There's nothing like a hot bowl of soup on a cold fall or winter day. The mixes on the recipe page can be made quickly for a hearty meal. Fill a lovely soup terrine with soup mix, bread mix, and top off with a pretty ladle.

Chocolate Lover? Who isn't? For your favorite chocoholic this is a heavenly gift. In two large mugs, place packages of the Hot Chocolate mixes, tying the recipes to the handles with a ribbon. Place in an oblong basket filled with chocolate cookies or cookie mix, bars of Swiss chocolate, and a subscription to Chocolatier magazine.

Take this along to a friends house on your trick or treat outing. Fill a big black canvas tote with small pumpkins to carve or paint, fresh apples and caramels for caramel apples (don't forget the sticks), home made popcorn balls, a book of scary stories, a creepy music CD and freshly baked pumpkin cookies or bars.

Gingerbread House Basket

This lovely idea is great for any family on your Christmas list. In a Christmas colored basket place a gingerbread house plaque (available at Williams-Sonoma or stores that carry cast iron), a package of gingerbread mix with directions, a bag of powdered sugar for frosting, candies to decorate, such as life savers, cinnamon hots etc., and disposable piping bags with a few icing tips. (These can be found where Wilton cake decorating supplies are sold).

Happy Hanukkah Basket

A wonderful surprise for this family celebration! Use a white basket lined with royal blue napkins. Place the Beef Brisket Marinade mix and recipe for brisket in the basket along with a bottle of nice wine, candles for the menorah, a dreidel and gold foil wrapped chocolate coins for the kids.

Surprise a friend on a fall afternoon with the Tea For Two Basket. Take a nice basket and center a teapot and 2 cups. Around them place tea mixes and dipped tea spoons for flavoring plain tea later. Wrap in tissue paper and tie with a lace ribbon.

Ring in the New Year with this festive basket for your party host. In a champagne bucket with handles place the following: A bottle of dry red wine for the mixes, Egg Nog mix, Gluhwein mix, Glogg mix, and the recipes for each. Add a nutmeg grater and whole fresh nutmegs. Tied to the handles and in the bucket place confetti, streamers, paper party hats and noise makers.

For anyone who loves oriental food, take a wok on the wild side! Fill a wok with the ingredients for the stir fried chicken and noodles dish. Add a rice paddle, stir fry spatula, rice bowls, and chopsticks. Add a nice Chinese cookbook. Include some packages of rice noodles, sesame oil, soy sauce, rice wine vinegar or other oriental condiments.

Vegetarians and others will love this grain basket. Fill canisters with the pilaf, couscous, rice and risotto mixes and place them in a wicker basket. Throw in some kitchen towels and wooden spoons. Select a basket that is a useful kitchen shape for later.

This package makes a lovely Mothers Day gift! Use a white wicker basket lined with a bath size towel. Place the following inside: Loofa sponge, back scrubber, nail brush, bath towel set in the color theme you've chosen, bath beads, bubble bath, body lotion, aromatherapy candle, favorite magazine. To make this basket special wrap each item in tissue paper and tie with ribbon. For a group gift add a nice Egyptian cotton robe.

This is a lovely gift for any beginning gardener. Use a basket or a nice tote. Fill with small hand held garden tools like a rake, spade, and bulb planter. Add a great gardening book, plant mister, flower and herb seeds, garden gloves and a knee pad. You may also consider giving a gift certificate to a greenhouse or nursery in your area.

We often think of food gifts for a new neighbor just moving in. Here's a neat idea...literally! The first thing we need when we move into a new place is the kitchen and bath. Who knows where things are in all of those crates? Take a new cleaning bucket and fill with the following: Scouring pads, cleanser, glass cleaner, bars or pump dispenser of soap, paper towels and toilet paper rolls, and rubber gloves. Make a list of your favorite area businesses like dry cleaner, restaurants, and add the phone numbers for schools, hospital or a baby sitting service.

Welcome an overnight guest with some bath goodies! This is great for an unexpected stay over as well. (I've been stranded in snow storms at friends homes unprepared to stay) Line a lovely round basket with washcloths. Add sample sizes of shampoo, conditioner, soap, deodorant, bath beads, a shower cap, hand lotion, talcum powder, disposable razor and shaving cream, toothpaste and toothbrush. Throw in a current magazine or the days newspaper.

Have a friend about to move into their own place? This is a great gift. How about a dish drainer with kitchen utensils tied in a bow and placed in the utensil basket. Line the drainer with kitchen towels. Add your favorite cookbook. Some fillers are: whisks, spatulas, wooden spoons, ladle, slotted spoon, long fork, tongs, paring knife, veggie peeler, can opener, kitchen scissors, corkscrew, cutting board, mixing bowls, recipe box and cards, cheese grater and measuring cups and spoons. This is also lovely placed in a large stockpot!

Is this your Childs first new car? Or do you have a friend getting a new set of wheels? Use a plastic tote or a washing bucket and fill with the following: Car wash gift certificate, Gasoline Gift certificate (or make a home made coupon for one free tank of gas), automobile club membership, car wash detergent, car wax, big sponge, drying cloths, tire cleaner and armourall, tire gauge, jumper cables, car emergency kit, flares, flashlight, key chain, road maps and atlas.

Welcome a new member of the family by presenting the kids with this: A pet bed filled with chewy toys, a scratching post for a kitty, animal treats, a bag of food, pet shampoo, grooming comb and brush, leash and collar, animal ID tag, and a pet book about the type of pet you acquired.

About to empty the nest? Here's a great send off to the college dorm. Use a plastic milk crate or a rubbermaid tote. Fill with your Childs favorite stuffed critter from childhood and add some of these other goodies. A portable CD or cassette player and favorite tapes or CD's. Don't forget batteries. A nice journal and pen, stationery, stamps, postcards, daily planner and organizer, wall calendar, a family photo in a pretty frame, laundry soap and fabric softener, and a roll of quarters to do the wash and a prepaid phone card.

 Welcome New Baby Basket

For that sweet new addition to the family here's a thoughtful gift. Line a baby bath a with terry baby towel and add these: Baby washcloths and towels rolled and tied with pink or blue satin ribbons, baby soap, baby lotion, baby oil, baby shampoo, baby nail clippers, rubber ducky, a package of newborn diapers, baby sleeper or gown, booties, brush and comb set, and a rattle. For a lovely addition, a tiny gold baby ring.

Now that the baby is taken care of, here are some parents essentials. Take a diaper bag or cute tote and fill with these. Disposable diapers, changing pad, baby wipes, zip lock baggies for diaper disposal, bottles, lidded plastic cup, bib, pacifier, teething toy (tie on a long ribbon so mom or dad can tie it to the stroller), rattle on a ribbon, lightweight blanket, sun bonnet, baby skin type sunscreen, small box of tissue and some chubby board books.

Here are some great ideas for the kids when taking trips. First consider the age and gender of the children. Use a plastic tote (this can double as a writing surface, use one small tote per child and fill by gender) or a shopping tote. If you have time, wrap these items in newspaper or tissue paper and allow each item to be opened along the way. This is fun on a particularly long trip or vacation. Fill with drawing or writing pad, washable crayons and markers or pens and pencils for an older child, coloring book, playing cards, travel size games, travel diary, disposable camera.

Summer is here! That means no school and your teen looking for something to do. Take a large beach tote and fill with the following: Portable cassette tape or CD player, tapes and CD's, batteries, suntan oil, sunscreen, flip flops for the feet, sunglasses, beach towel, Frisbee, blow up air mattress or beach ball, mask and snorkel, a favorite book or teen magazine, gift certificate to an ice cream shop, movie tickets.

The Budding Little Artist Basket

Inspire your youngster to create! Keep a tote filled with these little goodies when you need to entertain your child to get things done around the house. Let him/her paint a canvas tote with puff paints. Dry, then keep filled with water colors, tempera paints for finger painting, brushes, water jar, rags for cleaning up spills, sponges cut into neat shapes for *stamping* paints, colored pens and pencils, washable markers, stencils, painting smock, kids glue, baby jars filled with gluables like sequins, beads and gems. Throw in some yarns and felt squares too!

Give this great gift to your favorite hiker, Biker, or camper! Fill this outfitted backpack with outdoor essentials. In the pack place a flashlight, water bottle, Swiss army knife, rain poncho, compass, trail mix, sunscreen, insect repellent, small first aid kit, water purification kit, matches in an airtight container, and perhaps a gift certificate to a camping store.

This is a wonderful gift for the sports enthusiast. Fill a small soft sided cooler (with team logo if you can find one) and fill with a team logo mug, team hat, team pennant, tear apart referee doll, nerf football, whiffle ball and bat set, tickets to an upcoming game, season program, trading cards and a sports encyclopedia.

A Guest Basket

This is a great idea for the home or for a hotel room when you have out of town guest in for a wedding, reunion or party! Fill a basket with brochures to local attractions, (these can be found at your chamber of commerce), tickets to an attraction, printed card with local numbers they'll need including restaurants, schedule of the events they are in town for and maps to the events, a bottle of sparkling cider and snacks like fresh fruit.

Apples for the teacher? Sure! Here's an idea for your Childs favorite teacher at the beginning of a new year, teacher appreciation day, or a fond good-bye. Start with a basket lined with a napkin made of an apple themed print. Add teacher stamps and an inkpad, a mug, cinnamon apple teabags, 2 or 3 apples of different types, like granny smith, Jonathan and Macintosh, red and green pencils, bags of apple chips, apple shaped post its.

Comfort a friend or relative in the hospital or home sick. Select a round basket and add these helpful gifts. Assorted magazines, books on cassette and a cassette player with batteries, crossword puzzle books, stationery and pen, stamped thank you notes, stuffed teddy bear, for an extra special gift add a robe and gown or pajama set.

Create one of the flavored vinegars on the recipe page and place in a salad spinner along with a container of olive oil. Add some salad yummies like home made croutons.