1 package long pretzel rods
1 package almond bark, or vanilla candy coating
Decorations, such as red and green sprinkles, holiday M&Ms or crushed up candy canes

Place the candy coating in a microwave-safe bowl. Make sure you do not get any water in the bowl; any water at all will cause the candy coating not to melt properly and separate. Microwave the candy coating for one minute, then stir and microwave an additional minute until it is completely melted and smooth.

Stick a pretzel rod into the chocolate, and with a spoon, cover about ¾ of the pretzel with chocolate. Let the excess drip back into the bowl. Sprinkle the chocolate with either red and green colored sprinkles, crushed up peppermints, or stick red and green M&Ms to the chocolate.

Place the decorated pretzel on a piece of waxed paper or aluminum foil and let it dry completely – about one hour. Gently pull the pretzels off the paper.

Pretzel Bouquet
Lay about 10 white chocolate pretzels on a sheet of red or green tissue paper. Wrap the pretzels up like a bouquet of roses would be wrapped, and tie red, green and white curling ribbon around the middle to secure. With scissors, curl the ribbon, then tie on a small gift card.

Pretzels in a Glass
Find a tall glass, such as a parfait glass, or one of those neat glasses mixed drinks are served in. Pour some holiday candies, such as M&Ms or hard mints, in the bottom of the glass. Put as many pretzels as you can in the glass, sitting on the candies – do leave a little room for them to move around so they don't break when they are pulled out.

Cover the top of the glass with a piece of colored plastic wrap, or you can cut a piece of holiday fabric and double the width of the top with pinking shears to cover. Tie a pretty ribbon around the glass to secure, and you have a neat gift for someone special!

Fiesta Dip Mix

1/3 cup dried minced onion
1/2 cup dried parsley flakes
1/3 cup dried chives
1/3 cup chili powder
1/4 cup salt
1/4 cup ground cumin
2 tablespoons dried coriander

Combine all the ingredients in a large bowl; mix well. Makes about 2 1/2 cups.

For Giving
Fill a Mason jar with a lid almost to the top with the dip mix. Tie Christmas ribbon around the neck of the jar and attach a tag that says the following:

To make Fiesta Dip, mix 3 tablespoons of the dip mix with 1 cup mayonnaise and 1 cup of sour cream or yogurt. Mix well, cover and refrigerate at least two hours. Serve with chips, assorted vegetables or crackers.

You can also cut a piece of holiday fabric about 2 inches bigger than the top of the jar with pinking shears. Place the fabric on top of the lid and secure with a rubber band, ribbon or piece of raffia.

Homemade Cajun Spice

1/4 cup of salt
2 1/2 tablespoons cayenne pepper
2 tablespoons paprika
2 tablespoons onion powder
1 tablespoon ground black pepper
1 tablespoon ground white pepper
2 tablespoons garlic powder
2 1/2 teaspoons dried basil
2 teaspoons chili powder
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/4 teaspoon ground mustard
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves

Makes about 1 cup.

Cajun Spice Sand Art
Take a 1-cup clear jar with a lid and layer the ingredients, starting with the salt. Carefully screw on the lid. Tie a piece of raffia around the seal of the jar and add a tag saying "Cajun Spice! Shake well before using." Put the jar in a pretty gift bag, and you have a wonderful gift for anyone in your family who enjoys spicy Cajun food. Throw in a few of your favorite Cajun recipes for them to try out.

Cinnamon Spice Coffee

2/3 cup instant coffee
1 1/3 cup sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon allspice

Place all the ingredients in a blender and process until smooth.

Coffee Mug Gift Set
Put the finely ground coffee mix into a zipper storage bag. Attach a tag or label to the outside of the plastic bag that says the following:

Cinnamon Spice Coffee
Add 1 to 2 spoonfuls of coffee mixture to a mug of hot water and stir. Enjoy!

Now comes the fun part! Find a pretty mug and put the bag of coffee into the mug. Place the coffee mug and coffee mixture in a pretty basket and surround by other items the person would enjoy: a few homemade shortbread or cinnamon cookies, a paperback novel, a box of holiday chocolates, etc. Who wouldn't enjoy receiving a gift like that?

Christmas Soup Mix

1/2 cup split peas
1/3 cup beef bouillon granules
1/4 cup pearl barley
1/2 cup lentils
1/4 cup dried minced onion
2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
1 cup raw long-grain white rice

In a 1 1/2-pint jar, layer the ingredients in the order listed. Seal the jar tightly.

For Giving
Make a pretty gift card that says the following:

Christmas Soup Mix
To make soup: In a large soup pot, brown 1 pound of ground beef or 1 pound cubed chicken breast; drain. Add 3 quarts of water, a 28-ounce can of diced tomatoes with their liquid and the soup mix. Bring the mixture to a boil; reduce heat, cover and simmer about one hour.

Attach the gift card to the jar and give as is, or make a soup gift basket. Fill a wicker basket with the jarred soup mix, a large soup ladle, a pretty soup bowl, a box of oyster crackers and a few cookies for dessert.

Want to see more?

• Holiday Headquarters
• Christmas Gift Basket Ideas to Keep You From Becoming a Basket Base!
• Holiday Baking With Kids: Fun and Easy Goodies to Make With Your Children
• Imbued With Personality: Gift Baskets That Wow!
• Talk about it!