Gourmet gift basket ideas

Ideas for making Gift Baskets for gourmet lovers using both purchased and hand made items.

Gift baskets seem to be the gift giving rage right now, but purchasing these baskets can be costly. So why not make your own? I am going to give you some suggestions on making a gift baskets for Gourmet Lovers.

First let's start with the basket or container in which to place your items. While traditionally a basket is used for the “base” to these gifts, also be on the lookout for any other type of “gourmet container”. Such as a pretty tin, a large cooking pot, or anything else that may match the “theme” of the gifts that you will be enclosing. Baskets can be purchased very cheaply at discount stores, but also check yard sales or flea markets. A picnic basket would work very nicely for the “base” to this project.

Now, what do you put in your basket? The possibilities are endless. While you can purchase gourmet items to fill your basket, I love adding home made goodies along with these.

A Wine and Cheese Basket

Along with wine, cheese and crackers add a jar of Wine Cheese Spread or Wine Mulling Spice Mix. You can also add a few wine glasses and a cork screw.

Wine Cheese Spread

? cup wine

1/4 cup butter, melted

1 pound cheddar cheese, grated

1 cup sour cream

1 1/4 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

In a small bowl, combine the wine and butter. Using a blender or a food processor combine the cheese, sour cream, salt and pepper. Blend until smooth. Gradually add the wine mixture, and continue blending until smooth. Store this in an airtight container and refrigerate for at least 24 hours to allow blending of the flavors. This will make about 4 cups.

Wine Mulling Spice Mix

3/4 cup brown sugar

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground cloves

? teaspoon lemon peel

? teaspoon orange peel

1 teaspoon allspice

? teaspoon nutmeg

Combine all ingredients in a small airtight container. Shake to blend.

To use this mix, combine 1/4 cup of the mix to 1 cup of red wine and 1/4 cup water. Bring to a boil over medium heat; then reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Put in a mug with a cinnamon stick. This will make one serving.

A Coffee Lover’s Basket

With all of the wonderfully flavored coffees available now, this is a scent tempting basket. Add a few pretty mugs and home made coffee creamers.

Amaretto Coffee Creamer

3/4 cup non-dairy coffee creamer

1 teaspoon almond extract

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

3/4 cup confectioners sugar

Combine all these ingredients into a container with a tight fitting lid. Shake to blend.

Bavarian Mint Coffee Creamer

3/4 cup non-dairy coffee creamer

? cup cocoa

3/4 cup confectioners sugar

? teaspoon peppermint extract

Combine all these ingredients into a container with a tight fitting lid. Shake to blend.

What about a “Italian Gift Basket”?

There are many unusual pasta’s now available, as well as pasta serving tongs, platters and the like. With this basket add the makings for an wonderful Italian dinner such as Marinated Mozzarella, Vegetarian Tomato Sauce and Antipasto. Add a fresh baked loaf of Italian bread and some fresh Parmesan cheese.

Marinated Mozzarella

1 pound Mozzarella cheese, cut into chunks

2 cups olive oil

? teaspoon thyme leaves

1 teaspoon oregano

1 ? teaspoon parsley

3 cloves garlic, minced

1/4 teaspoon paprika

1 ? teaspoon dried pepper flakes

Combine all ingredients in a 1 quart glass jar. Cover and shake to blend. Let this sit a room temperature for 5 days, be sure to shake this daily. This can be stored at room temperature.

Vegetarian Tomato Sauce

2 cans whole tomatoes, undrained

3 tablespoons olive oil

1 onion, chopped

1 green pepper, chopped

? pound mushrooms, sliced

1 clove garlic, minced

1 6 ounce can tomato paste

1 8 ounce can tomato sauce

1 ? teaspoon brown sugar

1 teaspoon basil

1 teaspoon oregano

1/4 teaspoon marjoram

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

2 to 3 drops hot pepper sauce

Place tomatoes in a large saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Also heat up 2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. When oil is hot, add the onion and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, until onion is slightly limp. Stir this mixture into tomatoes. Add the remaining oil to the same skillet and place over medium heat. Add mushrooms and cook about 2 minutes. Add to the tomato mixture along with the remaining ingredients and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool. Store in airtight container in the refrigerator. Will make 8 cups of sauce.

Antipasto

1/3 cup tarragon wine vinegar

2 tablespoon olive oil

2 1/3 cups vegetable oil

1 clove garlic, minced

1 teaspoon salt

? teaspoon pepper

2 tablespoon lemon juice

? teaspoon dry mustard

1/4 teaspoon paprika

1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1 tablespoon Italian seasoning

1/3 cup Parmesan cheese, grated

1 14 ounce can artichoke hearts

12 fresh mushrooms

1 green pepper, diced

1 yellow pepper, diced

? cup black olives

1 4 ounce jar pimentos, diced and drained.

Dressing- combine the first 12 ingredients and blend well. Place remaining ingredients in a 1 ? quart jar with a tight fitting lid. Pour dressing over the prepared vegetables and shake to blend. Allow this to marinate, refrigerated for 8 hours. This will make 5 ? cups of antipasto.

As you can see the possibilities are endless. Do be sure to enclose a note if the items need to be refrigerated or the recipe to using the items that you have included. Have fun creating personalized gift baskets for your friends and family.