Gift Baskets/Bags

[Ladybug]

I've been making gift bags/baskets for church functions for a couple of years now. Generally, I'm asked to make about 20 bags with a budget of $10 per bag. That's not much to work with and it's even less when you figure in the cost of the bag or basket itself plus tissue paper and other decor. I've been asked to always include water, pocket-sized tissue packs, and mints plus any other kinds of snacks I can dream up. My question is this: what would YOU include in such a bag? Remember, everything has to be able to remain fresh for several days at room temp, must use cheap ingredients, must be able to be wrapped up in Saran (it's cheap and plus gives a good view of the product) and has to appeal to the general public. My standards right now are Rose Levy Beranbaum's Mahogany Buttercrunch Toffee, a tweaked version of her Mrs. King's Irrestistibles, a flourless peanut butter cookie and pecan pie mini muffins. All of these recipes are solid and have gotten rave reviews, but I'm tired of making them. It's all nuts, chocolate and caramel flavors. It seems so redundant somehow. And again, it all has to be about CHEAP.

Ideas, anyone?

[Wendy DeBord]

Well, we''re all raving about Neils marshmellow recipe and their very cheap to make.

I'm not sure I understand what the gift bags are for........they have water and tissue........thats kind of different. Can you explain what the goal is other then on the cheap? Are you selling these or giving them away? Please explain.

And are you asking what our favorites are so you pick popular items? Do you need specific recipes? Do you have a list of ideas your already thinking of and need some help choosing from those? How advanced are you skills.........are you adventerous?

[Ladybug]

Well, we''re all raving about Neils marshmellow recipe and their very cheap to make.

I'm not sure I understand what the gift bags are for........they have water and tissue........thats kind of different. Can you explain what the goal is other then on the cheap? Are you selling these or giving them away? Please explain.

And are you asking what our favorites are so you pick popular items? Do you need specific recipes? Do you have a list of ideas your already thinking of and need some help choosing from those? How advanced are you skills.........are you adventerous?

These gift baskets are for pastors and their wives to make their hotel stay during a church conference more comfortable. I've specifically been asked to include the water, tissue, and mints because they can bring the water with them when they preach, etc, tuck the tissue in their purse in the event they need one, freshen their breath after lunch . . . you get the drift. The snacks are to nosh on between meals. The way it works is they give me a budget - usually $10 per bag, sometimes more, I buy all the stuff, make the bags/baskets, submit the receipts to them and they reimburse me. Originally, I did the bags at cost. Lately, they've been insisting on paying me for my trouble. I don't mind doing it for free because it's for a good cause and the process is fun but I must admit that the thought of getting paid for it is a rush. ("Wow! They think I'm good enough to get PAID! What will I do with the money?!")

I'm asking what sort of thing you would make under those conditions I listed above because I need some new ideas. No one has complained that they're tired of the old things and would probably complain if I stopped making the toffee, but I just feel like it's time to do something new. I thought of making caramelized walnuts for the bag and tested chefette's recipe that's posted on this site. It was wonderful and definitely worthy to put in these bags - but I wonder what percentage of the population likes nuts? I'm worried about that. If someone has a specific recipe for something they suggest, that's wonderful. If they don't, that's fine too. I can test and tweak recipes; I'm mainly interested in some fresh ideas. In particular, I'm thinking of something lighter that does not include the same flavor profiles as the toffee, cookies, and muffins I already make, which basically consist of dark chocolate, nuts and caramel.

My skills - agh. I used to think they were pretty good until I found eGullet. Now I realize I'm a total, complete amateur compared to you, Sinclair, and eGullet's other pastry people. I'm comfortable with a candy thermometer, but not good enough to go without one. I do nearly all my baking now by weight. I can make pastry well enough to wow my crowd but would be considered average by you. (Actually, the fact that I make my own pie dough wows them before they ever taste it.) My cake decorating skills need work, but I think I'm getting better with piping. I have never tempered chocolate but I'd like to try. I like to think I have an artistic eye and I'm quite patient with fussy details. I am adventurous - I'm willing to try new things and willing to embrace new flavors but I do worry that my audience is not adventurous.

I have made nightscotsman's strawberry marshmallows and I was completely blown away, but I had a problem getting them to look as nice as they tasted. I've only made them once and hope I'd do better the next time - I suspect I didn't let them dry long enough before I started cutting them. I'd love to see someone do that so I could get a better idea of how to go about it.

[Rachel Perlow]

Fruit. I think every bag should include 2 pieces of fruit, an apple and a navel orange in the winter, a peach and a plum in the summer, for example. Not everyone wants to snack on candy and pastries between meals. How about some other healthy snacks like homemade granola or trail mix? Put your baking skills towards breakfast bars, muffins, cakes like a date nut cake, something someone would be happy to have as a quick breakfast.

They are visiting your community from other parts of the country? Then you should include regional specialty items. Here's a link to the North Carolina Dept of Agriculture Specialty Foods Catalog, you might get some inspiration there. The only thing I can think of for NC right now is barbecue, hard to put that in a hospitality bag.

I think sample sized toiletries, like Purell and wetnaps are some non-food items that would be appreciated in a hospitality bag. As you are doing this for a church, you might be able to get some goods donated or for a discounted price, but you'd probably need some sort of letter or card from the church.

[Ladybug]

Fruit. I think every bag should include 2 pieces of fruit, an apple and a navel orange in the winter, a peach and a plum in the summer, for example. Not everyone wants to snack on candy and pastries between meals. How about some other healthy snacks like homemade granola or trail mix? Put your baking skills towards breakfast bars, muffins, cakes like a date nut cake, something someone would be happy to have as a quick breakfast.

They are visiting your community from other parts of the country? Then you should include regional specialty items. Here's a link to the North Carolina Dept of Agriculture Specialty Foods Catalog, you might get some inspiration there. The only thing I can think of for NC right now is barbecue, hard to put that in a hospitality bag.

I think sample sized toiletries, like Purell and wetnaps are some non-food items that would be appreciated in a hospitality bag. As you are doing this for a church, you might be able to get some goods donated or for a discounted price, but you'd probably need some sort of letter or card from the church.

Whoops - I forgot to mention that I do always include fruit. It's almost always two apples and an orange - usually a Golden Delicious or Granny Smith and a Fuji or Gala. I tried peaches once and red pears a few times, but they bruise so easily that it's difficult to get them to the recipient in good condition. I thought of wrapping them in bubble wrap some cutesy way but have yet to try it. I also generally include nuts, crackers and/or pretzels.

I love the idea of a date nut cake! I have some mini loaf pans that would make a cute sized loaf. I can't help but think of banana nut bread or a carrot cake-loaf too.

I also have a recipe for granola that I've been meaning to try. I like that idea too.

I never thought of Purell or wetnaps and it's an excellent idea. Thank you!

I shall clickety on your link next. Thank you!

[FWED]

I would have to second the vote for marshmallows. I made them for Easter and I made them in three different flavors and with three different colors. I used Neil's recipe but substituted an additional 1/4 cup of water for the strawberry puree and added 1 tsp of flavoring. I used lemon extract with yellow coloring, mint extract and green coloring and the original strawberry puree recipe. Use only enough coloring to produce a pale color. I have found that is is very necessary to allow the mixture to sit in the foil-lined pan, uncovered at room temp for at least 12hrs. Then cut with an oiled knife or one that is dipped into the sugar potato starch powder.

Another item you might include is fruit jellies or Pat de Fruit. These can be made of any puree. I have used lemon, apricot, raspberry, blackberry, and a combination of apricot and passion fruit (also recommended by Neil). Jacques Torres has a recipe for them in his book "Dessert Circus at Home". I have also bought tubs of puree from companies that include the recipe for fruit jellies. These confections are so fresh and delightful that people are surprised at how good they are. They are definitely not you same old fruit gum drops. They can be either sweet or tart or anywhere in between by varying the amt of tartaric acid added at the end of cooking. The cooking is easy and the only special thing needed other than the puree is a candy thermometer, candy pectin and tartaric acid crystals. All of which are available at candy making supply stores or online at places like Beryl's. Good luck with what ever you decide to do.

Edited to add a note that Sherry Yard has a recipe for Blackberry Jellies in her new book "The Secrets of Baking.

Edited April 15, 2004 by FWED (log)

[Wendy DeBord]

I hate to sound really duddy but I think I lean toward very simple items that everyone loves. When I'm away from home I long for items that I would have had at home but can't get in a convience store, hotel or restaurant. Those aren't necessarily as exciting as what you normal do...........

Depending upon the hotel, my favorite snack is microwave popcorn and my hubby is a cookie freak (chocolate chip or peanut butter-which you could dress up and dip in chocolate). He also likes rice crispy bars-duddy I know but you can dress those up also.

You could do white chocolate coated popcorn in mini bags...thats a treat I really love. Theres a recipe for caramel corn at this site I've been dying to try. Banana bread/muffin is huge a favorite. A mini cinnamon bundt cake is a yummy and could double for breakfast...really any kind of breakfast cakelet would be a good idea. Seasoned nuts might be a man pleaser- a sweet/salty combo. The fruit was a great idea!

[Ladybug]

FWED: I have got to try the fruit jellies. I've never made them and they sound like a great change of pace and delicious as well. Could you post a recipe? (Oops, see below . . .) I will try the marshmallows again. I think I only waited 8 hours to let them dry last time because I was too impatient to play with them. How would you wrap those?

Sinclair: I don't think you're being duddy! Consider my audience! I think the microwave popcorn would be great in the bags as long as there were microwaves in the hotel rooms. I'd have to check on that. How would you dress up the Rice Krispie treats? My husband loves those too. My husband actually prefers them plain. My Dad used to make them and he'd mix in peanut butter and spread chocolate chips over the top when they got all melty. I'm definitely going to explore the breakfast cakelet idea. I'll have to test some recipes. I have a good recipe for zucchini bread, but I've never found a banana bread recipe I'm happy with. I've made many decent banana breads but nothing spectacular. I have a nice recipe for a pumpkin ginger muffin, but that might be too exotic for the average palate - I don't know - and plus, even though it tastes great, it's a very moist muffin - so moist that I think the outside would peel off the Saran when it was unwrapped. I like the idea of doing nuts and the recipe I just tried I added a little cinnamon, salt, and nutmeg to. They turned out great, but I'm wondering if I could improve them with a different blend of spices.

I really appreciate everyone's ideas. This is just what I needed - fresh ideas!

Edit: FWED, I found Jaques Torres' recipe online here. They look wonderful!

Edited April 16, 2004 by Ladybug (log)

[Joni]

There'a a GREAT banana bread recipe on Epicurious -- from the Flour Bakery (Joanne Chang ) in Boston. Fantastic -- it has a small amount of creme fraiche.

[PopsicleToze]

I can't help you on the baking, but possibly can offer an idea on cutting costs in general. There is a benefit center I help out at occasionally that cooks dinners and sells them with all profits going to help people in times of need (fire loss, medical emergency with no insurance, etc.). Instead of cost shopping and driving lots of places for the best deals, they have an arrangement with a local grocer (longtime store owner and most of the people in the group shop at his store) that he orders and sells them everything they need at cost. If there is someone in your church who could assist in this manner, it wouldn't hurt to ask him/her.

Regarding bags and tissue paper, would your church let you but a donation box in the community room or something where people could donate some items for the bags?

What a great, thoughtful thing you are doing!

Good luck

Rhonda

[tsquare]

I've done this for out-of-town guests staying in local hotels, as a welcome.

Water, spicy glazed nuts, chocolate shortbread cookies or gingersnaps, rustic crackers (I've bought them, but there are recipes for making crackers that look interesting), fruit, article clippings with special events or places to visit, a few flowers for the room.

Snacks - nice to balance sweet, spicy and salt, and soft, chewy, and crispy.

Edited April 16, 2004 by tsquare (log)

[Ladybug]

Joni, thank you! I'm going to look up that recipe now.

NolaFoodie, I actually am getting my basket ingredients at cost. It's been a blessing for staying under budget. I hadn't thought of a donation box - thank you!

tsquare, how do you spice those glazed nuts? I'm just starting to explore this - I've only made glazed nuts once so far. My husband said, "These aren't good enough for the bags," and then he ate the whole entire pound of nuts in 2 days. Every time I turned around he was eating more nuts. I even set some aside to bring to church so I could get a friend to try them and he ate those too! I liked those but I couldn't help but wonder when I tried them if there was a better spice combo out there.

I tried chocolate shortbread cookies once at home and I think my recipe was just average because the shortbread was just average. I've made cheese crackers at home before and again, I got an "average" result. It needs to be better than average if I'm going to subject other people to it. It's hard to find good recipes for something like cheese crackers because it's not something I've made often. I always end up buying crackers for these gift bags instead because I guess I'm too lazy to make them!

[Mayhaw Man]

Local soft drinks can be a big hit as well (Cheerwine comes to mind). They are not expensive, and can be purchased even less expensively by the case. Local chips can be another interesting item to add.

[Ladybug]

I've thought about including sodas or juices, but I'm not sure if these people have refrigerators in their hotel rooms and some people are funny about drinking this stuff room temp.

I'll check on the local chips, though! Thank you!

[maggiethecat]

Theres a recipe for caramel corn at this site I've been dying to try

I was going to suggest this, but you beat me to it! Click here for the recipe. It's from the inimitable Jaymes, and it's a wonder. (Makes a huge quantity, too.)

[Dana]

Here is my recipe for Candied curried Pecans. I made these and put them on a table with cheeses, crackers, etc. at our daughters' wedding. They were a big hit.

1 1/2t. onion powder

1 1/2t. garlic powder

1 1/4t. salt

3/4t. curry powder

1/4t. cayenne

Mix together

Melt 2T. butter, 2T. honey and pour over 3c. pecans. Stir to coat. Add spice mix and stir. Spread on large tray and sprinkle with a cajun seasoning blend. Bake at 250 till toasted, about 40 min. Cool.

Instead of baking, I also sometimes put these in the smoker for an hour, stirring every 20 min.

Line tray with foil for easier clean up.

I can also vouch for the caramel corn. Good luck with keeping your hubby out of it!!!

Edited April 17, 2004 by Dana (log)

[Rachel Perlow]

I've thought about including sodas or juices, but I'm not sure if these people have refrigerators in their hotel rooms and some people are funny about drinking this stuff room temp.

I wouldn't put in a can of coke or anything common like that, but if you have access to a regional specialty like Cheerwine, I think it would be fine to include in the bag -- all hotels have ice machines afterall, so even if there's no min-bar to chill it in, you could pour it into a glass of ice or chill it in the ice bucket. I just think it's a great idea to include some local products.

[hillvalley]

How would you dress up the Rice Krispie treats?

Top with sprinkles

or

Add mini chocolate chips

or

Dip half in chocolate and top with sprinkles

or

Do the last two with caramel chips

I love the chocolate covered popcorn and marshmellow ideas .

If there is a microwave: tea bags and hot chocolate

[tsquare]

tsquare, how do you spice those glazed nuts? I'm just starting to explore this - I've only made glazed nuts once so far. My husband said, "These aren't good enough for the bags," and then he ate the whole entire pound of nuts in 2 days. Every time I turned around he was eating more nuts. I even set some aside to bring to church so I could get a friend to try them and he ate those too! I liked those but I couldn't help but wonder when I tried them if there was a better spice combo out there.

I tried chocolate shortbread cookies once at home and I think my recipe was just average because the shortbread was just average.

I've used recipes from Hayday Cookbook (based in Westport, Conn.), Macrina Bakery and Cafe Cookbook (Seattle, WA), and Tom Douglas's Seattle Kitchen (also Seattle) for spiced nuts. All of these places sell them retail as well.

The chocolate shortbread is from Tom Douglas as well. These are not too sweet and very addictive.

[Ladybug]

Dana - I will try that recipe! Thanks!

Sinclair & maggiethecat - I've actually been meaning to try Jaymes' recipe too because it really sounds delicious.

Rachel - it looks like peanuts and pecans are big here according to the site you found - I'm wondering about peanut brittle? Chocolate covered peanut brittle?

hillvalley - I like the idea of dipping half the Rice Krispy treat in chocolate! Evil!

tsquare - Tom Douglas sounds like somebody I need to know about. I'll look it up. Thank you!

Thank you, everybody! I love you guys!

[JFLinLA]

Dried fruit is the only thing I can think of to add. A healthy, quick energy alternative.

Also, see if you can get some cellophane bags from a floral supply place -- The kinds used for boutinniers or corsages. They come in a variety of sizes and are inexpensive and look great when tied with some ribbon or raiffia.

[pepperAnn]

Hey Ladybug!

You're sure getting your props here!!

All I can say is when we come to preach at your church, I better get basket with EVERYTHING! Popcorn, covered nuts, marshmallows, cookies, rice krispie treats (dipped in chocolate, of course), mints, water, oh yeah AND Barbeque............Ha! Ha! Ha!

I had an idea, too. If the visiting minister has children, you may include a candy treat of some kind (lollipops, licorice...), or even cookie pops.

I think what you're doing is awesome!!

[Ladybug]

Hey, pepperAnn!

I like the lollipop/cookie pop idea, especially after seeing Sinclair's Easter table on the Easter thread.

Thanks!