by K. Louden

Created on: October 22, 2008   Last Updated: July 30, 2009

The Most Exquisite Food Gift Is a Champagne Breakfast.

The doorbell rings, and there it is on the doorstep-a food gift basket that a loving friend has roused himself/herself out of bed to personally deliver. As the owner takes it inside, he is ecstatic and relieved, because fretting over preparations for the holiday dinner, he has neglected his own breakfast. His delight soars with each find: "Oh, how beautiful! What are these red things?"

Wine-poached pears need a tag warning that the red sauce might stain, and they must be in a watertight container, preferably see-thru. Another alternative is orange-poached pears. Other items include individual ham and spinach quiches, pommes dauphine (scalloped potatoes), cranberry-nut bread, homemade pear-ginger preserves, onion bagels or English muffins, Florentine cookies with brown sugar meringue, and mocha biscotti for dipping in coffee or classic anise biscotti for Russian tea. (Add orange juice.)

"Somebody has been busy!" the recipients exclaim. Yes, this undertaking is not for the feeble. Only those with plenty of time and love should attempt the extravagant food gift. Since it may take several days to prepare, only items that freeze and thaw in the microwave may be included. (Fresh poached pears last several days in the refrigerator, and the sauce becomes thicker and more scrumptious.)

Apple/walnut or pear/almond tarts "sealed" or coated with watered-down apricot preserves, cooked and strained, also hold up well without freezing. This is important because no matter how fast the baker, nobody can make all these elegant treats in one day. On the other hand, no sensible person who receives this lavish treatment minds reheating it in the oven or microwave.

This morning will be remembered because the food is so good, so unique that its taste is embedded in memory forever. Anyone creating a breakfast basket needs to recall the tastes he remembers from years gone by. Search the internet or peruse your best holiday cookbook, preferably ethnic or exotic. The idea is to treat the objects of your affection with wondrous morsels they've never had.

Although most people haven't tasted homemade onion bagels they're different, who might be important enough to deserve all this hard work? Perhaps a business associate owed a big favor. Maybe a relative who has been generous in these troubled financial times. Anyone who ever changed your diapers! (Hint!)

Whatever the contents, the breakfast gift basket should be elegant, homemade, and a gift of oneself. At least the champagne is easy!

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