Shelby

I'm looking for new ideas and some advice. Every year for YEARS I've been in charge of making gift baskets for our local customers. Some of the baskets are put out for all of the employees to share (very small companies) and some are taken home by the manager/owner/head buyer etc. I think I've been doing this for maybe 10....12...15.... years or more. Frankly, I'm tired of doing it lol, but they seem to always go over so well that I can't justify not doing it. I've looked in to buying them pre-made, but (and I'm not bragging here at all, I swear ) my baskets are much better than any I've ever found and I can put way more --and better--items in my baskets for less cost. Here are a few examples of past baskets: Anyway, during the year I keep an eye open for low-cost baskets and snatch them up when I see them. This was a huge pain before the internet lol. I've done hat boxes, wicker, wire...you name it, I've probably used it. I usually make between 8-12 baskets and they are not small. I buy shrink wrap that shrink with a hair dryer (that's probably the most fun part of it all lol). With the glut of zucchini that I harvested this year I decided to make and freeze full-size loaves of sour cream zucchini bread. I first wrapped them in Saran and then foil and then put them in freezer bags. (Really looking forward to getting them OUT of my freezer so I can have more room). Now, I am second-guessing myself. Is including this bread an ok idea? Does it seem cheap and "hokey"? My idea was to take them out of the foil and put them in a clear bread bag with a cute tie or something and a complete description....... Any other ideas for something cute to put the bread in? I'm also looking for any and all ideas regarding items to put in the basket and ways to decorate the basket. Here is this years basket. I purchased 12 of them at $7.29 a piece including tax and shipping. By the way I just looked them up again and they are now $12.65 a piece....wha?????? I know. Very plain, but I think I can make them cute. I was thinking burlap "ribbons" and white wooden snowflakes??? Ideas anyone??? I did red and white "candy cane" last year. Also, any ideas for things to put in them? In the past I've done combos of this: Salsa (artisan type) Tortilla chips In shell peanuts Mixed nuts in cans Cutie oranges 3-4 different wedges of cheese (that got a little expensive, but people seemed to really like it) I'd usually do a smoked gouda, a cheddar and a jalapeño or something Crackers Mustard Big logs of summer sausage Packages of Grandma's Cookies Ghariradelli chocolates Rocher chocolates I wish I had a running thread documenting all of this from when I started. Sorry so long winded....

I'm doing a bit of shopping this morning--online of course. I didn't leave the comfort of my home for one single gift last year. Anyway, I'm on the look-out for any interesting/new/different gadgets/cookbooks/foods etc. I wish Gfron1's cookbook was finished so I could purchase a few of those! What are you guys wanting to give/receive this year?

Ooooh Deryn! Looking forward to seeing what you create in there

Well, I'm no expert, but if I were a chef I'd love some of that pottery that you showed us on your cookbook thread. And some Hatch chiles Edited to say: Ha! We all like the chiles

That's one of the nicest compliments I could ever have. Thank you, you've made my night! (((hugs)))

I had some fresh mozz cheese that was going to go bad, so I used that with some homemade bread and a few slices of cheddar to make a toasted cheese..... Along with that a huge pot of chicken and noodle soup. It's going to be coooooold here starting tomorrow night so I made us some and some for my in-laws

They look like they would melt in your mouth!

Upside down caramel banana bread. I had the bananas so prettily aligned on there....but some of them sank into the bread.....still was very good Before caramel sauce After

Congratulations Norm! My best friend and her husband stayed there too for their honeymoon. Very nice place. You certainly cooked your butt off. You deserve a lot of down time and a cocktail or six......

Gfweb, I wish the ducks that my husband brings home had that much fat on them Looks sooooo good. He's out duck hunting now, maybe a miracle will happen haha. More scallops over pasta on a bed of spinach Had a busy day in town a few days ago so I bought a rotiss chicken from the grocery store. I like doing that once in a while. Saves me time and the chicken is always good. Anyway, had some leftover so I made enchiladas.

Such a difficult situation. My heart goes out to all the shrimpers.....from the article it looks like maybe 2-3 more years. So hard for the people trying to make a living. But, we need the shrimps (shrimp?) to rejuvenate and be sustainable again. I hope it happens faster than they say.

Patrick, what is sprinkled on the 'taters?

Blackberry jam.....or you could make a jam and do a chocolate with it. Or you could make a jam and do thumbprint cookie.

I remember loving all kinds of "exotic" foods when I was little. I don't know for sure how old I was, but around 4 or 5 my family took me to Red Lobster. I was in heaven. I ordered shrimp and lobster and ate like a little piggy. However. Put a steak or a roast in front of me and I wanted nothing more than to shove it down the garbage disposal. Around the same age I remember being allowed to eat off of a t.v. tray in the living room while watching Escape From Witch Mountain (I'm pretty sure it was that movie). Anyway, it was all good until the plate of food placed in front of me held a steak. My GOD that steak was huge (or so it seemed to me--in reality it was probably like seven or eight bites). I remember my mouth getting salty and feeling like I was going to be sick. I refused to eat it. I was told that I will eat it and I will sit there until I do. Luckily, I was in front of the t.v....... Then, I got a brilliant idea. I hid all of the meat around the underside of my plate. HA I was so smart!!! Until my mom lifted the plate to take it to the sink.

Rancho Gordo beans are a must in this Kansas girls' chili

Steve, ohhhh boiled peanuts. I've only had them a couple of times, but I loved them. Wish I could reach through and pluck a couple of yours out and pop 'em in my mouth! Chili dog night at Shelby's house.

Excellent write-up! Thanks for sharing it. I feel like I know you a little better now

Pomps--I have one of those rotisserie things too......I hate cleaning it, but I love making chicken in there. Yours looks delicious! Franci--You make me wish I lived close to a good fish monger. Duck, sausage and chicken gumbo for us last night

Kim, I looked through your cookbook and I can't find the apple cake recipe. Could you point me to it......or, bribe Mr. Kim to post it

In one of my cookbooks--a newer one--there is a whole section on election day dishes. In a lot of my older ones they include chapters like that, too. Slow-cooker and casserole type dishes mostly so that the ladies that help at the polling sites can come home and have dinner done. I think one of those meatloaf dishes that is baked to look like a cake--you know, frosted with mashed 'taters? Because with politicians you think you're getting one thing, and you usually end up getting another lol.

Breakfast for dinner is so comforting, Kim No, they aren't egg noodles, but I believe there are a LOT of eggs used to make them. You might like them...they aren't as toothsome as most pastas. I buy them either from Igourmet or Amazon. They are made by Caponi. Kind of expensive, but I love them. Best store bought pasta I've ever had. I need to start making my own again. I have a great machine and everything, I'm just lazy.

Happy Halloween!!! And, Happy Breeder's Cup!!!! (I'm a huge horse racing fan ) Hassouni, gorgeous gumbo. I might have to have that tonight. I have some in the freezer. Smithy, I'm so glad they turned out well. I could have scallops every day and not get sick of them I think. 'Sketti night last night

After I thawed mine out I patted them with paper towels and made sure they were super dry. Then I seasoned with s and p--I might have used a little truffle salt too. Then I put about a TB of butter and a TB or so of olive oil in a skillet and got it smoking hot. Next put those lovely scallops in and don't move 'em until you start seeing brown around the edges. These were fairly thick and big so it was like 3-4 mins probably. Then I used tongs to flip 'em over. I don't leave quite as long on the other side because you don't want to make them tough. Probably 1-2 mins. Now I'm hungry for scallops again

Being a peasant also reduces the amount of dishes one has to wash

Glad to see you, Steve! That cauliflower looks soooooo good. Anne, beautiful pizza as always. I'm still stringing out our garden tomatoes. BLT's I cracked open a jar of tomato juice that I canned and made a cream of tomato soup to go with