The Right Gift For The Right Person

I've read posts before from recipients of our wonderful homemade gifts. Many toss them out without even trying them. But you have to think about what you're making, who it's going to and if they would enjoy or know how to use what you've given.

Teachers for one have written numerous posts about receiving a food gift that they immediately throw out. So, do you really want to give flavored vinegar, or infused fruit to someone who has no use for it? And if it is for your child's teacher, how well do you know him/her? Do you know them well enough that if you were the teacher, that you would eat their food gift?

I realize that it's the gift that counts, but why put in the effort if it's just going to be thrown away. On the other hand, there are lots of people eager for your homemade gifts. So let's list several items and see how they appeal to you.

- Chocolate Covered Spoons (would YOU use these? If so, how?)

- Gift Basket . Your basket can include homemade cookies and other yummy food.
Buy a cheap basket at the $2 store or craft store. Line it with a decorative kitchen towel or shredded tissue paper. Fill it with any sort of goodies you can think of, from soaps to wine or a favorite movie. Wrap the basket in shrink wrap and use a hair dryer to blow-dry the shrink wrap on the basket to stay in place.

- Knit a warm fuzzy scarf.
It will be a lasting memory and really useful if your gift recipient(s) live somewhere cold. If you don’t know how to knit, there are many websites, books, and magazines that can teach you how. Or you could go to the nearest yarn store and ask one of the people there for lessons.

- Make Gourmet Candy Apples. (I love these and they are a delicious treat for your friends and family.)
I'll post about these in a future blog

- Bake breads or cookies (and a jar of homemade jam for the bread)
Package them in a tin or basket add a decorative ribbon to dress it up. If you can splurge a bit more you can include a bread knife, wooden cutting board or bread cookbook with the bread gift. For the more experienced cook you can try truffles, candies, etc. For an easy fix, buy tubes of cookie dough.

- Give hot chocolate mixes with a mug.
Just find the ingredients you like, mix together, seal in a bag or container and give with a big mug for drinking. This is a great gift for families as you can give each person an individual mug. This is also a great just in case gift to keep at the house for a last minute hostess gift or that person you accidentally forgot. Easy to transport, it’s great for giving at the office or school.

- Candy Coated Pretzels.
Dip one end of a big pretzel stick in melted chocolate. Roll in either mini M&Ms, colored sprinkles, chopped nuts, or crushed candy cane. Allow to harden by placing the undipped end down in a drinking glass. Wrap in cellophane.

- Go for a movie theme.
Buy a bucket of movie popcorn, include a box of candy and a gift card for a movie store. Makes a great last-minute gift.

- Give cute tea cups and saucers, for the tea lover. (add homemade quick bread or scones)
Shop thrift stores, antique stores, pottery outlets, yard sales or your own cabinet for tea cups and saucers. Add several gourmet tea bags, individually packaged tea bags or fill with packets of gourmet cocoa mix packets. Wrap with cellophane and top with a holiday bow. (Hint: add a drop of glue or piece of tape to attach the saucer to the cup to prevent from slipping or breaking.) This is a great way to get rid of old china.

Tips

Shrink wrap can be purchased on rolls that look like wrapping paper rolls in most craft stores. Look for the kind you simply wrap around the basket and blow dry to seal.

If you have a specialty food you can make it and put it in a container. Include a recipe card with the details of how to make it. If you make a sauce or marinade, bottle it and include a card for ways it can be served or used.

Do the math! If it will cost you $20 to get the supplies to make the present you may be better off buying a small gift. Try to make gifts utilizing items you already have or doing a craft you are already good at. This is not the time to embark on a new craft hobby if you’re not crafty. There are still inexpensive gifts you can give but embellish the wrapping or give it in a basket to make it seem more homemade…