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Food is the ultimate gift. It works for all ages, classes, genders and relationships. With the net shopping and overnight delivery it works for all locations. It can serve as an intimate gift to people who are close to your heart. It can be a casual gift when it's for someone you hardly know.

Chocolate can say a million words in just one bite. Chocolate covered strawberries are the perfect start to a romantic evening. Homemade fudge for the neighbors during the holidays keeps things neighborly. A small box of elegant gourmet chocolates for that friend who loves chocolate but may rarely indulge themselves can lift the spirit to dizzying heights.

Friends or family off to college, war or just long ways off, always welcome a taste from home. I sent a fellow Texan who was working in Moscow a bag of dried chilies and some canned corn tortillas. Every time I see him he tells the story of how he cried when he opened the package.

Holiday gifts are a favorite for us. Herbed olive oils, homemade Irish Cream, homemade coffee liquor, cookies, candies, salsas and pesto just to name a few. It makes for a great family project and sends a bit of your heart along with the gift.

When someone you know has been under the weather, had a family illness or just a lot of stress a gift card to a favorite restaurant is always a winner. They can have a night away from their worries and someone else to do the dishes. Good food can be so soothing.

For the service people in your life, you know the postal worker, garbage collector, pharmacist or clerk at the local grocery a casual coupon for coffee or tin of toffees can brighten their day. A box of donuts, muffins or bagels can smooth over the rough spots in the workplace in a hurry.

Gourmet shops, specialty farmers and artesian food makers are readily available over the internet and will often ship direct. With a little research honey gatherers, cheese makers and such can be directly contacted. Gourmet shopping online opens up the whole world. Some will even gift wrap it for you. Nothing says you're special like some Tupelo honey.

It really doesn't matter whether the person has everything or absolutely nothing the gift of food is always appreciated. It's not hard to find out what foods are special to a person. Just a few questions like, did your grandmother bake you cookies or what's your favorite restaurant will give you a wealth of information about what a person likes. They'll appreciate that you remembered too.

If your friends, family and acquaintances don't agree it's OK just send it all to me.

Learn more about this author, Betsy Young.
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