ALT-1 How to Make a Pizza Gift Basket
Pizza gift baskets make great gifts for housewarmings, holidays or hostesses. Whether the gift recipient is an avid cook or can barely boil water, a well-assembled basket will help them make delicious homemade pizza. A pizza gift basket is also a very easy gift to adjust to your budget. While an inexpensive basket still makes a great gift, investing in little extras like an apron or aTopsy Turvytomato planter can really flesh out your basket. Here are some tips on how to make a pizza gift basket.
Ingredients
Your first focus in creating a pizza gift basket is including the ingredients that make pizza. The basic ingredients are tomato sauce, cheese and dough. Depending on how soon you'll be giving your gift, these ingredients may vary. You wouldn't want to include a cheese that needs refrigeration in a basket that you plan to ship next week, for example.
For a basket that will be gifted soon and refrigerated, perishable items like pre-made dough and fresh tomatoes are good choices to include in your basket. Otherwise, you may want to focus on non-perishable items like gourmet sauce in a jar, spices and a nice bottle of olive oil.
Most gourmet pizza baskets include a crust baking mix, jar of sauce and Italian herbs and spices. To add some interest to yours, include a pepperoni stick, wheel of cheese, and fresh local vegetables. Red pepper flakes, oregano, basil, minced onion and grated Parmesan cheese are flavorful dry ingredients to add some bulk to your basket. For white pizza gift baskets, add a jar of alfredo sauce instead of traditional tomato sauce and some fresh broccoli or spinach. A light red wine goes well with pizza, and also makes a nice addition to a basket.
Tools
The other half of a great pizza basket is the tools you include to get the job done. A pizza stone is a welcome addition to any kitchen, and is great for baking french fries and other foods when your gift recipient isn't baking gourmet pizza. Including a pizza cutter is a good idea, and other small kitchen accessories like a rolling pin, cutting board, cheese grater or oven mitt can also be helpful. For families with kids, cookie cutters in fun shapes can make pizza baking a fun family activity. If the gift basket recipient doesn't cook much, adding a pizza recipe book likePizzas and Flatbreadswill help keep them from burning the house down.
If you have your own recipes for delicious pizza or homemade sauce, include it on some easy-to-follow recipe cards. A fun addition for recipients with a sense of humor is a toque, the traditional chef's hat synonymous with Italian chefs and Chef Boyardee. These are easier to find than you might think, and cost only a few dollars at discount stores like Target and Sam's Club.
Assembly
Once you've purchased all the contents, assemble your pizza gift basket. Depending on the contents of your basket, a picnic basket may be an ideal alternative to the traditional top-handled basket. If you plan on including a cookie sheet or pizza stone, that can also be the base for your basket. Stack ingredients and other accessories on top of the pizza stone, leaving the heaviest items in the bottom center. Wrap the basket tightly with a few layers of cellophane, securing at the top with tape and decorative ribbon.
Now that you know how to create a pizza gift basket, keep these contents in mind. If you plan to make multiple baskets for the holidays or an upcoming occasion, have a look at discount and dollar stores. Non-perishable gourmet foods and items to include in your gift baskets may be available at deep discounts, making this a budget-friendly gift.
