2009 Christmas breakfast gift basket

At one time, shopping for a gift was much fun, today, choosing the "perfect" gift can be very stressful. That's why I love gift baskets. Gift baskets lend themselves to any occasion, any theme and any budget. A gift basket could be filled with foods and other items that are chosen specifically for the person who is going to receive it. It could contain the makings for a pasta dinner or a day at the beach. It can be filled with much chocolate and cookies or it can be made to accommodate a sugar free, or a gluten free diet. The possibilities are endless.

One of my favorite themed gift baskets is the pancake breakfast basket. To make this gift basket, you will need a basket or other container, a package of pancake mix, a bag of gourmet coffee, a jug of maple syrup and a jar of fruit jam or jelly. I suggest shopping in gourmet food shops for these items. Gourmet food stores usually carry items that are more attractively packaged than the commercial packaging found in retail food stores. You may also want to check out local farm stands or farmers' markets in your area for maple syrup, jams or jelly.

Once you have chosen the items, you will need to arrange them artfully in your basket. Adding some colorful tissue paper or shred and perhaps a floral or seasonal enhancement will fill in the spaces between the items and add interest to the design. You may want to add keepsake items such as a couple of coffee mugs or woven place mats. The next step is to wrap the basket in cello, then finish by tying a spectacular bow on the top. What you now have is not only a hearty and delicious breakfast, but a beautiful and thoughtful gift as well. A pancake breakfast gift basket is the perfect gift for just about any occasion including a birthday, anniversary, or housewarming. It is appropriate as a corporate gift as well as a personal one.