ALT-2 Gift Basket
Seeking to spread holiday cheer in finicky financial times? A gift basket with a colorful assortment of cheeses, fruits or nuts may be the tasteful tribute to enliven an Easter, make a Mother's Day memorable or add flair to a Fourth of July!
You will need: One, approximately 6", clean basket (may use a plastic sand pail or Easter basket if seasonally appropriate), tissue paper (not confetti or Easter grass, small treats get lost in the mesh and stray strands leave recipients with a grassy mess on the floor or counter), non-perishable (or not quickly perishable) food items of your choice.
Place overlapping layers of tissue paper in the bottom of your chosen container (do not crumple tissue paper), then arrange food items. You may cover the items with a single layer of plastic wrap to hold everything in place. If desired, decorate the basket with a swath of colorful fabric or ribbon.
Savory Basket: Include one summer sausage, one small jar olives, capers or gourmet salsa, three varieties of crackers (butter, whole grain and a more unusual flavor, such as vegetable), two types of gourmet cheese and a tasty hot sauce of your choice! Fill in extra space with bags of dried vegetable chips, un-shelled nuts or wrapped candies.
Fruit Basket: If you want to show your benevolence in berries, your best bet is preserves! You can purchase your preferred jams and jellies, or fresh-pick some berries and make your own with boiled berries, sugar, fruit pectin and a clean canning jar. Dried fruits also hold up well in gift baskets. The sturdiest of the fresh fruits are apples, bananas, kiwi, pomegranates, mangoes, small melons, oranges, pears-scope out your local farmer's market to see what is in season!
Nutty basket: Give mega love and omega-3s! Choose at least three varieties of un-shelled nuts (walnuts, Brazil nuts and hazel nuts, for example). Separate each variety in it's own tissue paper partition (may do a red, a white and a blue sheet for Independence Day). A natural nut butter (other than peanut butter) and some farm-fresh honey may be a tasteful addition to your basket! As a sweet addition, make your own candied nuts with one pound nuts (almonds, pecans or both), two egg whites, one tablespoon cinnamon, one cup white sugar, one cup brown sugar, one tablespoon vanilla extract baked at 350 degrees on aluminum foil for one hour, turning nuts with a spatula every 15 minutes!
Happy Holidays!
