Consider a theme for your basket. For example, if your theme is Italian, substitute a colander for the basket. Fill it with garlic bulbs, spiral pasta, gourmet spaghetti sauce, and a pasta spoon. A Latte lover s basket can be filled with a decorative mug, chocolate dipped spoons, and hot drink mixes such as Mexican coffee, hot cocoa, or teas. You also might fill a basket with various homemade flavored rice mixes, dip mixes, salad dressing mixes, dessert mixes, soup mixes, and so forth.
Many Web sites offer a variety of mix recipes.
Choose an inexpensive item to add to the basket to make a unique and beautiful gift. For example, include a ceramic bowl for the soup mix, a wooden spoon for the dessert mix, and a cruet for the salad dressing mix. I buy the baskets at thrift shops and garage sales. Sometimes I spray paint them gold to dress up the gift. I fill the bottom with straw or a piece of cloth with the edges cut by pinking shears.