Gift Baskets

As a bride-to-be, you’re so happy to have your bridesmaids by your side, helping you choose your wedding colors, select the right wedding favors, and most importantly, deal with all the inevitable drama that comes along with planning a wedding! Gifting your bridesmaids before the wedding is tradition, but it’s only natural that you would want to sincerely thank them for lending an ear and a helping hand. Presenting them with jewelry is a common bridesmaid gift, but well, isn’t it nice to do something a little outside the (jewelry) box once in awhile? Here’s some new bridesmaid gift ideas for you!

Luxe Dinner: Most brides spend about $100 on each bridesmaid gift. If your bridesmaids tend to prefer getting together for a nice dinner and drinks compared to receiving another piece of jewelry, ask them if they’d prefer you take them out for a fancy dinner and drinks, on you. After all, the memories you make getting all dressed up for a delectable dinner will last forever, and will surely make for one fantastic evening.

Spa Gift Certificate: It’ll be nice to relax after the wedding, won’t it? Same goes for your bridesmaids! Visit a local spa and choose spa gift certificates for them, to be used towards any spa service that they’d like. Getting a massage or facial is always a welcome treat, and your bridesmaids will likely be so excited to use them!

Create A Registry: Isn’t it so great to choose items for your bridal registry? Let your bridesmaids have some fun by creating their own registry! Give each bride a list of several local stores and the total $ amount you’d like to stay within, and let them “create” a registry of 5-10 items they’d like! This way, you’ll be able to choose gifts each bridesmaid actually wants, while letting them have some fun writing up their own registry.

Bridesmaid Gift Baskets: You can really get creative with bridesmaid gift baskets – check out our Bridesmaid Gift Baskets page for some ideas! It’s always fun to discover all the goodies nestled inside a gift basket, and we just know your bridesmaids will adore bridesmaid gift baskets like our Luxurious Vanilla and Ginger Spa Gift Basket, Godiva Favorites Gift Basket, and the CosmoRita mixes inside our Cosmopolitan Gift Basket!

You’re strapped for time planning your wedding, but treating these great ladies in your bridal party is so important. Sure, choosing jewelry or a “typical” bridesmaid gift is a cinch, but taking the time to put some creativity into their gift really shows how much you appreciate their help as you tie the knot!

Out of the bridesmaid gifts you’ve received, which gifts stood out as your favorite and least favorite?

If your Dad is the master of the grill, then a barbecue style Father’s Day is in order! Most of the Dads we know love to command the grill (even if Mom secretly does it a little better!). Celebrate with Dad by making your new favorite barbecue sauce together – give it a fun name, and it’ll be forever known as the barbecue sauce that only you and Dad can expertly create. Here are some recipes to get you started, and remember to order your Dad’s Blue Ribbon BBQ Father’s Day Gift Basket, filled with so-good sauces, rubs, and seasonings to complement your bbq sauce, along with tasty Dad-themed treats in the rest of our Father’s Day gift baskets!

Carolina-style Barbecue Sauce

Courtesy of About.com

Makes about 2 ¼ cups

Ingredients:

1/2 cup sugar

1 cup prepared yellow mustard

3/4 cup cider vinegar

1/4 cup light brown sugar

1/4 cup water

2 tablespoons chili powder

1 teaspoon black pepper

1 teaspoon white pepper

1/4 teaspoon cayenne

1/2 teaspoon soy sauce

2 tablespoons butter

1 tablespoon liquid smoke, hickory flavored

Directions: Mix everything together except the soy, butter, and smoke. Simmer for 30 minutes, and then stir in remaining ingredients and simmer for 10 more minutes.

St. Louis-style Barbecue Sauce

Courtesy of About.com

Makes about 3.5 cups

Ingredients:

2 cups ketchup

1/2 cup water

1/3 cup apple cider vinegar

1/3 cup brown sugar

2 tablespoons yellow mustard

1 tablespoon onion powder

1 tablespoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon cayenne

Directions: Blend all of the ingredients together in a saucepan over low heat. Begin stirring occasionally, and simmer for 20 minutes. The sauce should be thin. Allow the sauce to cool, and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator, and allow to sit for one day.

Mustard-style Barbecue Sauce

Courtesy of About.com

Makes about 2 cups

Ingredients:

1 cup prepared yellow mustard

1/2 cup balsamic vinegar

1/3 cup brown sugar

2 tablespoons butter

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1 teaspoon cayenne

Directions: Mix everything together and simmer on low heat for about 30 minutes. This sauce is delicious, but particularly tastes great with pork.

Want to vary up the recipe? Go ahead! Ingredients like brown sugar, chili powder, paprika, honey, cayenne pepper, onion powder, yellow mustard, and ketchup all work beautifully in barbecue sauces, so feel free to experiment! Then, cook up some barbecue, get the family together for one amazing cookout, and gift Dad with his Father’s Day Gift Basket. Oh, and prepare to be buying custom jar labels in the near future, as we have a feeling you’ll be getting some order requests for you and Dad’s secret barbecue sauce!

There’s nothing quite like the bond between Dad and his little girl. Whether she’s 12 or 32, she’ll always be considered Daddy’s Little Girl, with Dad feeling like the protector of his “little” one, and you feeling so loyal and proud to have a Dad as great as yours. You of course want to show Dad how much you care, especially with Father’s Day being right around the corner on Sunday, June 19^th this year. Yet, what do you get the Dad who has everything?

Well, a Father’s Day Gift Basket, for starters! You’ll want to pair a basket of Dad-themed delicious goodies with a handmade gift from you that will really show him how much he means to you. Crafting a Father’s Day scrapbook is the perfect way to show your affection for Dad, and we have the scrapbook know-how to help you whip it up in time for June 19^th!

A scrapbook can have as many or as few pages as you’d like. The magic number for us is usually around 10 pages, and you can typically find a Father’s Day themed scrapbook at your local craft store for an affordable price. Then, start looking through old photographs – look for photos of you and Dad as you age – starting from you as a baby through your current age. Make copies of these photos, and affix one photo to the center of each page. Then, include a short sentence of phrases describing your memories with Dad, or use one of these Father’s Day themed quotes:

“Fatherhood is pretending the present you love most is soap-on-a-rope.”  ~Bill Cosby

“A father is always making his baby into a little woman.  And when she is a woman he turns her back again.”  ~Enid Bagnold

“A father carries pictures where his money used to be.”  ~Author Unknown

“Dad, you’re someone to look up to no matter how tall I’ve grown.”  ~Author Unknown

“I don’t care how poor a man is; if he has family, he’s rich.”  ~M*A*S*H, Colonel Potter

“Dad, your guiding hand on my shoulder will remain with me forever.”  ~Author Unknown

Just as ordering a Father’s Day gift basket from us is a cinch, crafting a Father’s Day scrapbook is as easy as choosing a scrapbook, finding cute photos of you and Dad, and selecting a few quotes or memories to articulate in the scrapbook. Dad will so greatly appreciate the thought and time you took to create such a treasured gift for him, knowing that no matter what age you are, you’ll always be his little girl.

This year has been a whirlwind, hasn’t it? It seems like the holidays were just yesterday, but yet Mother’s Day is a mere two weeks away, on Sunday, May 8th this year. We recently brainstormed some fun homemade gift and Mother’s Day Gift Baskets pairings ideas on our website, and wanted to shed some more light on one of our favorite homemade gift ideas – cookies! Yumtastic cookies are certainly the way to Mom’s heart on Mother’s Day , and combine them with our Mother’s Day gift baskets to really hit it out of the park!

You’re (Macadamia) Nuts About Mom! Cookies

Makes 2 dozen cookies

Ingredients:

1 teaspoon baking soda
2 cups all-purpose baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
¾ cup unsalted, soft butter
¾ cup granulated sugar
1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
2 eggs that have been left at room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla
12 ounces white chocolate, cute into one-quarter chunks
1 ½ cups of coarsely chopped macadamia nuts

Directions:

Preheat your oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit.

First, cover two cookie sheets with wax paper, and set aside.

Combine flour, baking soda, and salt, and set aside. Use your mixer on a low speed to whip butter until creamy. Then, begin gradually adding the two sugars, and continue beating until it has a fluffy consistency. Add each egg one at a time. Stir in the flour mixture and the vanilla.

Drop dough balls onto the baking sheet, leaving about 3 inches between each cookie. Flatten the dough slightly to ensure it is in the shape of a cookie. Bake on the center rack of your preheated oven for about 20-25 minutes. Cool in the pan, and transfer to wire racks to cool completely.

Taking the time and putting in the thought to bake Mom cookies for Mother’s Day and selecting a pretty Mother’s Day Gift Basket for her goes a very long way in showing her how much you care. The days go by fast, and in a heartbeat you transform from her little girl or boy to her very grown up daughter or son, and you’ll be reassuring her that you’ll always need her and want to treat her on her special day!

This Sunday is Easter Sunday, and we hope you have a wonderful Easter, all!

While we’re busy bees crafting Easter Gift Baskets, we’re all daydreaming of the same things here at BisketBaskets.com: being on Ellen! We can’t get enough of The Ellen Show – Ellen DeGeneres is one fearless, fantastic female, and she’s truly our role model. We’ve kept Bisket Baskets alive and well for eleven plus years now, and it’s only through dedication and the continual drive to move forward that we’ve accomplished this, traits that Ellen shows in all of her actions, and one of many reasons we admire her so greatly.

It’s been our mission for the last few years to get our gourmet gift baskets, like our so fun Dog Gift Baskets, on The Ellen Show. Just like Ellen’s quirky personality, our dog gift baskets are a unique idea first created by us and continually improved with healthy dog treats and fun dog toys! We want to be able to thrive for many more years, and being on The Ellen Show would help show an even wider audience how beautiful our gift baskets are!

We need your help to achieve our dream of being on The Ellen Show! Tell us in the comments below or visit our Help Us Get On Ellen page to share your ideas on how we can get on Ellen – and hey, if you personally know her, help your favorite gift baskets business out!

It’s that time of year again. You’re planning out your Thanksgiving menu, whipping up those deliciously cheesy mashed potatoes, fluffing up the pillows in your guest bedroom, and…battling a case of the sniffles. First – Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at BisketBaskets.com! We’re so thankful to be in business for over 11 years strong, and we owe it all to our wonderful fans!

Now let’s get to the cold part. It’s never fun to have a cold, especially during the holidays. We’re based in Parker, Colorado, so we know a thing or two about how the cold, and stress of the holidays, can wreak havoc on your body. Here’s our BisketBaskets.com approved tips on fighting off that cold!

Vitamin C is Key: Vitamin C is important year round, but especially when you have a cold. Most people can only absorb about 250 to 500 mg a day, so be sure you’re taking adequate doses of Vitamin C when you’re sick, and continuing to throughout the year.

Sleep On It: Let’s face it, you’re busy trying to do all you possibly can during the holidays, resulting in less sleep than usual. You can’t turn back time when you’re sick, but you can rest and get some sleep now that you are sick. Do your best to always get about seven hours of sleep each night, and more when you have a cold.

Soothing Soups: Can chicken soup cure the common cold? Not exactly, but it sure can make you feel a lot better. Send a smile to a cold-stricken special someone in your life by surprising them with a Gourmet Soup Gift Basket, like our Comfort Soups Gift Basket, Country Christmas Soup Gift Basket, and our Soups On! Gift Basket. Soup gift baskets just seem to have that special dash of joy and happiness, just what you need when faced with a runny nose!

Call In Sick: Sure, calling in sick is a lot more fun when you’re not actually sick, but it’s important to dedicate yourself to getting better when you’re sick. By staying home from work, you’re decreasing the length of your cold, and also keeping your co-workers from getting sick. We give you full permission to spend the entire day on the couch watching talk shows and soap operas!

We hope you have a healthy holiday season free of colds, but if you do start coughing, you know just what to do! Consider Soup Gift Baskets your ticket to battling the achoos!

With October being full of delicious Halloween candy and being National Dessert Month, it’s quite a sweet month – must be why Sweetest Day is October 16^th.  At BisketBaskets.com, we want you to enjoy October to the fullest with some easy  dessert ideas you can whip up for your sweetie all month long. Enjoy!

Pumpkin Butter Cheesecake
To make this delectable fall treat, preheat your oven to 350 degrees and lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish. Then, mix together 1 package of yellow cake mix with 1 egg and 1/2 cup of butter. Mix until well blended then pat the mixture evenly onto the bottom of the baking dish. Next, beat together 1 (8 ounce) package of cream cheese and 1 (15 ounce) can of pumpkin until smooth. Add 3 eggs, 2 teaspoons vanilla, and 1/2 cup butter until creamy. Stir in 4 cups powdered sugar, 1 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, and 1 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg. Spread mixture over the cake layer. Bake until the top is set, about 40 to 50 minutes. Super simple! Just cut into squares and serve.

Chocolate Mousse
Blend together 2 eggs and a 12 ounce package of chocolate chips in a blender until smooth. Add 1 cup of scalded milk and blend well. Pour into a large bowl and let cool. Then, fold in a carton of Cool Whip or whipped cream. Refrigerate and serve chilled.

Quick and Easy Apple Tarts
Open a can of flaky dinner biscuits and use your fingers to flatten each biscuit out. Place on a greased cookie sheet. Then, peel and cut 4 apples into small chunks. Place apples in a bowl and add 2 teaspoons of brown sugar, cinnamon, and 1/2 tablespoon melted butter. Mix well. Spoon apples onto the top of each biscuit and sprinkle with a little bit more brown sugar and cinnamon. Bake according to biscuit directions and serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Don’t worry if you’re not a gourmet in the kitchen. BisketBaskets.com also has chocolate-themed gift baskets you can send in honor of National Dessert Month to the people you care about, like:

The M&M Madness Candy Bouquet: Chocolate lovers can munch on sweet M&M candies when you send this thoughtful chocolate gift basket from BisketBaskets.com.

Reese’s Grand Indulgence: This Reeses Candy Gift Basket is filled with delectable treats that blend together the best flavor combination ever: chocolate and peanut butter!

Chocolate and Cookie Tower: Get the crunch of cookies and the smoothness of chocolate when you dive into this lovely gift tower from BisketBaskets.com.

What’s your favorite dessert? Do you plan on whipping it up this month?

Become a Facebook fan and become eligible to win a $100 gift certificate from Bisket Baskets!  Here’s how:

• Visit our Bisket Baskets Facebook Page and press the “Like” button to become our fan.
• Post a message telling us what BisketBaskets.com gift basket you would like to receive if you’re chosen as the lucky winner!

We will select one winner at random from all of our Facebook fans, and they’ll receive a free $100 gift certificate for a shopping spree on BisketBaskets.com, for anything they’d like!  Be sure to share the contest with your Twitter followers and Facebook friends, too – it’s just in time for the upcoming holiday season.

Note: 

Contest is open for all Facebook fans from September 1 – 30, 2010.  Winner will be responsible for placing their order online at BisketBaskets.com (one time transaction only) and will be responsible for all shipping charges.  This contest offer excludes the following gift types:  cookie bouquets, fruit baskets and floral gifts.  Gift Certificate will expire on 11/30/10.  Gift certificate has no redeemable cash value.

Did you know that the second week of August is actually National Smile Week? With this special occasion right around the corner, it pays to take the time to gather together all of your best cheer and spread it around to your friends and loved ones. It’s so important to celebrate the people in your life who make you smile, plus, when you give a little sunshine back, it’s sure to bring a smile to everyone’s faces! If you’re looking for a great way to celebrate National Smile Week, consider sending a cute and sunny gift basket from BisketBaskets.com. Trust us – it’ll be a complete surprise and it’s something cheery that’s sure to bring a big, beautiful smile!

Here are some of our top picks for spreading cheer during National Smile Week:

It’s Your Sunny Day Bouquet: A cheery blend of roses, carnations, lilies, and solidago come together beautifully in this sunny floral bouquet featuring a great design and a fragrant scent. Someone special will love receiving this lovely gift at home or at the office unexpectedly, surely bringing a smile!

Ice Cream Parlor Dog Gift: Who says that smiles have to come from people? You can also send a special treat to a dog you love by choosing this dog gift basket from BisketBaskets.com. Filled to the brim with bakery biscuits and dog-friendly freeze dried ice cream, this gift basket for dogs is the right amount of summer sweetness. Share with a pup you love!

Sunshine Surprise Gift for Kids: You can also bring a smile to the face of a niece, nephew, grandchild, daughter, or son with this great gift basket for kids from BisketBaskets.com. A box of yummy treats, colorful crayons, activity book, rockin’ pair of sunglasses, silly slinky, and a colorful gift bag help to make up this surprise that’s perfect for that special boy or girl in your life.

Sunshine Care Package: Looking for a scrumptious way to send a smile? Then send this Sunshine Gift Basket from BisketBaskets.com. Rocky Mountain popcorn, raspberry tea cookies, refreshing drink mixes, a ceramic mug, and decadent chocolates are just a few of the gourmet delights you’ll find this this cute and clever care package. Get yours and send a smile with BisketBaskets.com!

Just as clothing styles change every few years (and every season, for some!), websites need a bit of a sprucing up from time to time, too. Our customers are our top priority, and creating an easy-to-navigate website is our utmost concern, as we want you to be able to spend  less time shopping online for our beautiful gift baskets, and more time actually enjoying them! And that’s just what we did – check out the new and improved BisketBaskets.com!

Here’s a screenshot of our redesign:

We’re so proud of the new site, we just adore it, and we think the colors are so warm and friendly! We hope you’ll visit the site, take a look around, and of course let us know if there’s anything extra you’d love to see! A big THANK YOU goes out to all the talented people who helped us plan and design the new site, as well as the great feedback we heard from our friends and loyal customers!