thirtieth birthday party

[mimififi]

Hi there, Am going to a thirtieth birthday party on saturday (you know how I like to do things in advance!) and wondered over some ideas of gifts I could make for the birthday girl.

It has to be quick to make and original. I love to make presents, I'm just out of ideas right now. I was going to do something with salt dough, but have left it too late of course.
I was thinking of maybe a gift in a jar, or a hamper or something?

ANy ideas anyone?

cheers all me dears

[WendyS]

If you're any good at cooking, how about 30 really nice home made fruity or cheesy scones which can be stored in the freezer and taken out and eaten as necessary? But now I've read your question again and realise you've run out of time so perhaps 30 cheesy straws gift wrapped with a nice ribbon?

[Ward-Minter]

I would buy them a copy of Logans Run. Do people still do that?

[Clanad]

You know the honoree, of course, so you'd have to judge whether this is appropriate. Having said that, we've made several jars and presentend them as gifts and all have been well received.
We make jars of combined pickled ingredients. Here's the basic recipe, which is for pickled harboiled eggs. Adjust to the amount you want to do. This with the other ingredients will make about 5 or 6 quarts (some for you and your family, too):

2-cups vinegar
2-tsp salt
1-clove garlic
12 hard cooked eggs
3-tbsp sugar
1-1/2 tsp pickling spice
Preparation:
Combine all ingredients except eggs
Boil 5 minutes
Pour over eggs & refrigerate 1 to 2 weeks, if you can wait that long.
But to this we add a few stalks of whole dill. And then, instead of just the eggs, we add Polish Sausages, Asparagus spears, small onions, and even beets, if you'd like (use your imagination). It doesn't take much time to make and a red ribbion tied around the neck of the jar makes a nice, festive presentation. We have, on occasion, tied the jar to a small maple cutting board, which is used to slice the pickled contents.
The pickled goods wouldn't be at their best for about two or three weeks, but a humorous admonsihment to the soon to be over the hill guest by way of a homemade birthday card is enough to make them wait...

[lia*]

or you can put the ingreadients for a cookie recipe in a jar along with the recipe, i usually do choclate chips or oatmeal/raisin. i have given that several times and it's always appreciated. put a nice big bow on the jar together with a card.

[mimififi]

Ahhh, Edible gifts, an area of gift making into which I have not yet branched......Excellent ideas all. I shall get on the case.

Clanad, I particularly like the pickles: I have many glass jars that I save for such a project that I have never done yet. Do I have to sterilise the jars first? And presumably they seal themselves as the mixture cools in the jars?

I may do a hamper of all three ideas! i shall get the kids to help me cook.

WM: I don't know what Logans Run is? is it naughty?

[Clanad]

sorry for the late answer, but I've been busy helping a lady with a building problem in another Topic area...
Sure... rinse and sterilize (sterilise?) your jars, then, what I do is set them in a 300 degree F oven for about 5 minutes, take them out, place the ingredients in them and pour the hot pickling liquid over. Set the lids snugly and listen for the satisfying "pop"...