Any foods you like to get/give for the holidays? (rum, syrup)

[DaniellaG]

Harry and David
Those gourmet caramel apples
Godiva or See's
I used to give this gourmet caramel popcorn that had caramelized nuts but the place went out of business I think
When I was younger I made different cookies and brownies and placed them in a basket

[Dirt Grinder]

Originally Posted by gentlearts

I have heard that the crab cakes sold on QVC are very good.

Wow - there is no way I would ever send someone a crab cake that I didn't make myself. Food gifts are all about favorite personal/family recipes and love.

[Bunjee]

Cheese. A hard aged cheese that'll last me forever. I remember seeing a whole wheel of aged goat cheese in a window and trying to {{{{{psychically vibe}}}}} someone to spend the hundreds to make a gift of it to me. It's not like I wouldn't have shared a tiny tiny tiny tiny bit with my benefactor.

[Chimuelojones]

Everybody is getting See's candies this year.

[rural chick]

I make homemade cookie and candy baskets to give to neighbors and close friends and some relatives. I might use baskets this year instead of boxes which I normally use. Also for some, they will get pans of fresh baked cinnamon rolls. The others will get fudge, English toffee, cookies of all sorts, caramels and pumpkin bread.

Each year the people look forward to getting these and as long as I am able to do this, I will continue to do this although it is tiring to make all of this stuff.

[L0ve]

Anything healthy and without sugar!

By the time X Mas rolls around, I already feel so bloated down in a sea of sugar, that I cannot even think of eating any X Mas goodies.

My clients always started gifting me candy, cocoa mix, and cookies, and cakes weeks before the holiday, and to be honest, I had to give away 90% of it every year. The thought of receiving any more sugar this time of year really makes me gag.

I have noticed this with other people at X Mas parties also. They do not even touch the expansive dessert table because they have already eaten so much junk at home, work and other parties, that they cannot stomach the thought of it.

I do like small loafs of banana breads, or other holiday breads - those go right into the freezer and can be eaten any time later in the year.

[Nanny Goat]

I like to get/give Chocolate covered cherries, good ones. They're very holiday'ish to me and a bit different than just chocolates.

Years back, I used to make cookie plates, choc. chip (sometimes pistachio choc. chip cookies), sugar cookies/ w drizzle and nut cups.
Sometimes, fudge, too, depended on the year. But, now it's low key.

[mainebrokerman]

i give venison, it can be deer or moose....always a welcome gift
yrs ago, my father use to bring venison steaks to grandmothers place at thanksgiving, she loved it-reminded her of her childhood

i also make bambi-balls... (meatballs) delicious!!

[no kudzu]

Originally Posted by rural chick

I make homemade cookie and candy baskets to give to neighbors and close friends and some relatives. I might use baskets this year instead of boxes which I normally use. Also for some, they will get pans of fresh baked cinnamon rolls. The others will get fudge, English toffee, cookies of all sorts, caramels and pumpkin bread.

Each year the people look forward to getting these and as long as I am able to do this, I will continue to do this although it is tiring to make all of this stuff.

Almost went into diabetic coma just reading this plus a few other posts. I love to bake but it is too hard not to try my own creations. I do break the rules and zap myself with extra insulin a few times during the holidays but this year I hope I can keep my resolve.

I remember a few years ago somebody wrote in to Ann Landers or Dear Abbey saying she didn't have money to buy gifts that Christmas and was wondering how to handle it when she received gifts. The columnist wrote that she could do some "lovely homemade baking of her favorite recipes and send them to her family and friends". Boy did that start a storm of mail and protests and to her credit, she admitted she was totally out of touch with the cost of nuts and baking ingredients, plus tins and shipping costs. To say noting of the time and energy to do all that baking.

I like getting homemade preserves, pickles, relishes, etc much more than baked items but my favorite is a wonderful basket of cheeses, crackers and summer sausage my daughter sends just days prior to her arrival and the whole family enjoys it over the holiday.

[rdflk]

Gethsemani Farms Kentucky Bourbon Fruitcake (I've loved it for over a decade. WSJ also says it's the best!)
(and their cheeses)