People really enjoy getting gift baskets. I guess it's because a gift basket is really a "goodie basket" that's filled with all sorts of items that make someone happy to receive it. Gift baskets have really evolved since the old days of the fruit basket. While fruit baskets are still popular (especially for the health conscience), there are a wide variety of things that is now acceptable to put into a gift basket.
Today, gift baskets often have themes, meaning that the contents are narrowed down to a specific category. A food themed basket can contain anything from organic tea to wine and cheese. It can contain nostalgic candies or different kinds of brownies. The first thing you should do when deciding to give someone a gift basket is to pick out a theme that you think that person will like.
Cheese Tray Ideas
Whether you make the gift basket yourself or buy it from a specialty store, you'll find that half the fun is deciding what type of basket to get. And, keep in mind that gift baskets aren't just for ladies anymore. A gift basket can be given to men and couples as well. If you decided to give everyone on your list a gift basket, it would make your Christmas gift giving really easy.
Here's some examples of themed gift baskets:
Chocolate Lover Basket - for anyone on your gift list who loves chocolate, this is a no-brainer. As a chocolate lover myself, I know my eyes would pop open if I received a basket filled with chocolate candy bars, chocolate fudge, chocolate chip cookies, chocolate truffles, chocolate malt balls, chocolate covered pretzels, chocolate covered dried fruit and packets of cocoa hot chocolate.
Tailgate Party Basket - sports fans love to snack before and during a game. This basket can contain items like, snack chips, pretzels, peanuts, cashews, pistachios, cheese crackers, soda crackers, cheese dips, brownies, cookies, cheeses, salami and a colorful chip and dip tray.
Wine and Cheese Basket - if you know that someone enjoys wine, then this will be a gift basket that they'll love. Select two bottles of different wine from any vintage. You might select a bottle of Red, Merlot, Rose, Port, White Zinfandel or White wine. Then add several hard and soft cheeses, some nice crackers, wine stoppers and a corkscrew.
A Taste of Italy Basket - many people love Italian food so this is a nice idea and something a little different. This basket could include items like: all natural dried pasta (regular, whole wheat, spinach, etc.), extra virgin olive oil, two jars of premium pasta sauce, a jar of sun dried tomatoes, cheese straws, balsamic vinegar, garlic bread sticks and grated Parmesan cheese.
Spa Day Basket - many people could use a relaxing break but can't get away to a real spa. This basket will provide them with everything they need to enjoy a relaxing homemade spa vacation. It can include items like: bubble bath, bath salts, shower gel, shampoo, conditioner, high quality skin moisturizer, back scrubber, plush towel, plush slippers, scented candles and a relaxing music DVD.