sauce for Beef

¼ cup vinegar

½ cup water

1 tbsp. brown sugar

1 tsp. prepared mustard

½ tsp. pepper

1 ½ tsp. salt

1 lemon, thinly sliced

1 slice peeled onion

¼ cup butter

½ cup catsup

2 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce

1 ½ tsp. liquid smoke

Mix vinegar, water, brown sugar, seasonings, lemon, onion and butter. Bring to a boil and simmer 20 minutes uncovered. Strain and add remaining ingredients. Heat to a boil. Use to baste beef roast, steaks or hamburgers.