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Well, it’s that time of year again. Holiday Fun Time! And, if you’re anything like me, you usually wait until the weekend before your holiday of choice to get your shopping done… er, started. You brave the mall with a bunch of crazed maniacs and a hangover, and inevitably, you never quite find what you’re looking for. You likely way overextend your budget in an attempt to disguise your procrastination, and often end up with a slightly impersonal gift, wrapped in really pretty paper with a big shiny bow.

This year, I’ve decided to take a stand. I’m not going to buy one tiny (yet always overpriced) item for every member of my boyfriend’s family, or each of my roommates, or every coworker. No more $16 tubes of branded lip-gloss, no more wind-chimes or gift certificates; no more scarf/hat/mittens sets from Target; no more purses that I can’t afford and can’t guarantee the recipient will like. This year, I’m doing it old-school. I’m making up some swank-ass gift baskets for the whole family, and I think you should too.

Skip Generic, it's time for a little DIY

Now, the key to making gift-baskets work is to skip the generic, store-bought, prepackaged, two-for-one-deal baskets they sell at Bath-and-Body Works, Wal-Mart or Kitchen etc. and put the baskets together yourself. You can make your baskets big or small, extravagant or modest, themed or random, selective or amalgamated, but most importantly, and here’s where you come in- they should be personal, and they should feel indulgent.
My basket is for a whole family, so it’s gonna be packed.

I’m planning an understated wicker basket, lined with some pretty cloth or other that will fit nicely into my boyfriend’s mothers’ “country-home” aesthetic (tiny colorful houses, quilt patterns or antiquey finishes). Then on to the good stuff: a gourmet jam or two, some classy crackers, some olive tapenade, a few select cheeses (port-wine pub cheese, soft brie and garlic smoked gouda, perhaps?), a small cheese knife (and maybe a cheese board), a pepperoni stick, nuts, several kinds of homemade cookies and/or fudge, homemade chocolate dipped pretzel rods (rolled in crushed walnuts and coconut!), gourmet hot-chocolate, gourmet coffee, homemade chocolate stirring spoons, homemade chocolate dipped candy canes, and, the clincher: two framed photographs of the smiling family on the receiving end.

Make it Personal

The basket is an amalgamation of everyone’s favorites: cheeses, dips and olives for the sisters, chocolate and homemade goodies for mom (plus the personalized basket), coffee and hot-chocolate for the brother and photographs to make everyone go “awww.” The best part: I’ll put the whole thing together for less than the three $20 gift certificates to the mall I otherwise might have resorted to (notice the liberal use of the world “homemade” in the above paragraph.)
My basket is jam-packed, because it’s meant for a whole family with differing tastes, likes and dislikes, but you can theme your basket around just about anything and anyone. Try some of the suggestions below, and see what you come up with.

A Few Ideas

Chocolate

Everyone loves chocolate. You really can’t go wrong. And chocolate gift baskets are really easy. A canister of gourmet hot chocolate or some nice hot fudge in a pretty jar can be your centerpiece. Bake some double-chocolate-chip cookies for filler. Add some unique flavors of chocolate (like spicy chili, honey, or extra-dark) and round it out with homemade chocolate dipped anything! From fruits to pretzels, what doesn’t taste good dredged in chocolate?

Wine

Know your recipients' preferences. If they love deep reds, choose a velvety Cabernet. If they’re into crisp, fruity flavors, choose a bright pinot grigio. Then, build from there. Find brands they likely haven’t tried, and don’t fall for gimmicks. Ask a clerk at your local wine or liquor store for his or her favorite and ask them why. Then, get a unique bottle or two. Add two wine glasses (i love stemless glasses
- very modern), some cheese, crackers, nuts or chocolate and include a cute bottle-opener or wine stopper
.

Breakfast

Breakfast baskets are great, if you know your recipient will use them. Make a couple of your own pancake or waffle mixes and put it in a nice jar. Splurge for some real maple syrup (so worth it) Add a few packets of freshly ground coffee and two matching (yet inexpensive) mugs, and you’re done!

Cooking

Perfect for the chef in your life, a cooking basket can feature any number of surprises. You choose a meal-in-one type basket, where you'll surround your gift around one particular meal by adding gourmet pasta and sauce (using a colander for your basket), or homemade dough and an array of pizza toppings (arranged on a pizza stone), for example; or you can choose a hodgepodge of kitchen staples like unique marinades and sauces (think curry, pineapple-teriyaki or brown-sugar molasses), spices and rubs, gourmet oils (rosemary, lemon, garlic or pepper infused are always big hits) and few kitchen tools (like a Parmesan cheese grater, a cute apron or some colorful kitchen towels).

And your basket doesn't have to be filled with edibles. Put together a massage basket for a hard-working couple with a few scented oils, candles, some wood-rollers and a how-to book. Or a survival kit for the athlete or outdoor adventurer in your life with items like a flashlight, hand-warmers, chap-stick, trail-mix, wool socks, a knife, a flint and a compass.

The bottom line is that you can make a thoughtful, personal gift-basket for just about anyone, without overextending your budget. If money is tight, fill your basket with homemade goodies like cookies, fudge, seven-layer bars and dessert mixes. Your recipient will appreciate your effort and hard work, you'll save a bundle, and you might even have fun doing it.

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