How to Give Smoked Meat As a Gift

Visit your local butcher for a selection of smoked meats to give as a gift.

Give the gift of food in a savory basket of smoked meat, with crackers, cakes, cheese and wine. Make baskets for holidays, anniversaries, birthdays or retirement gifts as a sweet gesture for any food lover. You can combine tantalizing treats and succulent drinks to personalize any gift basket.

Things You'll Need

• Smoked meat
• Cheese
• Mustard
• Jelly
• Crackers
• Wine
• Sparkling apple cider
• Whiskey
• Champagne
• Tea
• Basket
• Newspaper
• Straw

Instructions

1. Visit your local butcher, delicatessen or smoked meat procurer and choose a smoked meat -- or two or three -- as the base of your gift basket. Smoked meat can include: summer sausage, chorizo, salami, knackwurst, andoulli and so on. Talk to a butcher or salesperson to find a particular smoked meat the recipient may enjoy.

2. Choose cheese to complement the meats. Cheeses can be mature, sharp or even mild to include: brie, cheddar, havarti, swiss and so on. Include a small cheese knife in your gift basket for easy cutting.

3. Decide on a condiment to complement your smoked meat. Traditional condiments that taste good with smoked meat include: whole grain mustard, English or yellow mustard, pickles, onion or tomato chutney, mint jelly and hot pepper jelly.

4. Personalize your basket. For instance, if the person you are treating is a wine connoisseur, include a nice bottle of red wine in your basket. Alternatively, champagne, sparkling apple cider, beer or whiskey can be added for a personal touch. Crackers, cakes, oranges and apples can fit in nicely as well. Alternatively, make your own candy or oat cakes to add to the basket.

5. Fill your gift basket with shredded newspaper or straw to display your smoked meat arrangement. Arrange the items you have purchased in the basket with the heavy items in the back or to the sides to equal and balance the basket. Tie a ribbon around the handle of the basket for decoration. The ribbon can be designed to fit the occasion.

Tips & Warnings

• Grab ideas from gift basket distributors; look in catalogs or on websites to find different items to put in your own gift baskets.

References

• Do It Yourself Gifts: Gift Food Baskets
• United States Department of Agriculture: Sausages

Resources

• Tipnut: Homemade Gift Baskets
• Gourmet Gift Baskets: Christmas Food Gift Baskets