Good news, you just received a gift box of cookies.  Bad news, the cookies were just a pile of crumbs.  For many people, the holidays mean sending special gift baskets or boxes from the kitchen to friends and family far-away.  If you are going to spend the time and money baking something special, spend some time to make sure it gets to the destination in reasonably good condition and safe to consume.   Here are some tips to help keep the baked items in good condition for its arrival at the destination.

• Some foods are less perishable than others and are more easily shipped.   Typically items like cookies, candy, raw vegetables, fruits, breads, meat jerky, jams, uncooked pasta and unopened canned goods will be reasonable to ship.

 

• It is recommended to NOT ship perishable foods unless absolutely necessary.  Highly perishable items such as meats, fish, cooked vegetables, dairy products and eggs are perishable foods and should not be above 40 degrees for more than a couple hours.  These perishable foods would need to be packed in dry ice, check with you carrier for special shipping instructions.

 

• Foods should be wrapped airtight before being gift wrapped.  When sending multiple food items, each one should be wrapped separately to keep it moist but also to keep from mixing the flavors.

 

• Any glass or breakable containers should be placed within a sealed Ziploc bag just incase the bottle gets broken.

 

• Keep breads, cakes and other fragile items in rigid containers with little room for movement to help protect their shape.   Disposable foil tins can help save those cookies and cakes during shipment.

 

• Use a rigid cardboard box as the shipping container.  Use a new box if possible, especially for heavier contents.  The box should be in good condition without holes, tears or damaged areas. There are box manufactures but for people with just a few packages to send, check office supply stores.

 

• When packing the separate items in the box, use crumpled newspaper or Kraft (brown) paper to keep the items separated by 2-3 inches from each other and from the box sides.  If sending a basket, use a couple layers of bubble wrap around the basket and taped to keep it secure.

 

• Remove any pre-existing labels and other markings from previous shipments.  Once the top of the box is closed, the contents should not “rattle” when shaken. As with all packages being shipped, clearly print the address on the box and cover with clear packaging tape.

Love Halloween parties but are concerned about the cost this year?  Don’t let the poor economy take the night away.  There are plenty of economical ways to have your party and treats too.  A popular DIY treat is the White Chocolate Covered Marshmallows. These wonderful sweets not only work as a tasty treat but also can double as a decoration.

Or try the Halloween Monster Appetizer; this will add delight to any table.

Halloween decorations and costumes are for only one night of the year, so you need to be cost effective in your purchases.  The Poundland stores have a good selection at the right price.

When it comes to placemats, drink coasters and table runners, there are many different colors and materials being used.  These Beach Stone Placemats are certainly different.  You can bring the beach or rocky shore to your table.  These would be perfect for that backyard gathering around the picnic table.  For a change in dinning experience, this is a great idea.

These were found at Kaboodle.  These Beach Stone pieces are created by hand using river rocks that have been washed and polished.

There are a lot of good reasons to host a party; special occasions, gathering of friends and holiday celebrations. However there are also some bad reasons that just make the party “suck” for others.

Revenge – If you want to retaliate against someone, don’t host a party and invite everyone else, friends and co-workers, but not them just in spite. This “tit for tat” attitude just shows a lack of confidence. You may loose more friends and feel even worst.

Ego trip – Don’t let your vanity drive relationships, especially when entertaining for others. Hosting a party may give you the feeling of superiority and control, but this is NOT a good reason to invite friends over for dinner.

Mercy – Providing sympathy may be OK to give your children but it is not a good reason to gather people together for someone else. It seldom makes others feel better when you are showing how sorry you are for them. Misery loves company, a big downer for a gathering.

Quid pro quo – Just because someone threw you a party, doesn’t mean you need to return the favor. Bring people together because you want to, not because you feel you must.

Popularity by association – Don’t bring people together just to be in association with someone famous or prominent in the community. Popularity is seldom gained from a one time association at a party.