AJ, CherieW and Ohiojude -
Thank you , thank you and thank you!
I have more that I will be posting. I am glad that you are enjoying these.
So you say you make baskets!!! Oh well - here I go - I LOVE TO MAKE BASKETS!
I started making them may years ago when I couldn't think of a gift for the hard to buy for!
Would you like some ideas??
ITALIAN BASKET - Use a large pasta pot or sauce pot or fancy pasta dish. I put in my homemade sapgheti sauce, packages of spaghetti and pasta (and yes, I even drove to Canada to purchase spaghetti that is 3 feet long!!!!), a fresh loaf of Italian bread, a wedge of Parmesan/Reggiano cheese with a cheese grater, a wooden spoon, a spaghetti server, a colander, spaghetti forks (with the middle tine longer for twirling spaghetti), dried fava beans, Torrone candy, red and white checked tablecloth and napkins, potholders and kitchen cloths.
CHINESE BASKET - Use a wok and fill it with teriyaki sauce, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, Five Spice powder (homemade), rice wine vinegar, chopsticks, fortune cookies, rice noodles, teas, etc. and a decorative plastic cutting board.
MEXICAN BASKET - Fill with homemade taco seasoning, salsa, picante sauces, beans, rice, tortilla shells, taco holder, tortilla holder, masa harina flour, kitchen towels and potholders with chile peppers on them.
SOUP POT - Homemade soup mixes, soup noodles, crackers, soup mugs/bowls, soup spoons, a ladel, potholders, etc.
ELECTRIC/TABLE TOP GRILLS - Homemade rubs, BBQ sauces, skewers, BBQ utensils, oven mitts, marinades, a glass dish for marinades, etc.
A fancy tray with matching mugs for homemade hot chocolate mix, coffee or tea mixes, pound cake mix, cake mix, cookie mix, and maybe there is room for matching dessert plates with this one!
Someone's first Thanksgiving? (new bride maybe) Use a turkey platter. Homemade bisquick in a fancy glass gallon jar in the middle of the platter surrounded by jars of homemade mixes for pie crusts, cakes, gravies, seasonings, etc. plus a turkey baster, a meat thermometer, a bottle of Gravy Master, turkey potholders and kitchen towels - makes a great gift!
What about using a 13 X 9-inch pan? Stand layer cake pans and a pie pan in the pan with an great assortment of homemade mixes, cookie cutters, rolling pin, cake decorator, and place on a cooky tin with measuring cups and spoons, etc. and stand a wire cooling rack behind it.
How about a roasting pan? Homemade gravy mix, biscuit/roll mix, seasonings, rubs, etc. with a meat thermometer, roasting rack, potholders, oven mitts, etc.
Use a crockpot and fill it with mixes and seasonings, a ladel, cutting board, etc.
Snacklover??? Large bowl, fill with popcorn popper (air popper), bags of popcorn, popcorn seasoning mixes, fancy nuts, or nuts that you have spiced up yourself! Matching individual snack bowls, napkins, etc.
Homemade beverage mixes go nicely with 1, 1 1/2, and 2 qt. pitchers, glasses, ice bucket, ice cube trays, etc. And don't forget the coasters!!!
You can use almost anthing and fill it with so much!!
I visit the dollar store to make sure I have a good supply of clear cellophane wrap and printed rolls of cellophane wrap because you just never know when you need to make one up! And don't forget to have tons of ribbons, bows, trinkets and decorations - and most of all - scotch tape!!!!
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