Looking for Holiday Gift ideas? Try some Italian food gifts.

If you have been shopping lately, you will have noticed the holiday shopping madness has begun! I like to get my shopping done early and avoid the crowds as much as possible. Traffic jams and crowded malls can really take the joy at of my Christmas spirit and I have found many ways in recent years to create as stress free a holiday as possible.

One way to avoid the crowds is to shop online. There are some excellent places to shop online and the Internet can really be a great time saver! For those people who have everything and you just have no idea what to get them, try an Italian Food Gift Basket filled with pasta, sauces and wine. Everyone loves food and loves to splurge at the holidays. Heck, the diet can wait until New Years. Send an Italian vacation with one of these authentic, luxurious Italian Gift Baskets from GourmetGiftBaskets.com

Since the economy has hit so many people hard this year, you may also want to consider some homemade gifts. One of my favorite gifts for Christmas is my homemade Italian Seasoning made from the herbs from my herb garden. I dry the last harvest from my garden in late October and put these gifts together in November. There is nothing like the flavor and aroma of homegrown herbs, and this dried seasoning will stay fresh for several months.

Herbs are so easy to grow and make a great gift. Go to a local hobby or kitchen store and look for some nice glass containers. Fill with your own Italian seasoning, and you may want to tie a little recipe card to the top for an easy gift.

Here is my Italian Seasoning recipe:

This makes enough for 1 spice bottle - about the size you find in the grocery store, so adjust recipe depending upon how many bottles you are making.

2 tablespoons dried basil
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1 tablespoon dried thyme
1 tablespoon dried marjoram
1 teaspoon dried sage
1 teaspoon dried rosemary

Mix all dried herbs together and pour through a funnel into your container. It should be stored in airtight container and placed in a cool, dark dry place to preserve the flavor as long as possible.

For another homemade gift idea, try my Italian Pasta Soup in a jar. It is a fun and easy gift idea that will warm up your family or friends this winter.

One good thing that has come out of the current economic troubles is the return of some old fashion values. People are being more careful about their spending and giving gifts that have more meaning. The Christmas and holiday season are really about family, love and faith; not about spending money you don't have. If money is tight for you this year, try making some Christmas gifts that come from your heart. The people who receive them will appreciate them so much more.

Happy holidays!
Joyce