If you grow your own herbs and vegetables it’s an awesome bonus to be able to use them in gifts to give to family and friends, isn’t it? Making and giving food items isn’t particularly unusual, but are they sure are wonderful, simple, and inexpensive gifts to give. And, as a recipient of some myself – to get as well!
Basket idea #1: Homemade Salad Dressing Basket
It contains:
- Thyme/Apple Cider Vinegar
- Rosemary Vinegar
- head of garlic
- recipe cards for homemade vinaigrettes
- pretty ribbon & simple office supply tags for labeling
You can heat the vinegar over low heat with the herbs to infuse more of the flavor before bottling, but I have just poured vinegar over herbs before and after sitting for awhile have found them to have a strong herb-y flavor. Your choice.
Bottles can be found at thrift stores, the dollar store, or markets like Cost Plus or Pier One. Check your cupboards, too- I found these lost in the back of ours. Depending on what you pay for your baskets and bottles, this gift could cost anywhere from $3.50 to $6-7.00. Definitely a thrifty gift.
One caution I want to mention: It is not safe to put fresh herbs, garlic, etc. in oil and keep it at room temperature. I know you can find how-tos on the web that tell you it’s OK to do this, but it is not. Botulism can grow in these situations, so I find it best to just stick with flavored vinegars.
Basket Idea #2: Goat cheese Appetizer Basket
It contains:
- Jar of canned Roasted Red Peppers in Wine
- Jar of canned Tomato Bruschetta Topping
- A recipe for a goat cheese appetizer (link takes you to a printable recipe)
- Small log of goat cheese (optional, really, since it needs refrigeration)
Pretty simple, huh? But this is something from the heart, that (hopefully) people will use and like. Not everything needs to be complicated and expensive. It’s harder to estimate that cost of this, but if everything but the vinegar and oil came from your garden, this basket could come in at under $2.00!
I’ve given baskets using my home-grown and canned items a number of times using different themes. Sometimes I just package a bunch of different jars together with recipes and no theme at all. Really the possibilities are endless here.
What do you like to make with garden items?
AND find lots more handmade gift ideas here!
I’m also sharing this at Get Your Craft On and Nifty Thrifty Tuesdays.
I believe a cottage can be anywhere or anything (condo, ranch, farmhouse) as long as you have a "cottage mentality" which puts people above things, celebrates imperfections, embraces simplicity, and finds joy in everyday life. Thanks for joining me!
Can’t wait to see what other homemade gifts you come up with. My husband’s family does this too. I’m known for baking bread and often give bread with something like honey butter. But it means last minute bread baking so this year I’m hoping to choose something that I can do ahead of time. Maybe I need to start a list of things to make next summer for NEXT Christmas!
Gina
Jamie, I am so excited. We bought the cast iron Dutch oven at Costco today. I cannot wait to try your Artisan bread recipe. The Dutch oven is DH’s Christmas gift.
I love home made gifts but I don’t have a garden anymore tsk2. .well good luck to all of you
What a lovely gift basket…I just put one together for my friend’s birthday yesterday…along with some pumpkin cream cheese muffins. I posted the recipe!
I love these home grown ideas for gifts! Nutrition is becoming way more important for all of us. I have a Garden Gallery of art.