Food Hamper

[Lakitu]

I'm going to my Aunt and Uncle for Christmas this year. We don't normally exchange gifts but I wanted to get them something since they're hosting the day so have decided on a food hamper.

I had a look at some websites but there's nothing I would want to give them, they're either full of weird stuff they won't eat or well over what I'm willing to spend, so I'm putting together my own one, but I'm struggling, so far I have:

Box chocs (for her)
Thorntons special toffee (for him)
Crackers
Wine

Any ideas of other items I can put in, and also, what's the best cheese's to put with the crackers? Is there anywhere I can get a selection of suitable mini cheese's? The only mini cheese's I see are the little packs of cheddar and the smoked cheese (that are wrapped to look like little sausages LOL).

All idea's gratefully received :o)

[debbz1969]

Some nice chutney jam preserve
ChristmasPudding
Shortbread
Christmas cake
Nuts/Nibbles
Definately Mince Pies or something homemade would be a nice touch too.

[debbz1969]

Maybe some smoked salmon
Pickles
Coffee beans or ground coffee

[Lakitu]

Thank, Debbz,

I make my own chocolate truffles, I hadn't thought about making a batch to stick in, good idea thanks :o) x

[Lakitu]

Salmon and coffee! Perfect!

[Maypole]

My sister and I make one for my Dad each year and depending on how well he is, what his cholesterol is doing and how much he should or shouldnt be drinking we tend to include:
port, brandy, tin of shortbread, carrot cake (rather than Christmas), Jacobs crackers, cheese, nice pickle(s), a DVD, apricots (not his own teeth so no nuts lol), Twinings tea, nice coffee, mince pies, salmon, and this year a Lindt Santa. Few Christmas crackers and a bit of tinsel and Bobs Your Dad's brother ;o)

You can buy individually waxed cheeses from one of the major supermarkets but I cant remember which...... or you could buy a cheeseboard ready made.

[Lakitu]

Excellent, thank you very much!

[jen78]

Ooh what a lovely idea :)

Selfridges and Harvey Nics do some lovely jams (some in mini pots), preserves, marmalades etc...often get my dad some from there like orange and whiskey marmalade, special wholemeal mustard, some Earl Grey teabags, fresh coffee and Harvey Nics do a lovely hot chocolate in a lovely tin.

Date and Walnut cakes always go down really well too.

You could always fill it up with things like a new corkscrew or cheese knife (supermarkets do some lovely little sets of cheese and a board and knife) mini bottles of wine you can get in supermakets or those minis of spirits.

A nice bottle of port is usually lovely too.

After Eights or Ferrero Rocher are usually popular or those mint or orange sticks which you can get cheap in places like Somerfield, they are doing packs of chocolate brazil nuts and sugared almonds for a pound each too.

A mini jar of humbugs is nice and Christmassy.

Grapes are nice with the cheese as well.

A treat thing or something like brandy sauce or butter.

[jen78]

You can get mini things of fudge and toffee from supermarkets like Morrisons and those cute little tins of mints as well.

[what..the?]

- two lovely christmas themed mugs
- kichenware like: kitchen towel, oven glove, coasters, hot plate/pot stand all useful at xmas
- misletoe
- xmas music cd
- candles
- tree decorations
- slippers, scarf, gloves, hot water bottle, bed socks
- mixed nuts, chocolate cover nuts, chestnuts
- dates and satsumas
- bath oil
- a throw to keep warm on the sofa or in bed
- hot chocolate and horlicks
- different cakes dundee etc and stollen
- mulled wine

[what..the?]

oh I thought you meant actual pulling crackers in your post not eating crackers lol

Crackers are good to add to any hamper because they fill the hamper out more and they make everything look more colourful and xmas related.

[Lakitu]

Brilliant ideas! I hadn't even thought about mugs, coasters, candles etc. They're definatately going in, as is the mini jams and preserves as is a selection of hot chocs!

Thank you SO much :o) x

[Lakitu]

LOL, what...the!

Pulling crackers are a good idea though, I can get a pack of the little crackers :o)

[joannie10]

couple of tins of nice soups? some of the supermarkets do mini cheese board/pack things at christmas time with a good date on them so could do that .

[Lakitu]

Thank you, Joannie, Baxters do a range of strange soups, don't they.

:o) x

[joannie10]

yes that was what made me think of soup. My uncle used to work for them and at christmas we always got a box (not a fancy hamper) of things. There were lobster bisque and consome's etc - things that my mum never bought (never bought soup much normally made it but would be lentil, farmhouse veg or whatever). Was nice to try different things.

[Lakitu]

The lobster one is rather tasty. My colleague came out with a tin of "Italian Wedding". The mind boggles as to what exactly is in it LOL.

[Jugglering]

Hiya Lak... get yourself down to a decent supermarket or department store that does a *super dooper* or *extra special* range of foodstuffs and fill a small straw lined basket with lovely little *goodies* that your aunt & uncle wouldn't normally buy - little jars of extra special marmalade, jam, pat�, pickles, mustard, tiny tins of caviar, a pack of wild smoked salmon, interesting honey, savoury nibbles, gruyere sticks etc etc...

Re the cheeses - Tesco's are doing a little pack of flavoured cream cheeses which are just perfect for spreading on crackers... they will have to be kept in the fridge though...

[Lakitu]

Hi Juggs :o)

I'm going to go to Sainsbury's later in the months and get all that ind of stuff. I'll keep the fish in the fridge until just before I'm leaving for their place on the day :o) xx

[Bathsheba]

Hi Lakitu. LOL at "strange soups" :-) xxx