I've done holiday gift baskets for my kids' inlaws, and other friends, for several years. Contents vary over the years, but have included:
1. Jams and jellies
2. Pub cheese
3. Chicken liver pate (note, for that and the pub cheese, you need to include directions to keep them refrigerated)
4. Pickles of all sorts, including pickled quail eggs and small knockwurst chunks
5. Chutneys, spreads and sauces. I did a big batch of Vivian Howard's Blue Q barbecue sauce and canned it one year.
6. Meringue cookies
7. Rice krispy treats
8. Pralines
9. Fudge
10. Chocolate bark
11. Quick breads
12. Flavored butters
13. Bagels
14. Homemade bread
15. Homemade crackers
16. Candied nuts
17. Eggnog (someone on here, maybe @BonVivant?) shared an eggnog recipe a couple of years ago. It's pretty wonderful, but damn, it's strong! I believe if I make it again, I'll cut back on the booze. One reason i like to make it is that it amuses me to watch the reaction of the liquor store when the old lady strolls up and wants Everclear.
I generally aim toward the out-of-the-ordinary. Pickled quail eggs are a big hit, as is bacon jam and homemade crackers.
One year, I made Eudora Welty's white fruitcake. It was awful -- doughy and not tasty. So I froze it, sliced it thin, and made biscotti out of it. That was pretty good.
