But for those of us who are not quite so handy, let's just purchase baskets and figure out what to put in them. There are plenty of things to fill our baskets. And preparing the proper foods is just as thought worthy as making baskets and gifts.
Item number one on the list is Hamentaschen. Poppy seed and prune are the traditional fillings, but apple butter, cherry and pineapple preserves are certainly delicious fillings that work quite well. The three sided treat is often attributed to Haman's three cornered hat. If you make them yourself, be sure to fold in the sides with one corner of each side under another and the opposite corner of each side over the other. Some lesser experienced cooks have tried to fold two adjacent sides in and then fold the bottom flap over both the other two sides. That doesn't work because the flap will open and it's just not fun to eat that way.
If you would like, fulfill the mitzvah of sending Shalach Manot to a stranger by sending a gift basket to an Israeli soldier. On active duty at the Labanese border, plenty of soldiers would love to receive special gift baskets sent directly to them. It would certainly let them know that we are thinking of them in these hard times.
Visit the specific Israel Website to place your order in time. The cost isn't much and you have fulfilled your mandate for Purim. Now, start putting a basket together for a friend.
While gift baskets full of sweet foods are great gifts to give to the needy, there are other ways to give of yourself during the celebration of Purim. Being creative, funny and informative, you can put together a skit that you can then perform for people in hospitals, day cares and nursing homes. You never know, you just might be the only person who visits them this year.
Help with the setting up of a Purim carnival. Volunteering your time is an act of giving just as much as a gift basket is to the needy and a half shekel is to charity. The act of giving is in the heart and without you, there may not be enough people to put together a Purim carnival. So, don't hesitate to ask.
Purim is a wonderful time of year. Even though the weather may not be the greatest, Spring is just around the corner just like victory was just around the corner when the Jews seemed like they were in their darkest days when Haman was casting lots, or "Purim" to determine the day he would annihilate the Jews. Even though brighter days are ahead, these days are the best to show people that you care.
The Jewish community stands strong together just as we did some twenty five hundred years ago. That's the message. That's the reason we have of celebrating. So, drink and be merry until you can't tell the difference between "Blessed be Mordecai" and "Cursed be Haman." But, give of yourself and you give the best gift worth giving.
The gift baskets of the past were such a sorry excuse for a present that they were often included in jokes along with the standard fruitcakes. You do remember the old fruitcake jokes don't you? Of course, I may be dating myself here but anyway you look at it, this is definitely not the reality today. Gift baskets have really come into their own as well respected in the gift giving department. Due to the variety, quality and wide range of prices they have become quite popular as creative and thoughtful ways to express everything from well wishes to sympathy for those you care about.
So, if the image in your mind is that of a chintzy imitation wicker basket filled with semi rotten fruit then you haven't checked out the many shops available today both off line and online. The vast array of choices is fantastic and you can easily find something for every person and occasion you could possibly think of on your gift giving list. Here are a few ideas to get you started.
Wine has become quite popular around the world so it's hard to go wrong when sending a wine basket. The nice thing about these is how personal you can actually make them. You can choose the type of wine you know the person truly enjoys or perhaps purchase a bottle from an expensive winery that you know they would love to try but would never spend that kind of money on themselves. This can make a very special treat for someone on either your personal or corporate list. Can you think of a better way to let someone know how much they are truly appreciated?
Don't forget when making your purchase to include some other delicious goodies, as everyone drinking a glass of their favorite wine needs a nibbler or two to go along with it. This is another place where you will need to put some thought into what this particular person would enjoy. If they are chocolate lovers you can't go wrong with an assortment of luscious gourmet chocolates and even if this is for a corporate recipient that you don't know very well, chocolate is still a great choice as most everyone loves chocolate especially the fancy gourmet varieties.
Of course, fancy fruits, cheese and crackers, or even caviar are other great selections to go along with your vintage bottle or any wine for that matter. You could also become quite creative by throwing in a book by their favorite author, a scented candle, aromatherapy or special spa items so they can truly relax and unwind with this unique idea that you have so thoughtful and creatively put together and delivered.
Now if you're thinking to yourself that these great tips won't work for the people on your list because they aren't wine drinkers, well think again because you can just substitute the wine in your hand selected gift basket with an assortment of gourmet coffees or fancy teas or there are even some great non-alcoholic beverage alternatives for you to choose from. Like I said these are fantastic presents due to the variety and creativity that can go into each and every one making them as unique as the person receiving them.
One last tip, there are hundreds of fantastic pre-made gift baskets available today for you to choose from with just such options already put together for you or if you don't find exactly what you need there are other services that will create whatever you special order and deliver it directly to that special someone on your gift giving list.
Both Sharadbhai Jain & Marsha Beslic are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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