Once upon a time, giving gifts in baskets was a tradition confined to Easter. Even then, it was a tradition confined to tucking jelly beans and chocolate into a brightly colored basket for the kids. Back then, long before there were entire businesses devoted to putting together gift collections and baskets, I found myself looking for an anniversary gift for some very close friends. They didn’t need anything for their house. A gift certificate for a nice dinner out was just a little too boring. And flowers just didn’t seem like the right thing. After discarding about a dozen ideas for gifts that just weren’t quite right, I stumbled on the idea of tucking a whole bunch of their favorite gourmet foods into a pretty basket. I added a few delicacies that they’d never buy for themselves and a cute little teddy bear, then arranged it all artfully in a pretty basket that they’d use over and over. Voila! The perfect anniversary gift.

These days there are gift baskets for almost any occasion, and they’re always the perfect gift. Need a gift for your girlfriend’s birthday? A gift basket filled with luxuriously decadent chocolates filled with liqueurs and gourmet goodies topped off with a snuggly plush pooch says “I love you!” just right. How about one for your husband for your anniversary? Appeal to his romantic side with delicate pastries, gourmet pates and a sly little plush devil all tucked into a wire basket that can be used over and over. Gift baskets are especially suited as romantic gifts for couples. My original idea of a romantic evening for two in a basket is one of the most popular themes for anniversary, birthday and holiday giving.