Post Punk Kitchen Forum

I have been canning up a storm this fall and I have multiple jars of peach lavender jam and apple butter. If I have the time, I will also do a citrus marmalade in the next couple of weeks.

I think a jar of jam or butter would be nice wrapped up pretty with a vintage spoon for a smaller gift, but I'm having a hard time trying to think of what to do for a bigger gift basket with the jams. I need stuff that will keep pretty well and doesn't take a huge amount of time to prepare.

I have a great recipe for glazed espresso walnuts and some cute little coffee bags they could go into. I was also thinking biscotti (maybe the gingerbread and green tea walnut varieties from VCIYCJ) and maybe some homemade toffee.

Is this too many random things? Maybe I should stick to stuff that will go well with the jams - maybe some savory crackers or something. My first thought was scones, but I think they wouldn't hold up to being frozen and thawed.

I think that they all sound great! It doesn't matter at all if they go together. It matters that you are putting together baskets of beautiful food that you are giving to people you care about. That's lovely!

Awww...thanks, celyn! That definitely puts things in perspective! I tend to stress myself out about everything being "just so.!"

I would definitely throw in some savory crackers, but everything else sounds sooo good! Such wonderful gifts!

Thanks! Do you have any favorite recipes?

I agree with celyn. You don't need to add anything else. I would be over the moon if I received a gift basket like yours. I'm with you on the scones, I thought of them but didn't know how they would stay until distribution time. Maybe instead of making the scones (or crackers) put a nice recipe card in the basket with your scones recipe?

I would love to get a basket full of all the lovely "random" home made things you are describing. Go for it, it sounds great!

I'd also love a basket like that! It is special when people take the time to make you some incredible home made goodies.

What a beautiful gift idea!

I think savory crackers would be great, or biscotti. Also, the new issue of veg news has a couple of good recipes for flavouring pecans and hazelnuts. There are also some delicious looking caramel recipes in there.

Or maybe your favourite tea blend?

Thanks, everyone!
Robynn: I'll check out the nut recipes from VegNews, and I did make one of the caramel recipes recently - the caramel choc. popcorn - yum!
The tea idea is great, too! Many thanks!

I usually make the roasted nuts recipe from ED&BV, but this year I'm trying this recipe http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/recipe?id=7039143. I keep hearing that it's really good.
I love the idea of making your own little caramels too.