[cmoneyspinner]

There is an interesting website called Vice.com and it has a section related to food crimes called “Munchies”. I'm not justifying a criminal act, but I am a devoted cheese lover who would often frequent gourmet cheese shops, pretending to be a buyer, but who really only walked into the store to taste all the various cheese samples that were laid out …

{Sorry! Penniless university student at the time! I could only afford a bus ride to and from the shopping mall. There was a Hickory Farms store and the lady at the shop always put out samples. What can I say? Of course, these days, many moons later after having graduated from the University of Miami, if they put out cheese samples in the grocery store, I still go for it! LOL. )

REFERENCE:
Swerdloff, Alex. “These Italian Criminal Masterminds Heisted $875,000 Worth of Parmesan.” VICE, VICE MEDIA GROUP, 27 Sept. 2015, http://www.vice.com/en/article/ezq5bn/t ... f-parmesan.

This report by MUNCHIES (Vice Food LLC) begins:
- “In what is most certainly a grim sign of food depravity, ...”

DEPRAVITY??!! Oh come on! It was Parmigiano-Reggiano!!!

Not saying the criminal master minds should have yielded to the temptation and stole the cheese, but no way can you accuse them of being depraved!!

That story is quite a spin on "the rat takes the cheese". (Quoting a lyric from “The Farmer in the Dell”, well-known Mother Goose nursery rhyme / children's song.)


NOW! To get to the real purpose of this article.

The holiday season is upon us and I for one am very content to share a few precious moments with family and friends. It is not necessary to give me a gift. However … if you want to make me happy for the holidays, you can give me a cheese gift basket. Several years ago my brother gave my husband and me a basket for Christmas and we thoroughly enjoyed all of the tasty cheeses.



You can buy gift baskets that are ready-made or make a basket yourself. If you want to make a gift basket and you are not sure which cheese to pick, you can follow the advice published by Serious Eats or Taste Atlas.

REFERENCES:

Thorpe, Liz. “Cheese Expert's Picks: 10 Essential Cheeses to Know and Love.” Serious Eats, SERIOUS EATS INC., BY DOTDASH, 31 Oct. 2019, http://www.seriouseats.com/2015/02/chee ... eeses.html.

“100 Best Rated Cheeses in The World.” Taste Atlas, AtlasMedia Ltd. (EU), 5 Dec. 2020, http://www.tasteatlas.com/100-best-rate ... -the-world.

* * *
Me personally, I like gouda, gruyere, extra sharp cheddar, Greek feta, and Camembert. But I would be more than happy to try any of those other cheeses recommended on these lists.

Of course, I know a cheese gift basket is kind of expensive. But it's just a suggestion to get you thinking about all the various types of gift baskets you can put together and give to family and friends.

For example, do you have a friend who is a cocoa or coffee or tea lover? Or a friend who likes various sorts of jellies and jams? You can choose a theme like … chili fixings or ingredients for Italian or Mexican food. Making gift baskets is fun. They don't have to be edible gifts either. (I just like receiving gourmet food baskets!) The items don't even have to be in a straw basket. Gift baskets can be very personalized and unique. You can give one to an individual, a couple, or a family. And of course … they come from the heart.



How to Make Easy Fancy Gift Basket




P.S. If you really have a knack for making gift baskets, this could be a way to make money working from home.

Start a gift basket business (from home)




Hope you find this article helpful.

[Netherrealmer]

Gift Baskets are popular for the Christians in my country because they do celebrate Christmas. I befriended a Christian neighbor so I can join their Christmas dinner and receive some gifts.

[Sincerem]

Interesting update, you posted about holiday gift, gift basket. Maybe I will give a cheese basket as a gift in this festive period, lol.

[Netherrealmer]

The only negative about baskets is the lack of element of surprise because you can see what is inside but there are people who hates surprises so that is fair enough.

[ptrikha21]

The Gift basket idea, and even more, the Gift Basket Business Idea at home is a great one.
We also have a tradition of gifting on Diwali festival.
Yet the Christmas traditions look much more widespread and elaborate.

[Netherrealmer]

The Gift basket idea, and even more, the Gift Basket Business Idea at home is a great one.
We also have a tradition of gifting on Diwali festival.
Yet the Christmas traditions look much more widespread and elaborate.

Christmas becomes more popular because it is not as religious as it use to be. it became more secular because Atheist and non Christians started celebrating it too. I mean most Japanese are Buddhist and they celebrate Christmas now so they can eat Christmas cakes. The Hadids are Muslims and they have a Christmas tree. They also wear ugly Christmas sweaters.

[cmoneyspinner]

It is a national holiday in the USA and I think that is the reason so many people choose to celebrate. All Americans just decided to take the parts of the season they like. The gift giving, the decorations, the music, etc. Many popular Christmas songs were written by Jews. Many things have contributed to making the Christmas season, a holiday for everyone to have fun with. I can't speak for other countries but people in the USA are really happy, kind-hearted and generous this time of the year. I love it!

[Spontaneo]

This reply is rather meaningful to me.

Years ago, I made a basket as a purse as a vessel. I stuffed the purse with make-up. The woman who bought the "basket" ended up becoming a roommate and she still is!

Then, years ago, I created a basket with a cookbook theme. I used my own personal cookbooks. The woman who bought the basket? I now spend my holidays with her.

[ron27]

that sounds cool fun

[sweerie_banana]

While holiday traditions can vary across countries and cultures, the common theme of spreading joy, kindness, and generosity is often universal. It's heartening to hear that people in the USA embrace the holiday season with happiness and a spirit of giving. Enjoy the festive celebrations!

Meer Christmas fam.