For the past few years, edible Christmas presents seemed to be all the rage, with everybody getting out there and creating their own, personalised Christmas hampers. I think it's a great idea - what better way to please the gourmand in your life?

It also allows for that individual creative touch, as you're only limited by your imagination as to the contents of the gift hamper!

But then again, any time is a good time to give - why not consider presenting a loved one with a hamper for a birthday, anniversary or token of appreciation?

Some traditional favourites are the chocoholic or sweet tooth hamper, but that's just the icing on the cake!

What about a tea or coffee lover's hamper or a nice spice luxury hamper? Inventing your own hampers means that you can even cater them to specific food, medical or allergy requests or requirements, such as vegetarian, vegan, diabetic or gluten-free.

There are many different items that you can include in a gift or charity hamper, it's just up to you to determine your own personal touch! Nuts, cheeses, teas and coffees, homemade biscuits, chocolate fondue, chutney, jam, pesto, pickled vegetables, the list of the possible delectable goodies goes on!

Learn more here about christmas hampers that you can just buy with the click of a button... no stress, no hassles, no fiddling about, no wrapping, and delivered straight to their door!

Home made gift hampers are a thoughtful gift and can be assembled in hundreds of themes for speciality gift themes like gardening, car/auto, sports, fishing, baking, crafts, knitting, pet care, and of course can include some home made 'gourmet' gifts like a selection of biscuits & cookies, or christmas fruit cakes, even a dozen fruit mince pies.

All you need to to is to present your gift creatively on lovely presentation plates and wrap in cellophane (or use 'oven bake' bags) to finish them off and keep the food items clean.

A pretty bow and some Christmas pick decorations and you are all done.

You can even make your hamper simple by simply repackaging pre-baked cookies or cakes that you reassemble into your own gift basket presentation.

Then you can always simply go to your supermarket or grocer and purchase some small packages of biscuits, pate, savoury nuts & pretzels, and place them in a basket with one or two bottles of wine. Violla! instant gourmet gift hamper for christmas giving!

Below here I'll give you some gift-in-a-jar ideas. Fun and simple to make, putting a selection of these into a basket with maybe a packet of biscuits or fresh fruit, would be a great gift.

BAVARIAN MINT FLAVORED COFFEE

1/4 C. Powdered Creamer
1/3 C. Sugar
1/4 C. Instant Coffee
2 T. Powdered Baking Cocoa
2 hard candy Peppermints

Process in a blender on liquefy until well blended. Store in an air tight container.

CAFE SWISS MOCHA FLAVORED COFFEE

1/4 C. Powdered Creamer
1/3 C. Sugar
1/4 C. Instant Coffee
2 T. Powdered Baking Cocoa
Process in a blender on liquefy until well blended. Store in an air tightcontainer.

CAFE CAPPUCCINO FLAVORED COFFEE

1/4 C. Powdered Creamer
1/3 C. Sugar
1/4 C. Instant Coffee
1 Orange flavored piece of hard candy
Process in a blender on liquefy until well blended.
Store in an air tightcontainer.

Add your gift note:
Use by tablespoonfuls according to taste.
Spoon in cup and add hot water.
- ENJOY!

FIRESIDE COFFEE MIX

2 cups Non-dairy coffee creamer
1 1/2 cups Carnation hot cocoa mix
1 1/2 cups Instant coffee -- (reg or dec)
1 1/2 cups Sugar
1 teaspoon Ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon Ground nutmeg

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl, stirring well. Store in an airtight container.

Gift card instructions
To make 1 cup;
spoon 2 tablespoons + 1 teaspoon of mix in a coffee mug.
Add 1 cup boiling water, stir until well blended.

HOME MADE VINEGARS

***INGREDIENTS***
1 quart Vinegar - white wine -- white, or cider (depends on the taste you want)
2 tablespoons herbs -- etc, up to 3

They're attractive and useful, as well as tasty. Great to give as a hostess gift, or as part of a
gourmand's basket, along with dried tomatoes, home-dried herbs, flavored mustards and/or butters, etc.

Heat vinegar on stove, but not to boiling. Add desired herbs (tarragon is great, so is basil, rosemary, thyme, or mix some together. Also - red chili peppers or lemons are wonderful.)

Allow to simmer for about 30 min. Remove vinegar
from heat. Remove herbs, chilis, etc. Allow vinegar to cool.

In attractive sterilized bottles or jars, add fresh herbs, chilis, etc. (whatever you used to flavor vinegar). Pour vinegar over herbs. Seal bottle.

It's also attractive to tie some raffia or ribbon around the neck of the bottle, and a pretty label identifying the vinegar, and some suggestions for use.

I also add sometimes add lemon zest, a few different types (& colors) of peppercorns, and maybe a clove of garlic. (The more you stuff into the bottle, the prettier it is).

Gift card
- Serving Suggestions:
Herbed vinegars are always good with olive oil in salads, but they are also good on cooked greens.

NORTH POLE CANDIED PECANS

1 pound pecan halves
2 tablespoons water
1 egg white
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
Mix together in bowl: 2 tbsp. water and egg white Mix together in separate bowl: 1
tbsp. cinnamon 1 tsp. salt Wet the pecans with egg white and water with a slotted
spoon; fill spoon with pecans - dip into dry mixture and shake off excess.

Place pecans on cookie sheet. Bake at 250 degrees for 1 hour, making sure to check every 10 to 15 minutes. The pecans will stick unless you constantly check them and turn them. These make a great teacher gift during the holidays.

Cool and wrap in pretty presentation bowl or platter.

RASPBERRY VINEGAR

4 cups white wine vinegar
1/2 cup sugar
2 cups ripe -- fresh raspberries

In a medium saucepan, combine vinegar and sugar; bring almost to a boil over low
heat, stirring constantly until sugar dissolves. Do not boil. Place the raspberries
in two 1 quart sterilized glass bottles and pour hot vinegar over them. Seal
bottles and shake slightly. Let stand at room temperature 48 hours. Strain through
several layers of cheese cloth into a clean jar.

Seal tightly. Store for 2 to 3
weeks in a cool, dark place (do not refrigerate).
Pour this vinegar into a decorative decanter or bottle to make an attractive gift
for any occasion. Or enjoy it yourself with your favorite fruit salads and green
salads.

To make an herb vinegar, follow the recipe but replace the raspberries with
your favorite fresh herb and omit the sugar.

RED HOT SPICED TEA

1 large jar Tang
2 cups sugar
1 package lemonade mix
1 cup instant tea
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon cloves
1/4 teaspoon ginger
1 small bag red hots
Mix all ingredients thoroughly. Store in airtight container.

This recipe can easily be doubled, tripled, quadrupled,etc.

Gift card instructions:
Add 1 rounded spoonful to boiling water and stir.