Here is a list of food based gift basket ideas...I've tried to catch all the other suggestions from folks on this thread so far with their names in parentheses:
Italian Gift Basket: Fancy-shaped or flavored pasta, canned tomato or pasta sauce, sun-dried tomatoes, a wedge of Parmesan cheese, an Italian cookbook, a bottle of wine and a red-and-white checkered tablecloth.
Pasta Basket: package or two of pasta, tongs, package of sun-dried tomatoes, extra virgin olive oil, spices (oregano, basil, garlic powder), pasta cookbook, pasta tongs, jars of sauce (red or white). The *basket* could be an actual basket lined with fabric and topped off with a bottle of Italian wine, a loaf of unsliced Italian bread, and/or a chunk of parmesan cheese OR a large pasta serving bowl OR a pasta pot. Make cute labels and repackage pasta in ziplocks wrapped in clear cellophane? Or put pasta in mason jars?
DIY an Italian Bread Dipping Mix and gift in Mason Jar with Tag (Carrabas CopyKat recipe! Could gift with bottle of Olive Oil and a Fresh Lemon?)
DIY Tuscan Bread Dip Mix and gift with the tube of Sun Dried Tomato Paste and Olive Oil in basket
Pizza Gift Basket: Jarred Pesto, Pizza Sauce, Potholders, Packages of Pepperoni, Black Olives, Mushrooms, Pizza Cutter, Grated Parmesan, Olive Oil, Pizza Stone, Pizza and/or Garlic Bread Recipes, Pizza Crust Mix, Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
Include a cool pizza cutter!
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B...IN=B00004WGUQ&linkCode=as2&tag=uniqgift0fc-20
Chinese Food Lover: bamboo steamer OR wok filled with ingredients readily available in the Asian section of your grocery store, chop sticks, Chinese tea, small Chinese tea cups, chop stick rests, fortune cookies, etc. Asian Plum Sauce!
Mexican Olé Basket: Jars of salsa (red or green), flavored or plain tortilla shells, hard taco shells, refried beans, DIY Taco Mix in Mason Jar, Green Chiles, Jalapenos, Tortilla Chips, Nacho Sauce, Black Olives, Rotel, Mexican Rice, Cornbread Mix (with recipe for making Cheesy Green Chili Cornbread), Other Recipes (for Guac, etc.), Onions, Avocados
Breakfast in a Basket: Homemade nut bread or bagels, gourmet marmalade with a unique spreader, canned grapefruit sections or berries, special-blend coffee or herb tea and unique beverage mugs. Homemade jams; Tea bags or loose leaf with infuser; Real maple syrup; DIY Pancake and/or muffin mixes;
Two holiday mugs, *package* of Dunkin’ Donuts Coffee, a quart of orange juice, half&half, small packet of sugar tubes, a half dozen assorted muffins and breakfast pastry
(Per Minta) Box of pancake/waffle mix, bottle of maple syrup, bottle of fancy raspberry syrup, bag of ground coffee
Bean Basket: Cans of different legumes (kidney beans, black beans, navy beans and more) with a great recipe for homemade bean soup. Tuck in other recipe ingredients, such as onions, garlic, canned chilies or vegetables, pasta or containers of dried herbs if you'd like. You can also add some fun soup bowls or mugs. Be sure to include instructions for soaking if doing dried beans at all – especially red beans that need extra attention to be safe!
Variation = Chili Basket: Include recipe for and canned goods/fresh items for making chili; Could include cornbread mix and fixings as well...
Fireplace Supper Basket: Canned chili or hearty soup, cornbread mix, gourmet salad dressing, cocoa mix, CD of dinner music and fireplace matchsticks.
Kitchen Warming Basket: An array of gear for first-timers in the kitchen. You can include measuring cups and spoons, a can opener, a wooden spoon, a cheese grater, colorful potholders, dish clothes, tongs, knives, a cutting board and more. Also, start filling the pantry by adding canned vegetables, fruits, meats, soups and broths. A basic cookbook or list of culinary Web sites, such as
www.mealtime.org, would be great too.
Kitchen Basket: Buy throughout the year … oven mitts and matching dish towels … 12 sets if you go for each month of the year, 4 sets if you choose the four seasons, your choice of number if you opt for holidays.
Salad Fixin's Basket: Cans of artichoke hearts and olives, herbed or balsamic vinegar, olive oil, garlic bulbs, a wedge of Parmesan cheese, herbed croutons (homemade!), decorative salad tongs or utensils, a can opener and a pepper grinder with a jar of colorful peppercorns. DIY dressing mixes packaged with cute label. Homemade breadsticks. Infused olive oils and/or vinegars.
Seafood Dip Basket: Canned seafood (crabmeat, shrimp or oysters) with a recipe for seafood dip or spread, gourmet crackers, a bottle of wine or non-alcoholic sparking juice, two inexpensive wine glasses, a unique spreader and fun, paper napkins.
New England Basket: Clam Chowder; Cheese Biscuit Mix (Like Red Lobster)? and ???
Irish Basket: Cans of Lamb Stew; Boxes of Irish Soda Bread; Irish Shortbread Cookies; ???
Some Like It Hot Basket (for a cook who likes spicy foods): spices (cayenne pepper, white pepper, black pepper, crushed red pepper, chili powder, paprika), hot sauces (chili, Tabasco, etc.), salsa, hot Asian pickles, fresh hot peppers, recipes, and an antacid … a little joke.
Couch Potato Basket: TV remote holder, video or CD, assorted microwave popcorn, other snacks like nuts, chips, or candy, comfy slippers,
Fruit Basket: Not the most original but a lot less expensive to put together yourself. Forget trying to get the perfect *tower* look and purchase a deeper basket to mound with favorite fruits. Don’t’ forget a pomegranate or two and add chestnuts, nuts in shells, and wrapped candy to embellish.
Health Food Buff … Basket filled with brown rice, other specialty grains such as quinoa, spelt, bulgar, all-natural candy bars, homemade granola, assorted dried beans (colorful) assorted spices. Package these in bags tied with twine or raffia. Package in jars with festive toppers.
Bread Baking Basket…Assorted Flours, Bulk Yeast, Measuring Cups and Spoons, Olive Oil, Recipes; Large proofing bowl could be the “basket”
Cookbook Basket: Select a cookbook and choose a recipe from the book. Attach a card to the front that includes the recipe name and page number. Place the cookbook and dry ingredients for the recipe in a decorative basket.
BBQ Basket (Minta): Assorted bbq sauces, marinades, steak sauces, rubs, metal skewers and new grilling utensils. Maybe some of those super duper oven mitts or gloves? Or a bluetooth meat thermometer like this one?
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MPZBB4K/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Homemade Goodies Gift Basket (Minta): Simple and brilliant! Assorted homemade cookies, bread, cakes, fudge and chex mix!