Queens Eats: Holiday Gift Baskets

This article was written by Erin Walsh.

Happy Holidays.

For those of you who are still in the throes of last-minute holiday shopping, unsure of what to get your picky uncle or high-maintenance cousin, I have a simple, savory and/or sweet answer: a customized foodie gift basket.

The beauty of creating a custom basket is that you can tailor the contents to the recipient’s tastes and you can spend as much or as little as you like in order to create a distinctive gift that is several levels above your standard, run-of-the-mill gift fare.

I recommend choosing a theme and then tailoring the contents accordingly. For example, the pasta lover on your list might enjoy some imported varieties of pasta, sauce, breadsticks and cheeses, procured from your local Italian specialty store or Fairway Market.

For bacon and breakfast fanatics, including my best friend, whom I implored not to read this until after Christmas, I bought an assortment of jams during an early-fall trip to Canada, bacon and cheddar dip mix, tea and - the piece de resistance - bacon mayonnaise from Chelsea Market. What’s not to love? 

Some other best bets to procure items to fill your basket are Century 21 and TJ Maxx, two of my favorite retailers who peddle in cheap and chic wares.

Foodie Gift Baskets (Source: Erin Walsh)

Ingredients

Assorted food items, ideally centered on a theme (for example, Tea Lover, Pasta Lover, Dessert Lover)

Gift basket (can be purchased from Michael’s or TJ Maxx)

Gift basket plastic wrap and ribbon to tie basket (can be purchased from Michael’s)

Directions

1. Artfully arrange items in basket, place shredded tissue paper as filler in basket as desired

2. Cover basket with plastic bag. Secure with ribbon. Use scissors to curl ribbon.

3. Revel in smiles on recipient’s face.