What are your “go to” gifts?

[shalu]

After thinking and over-thinking gift ideas for my Grandma’s 91st birthday Saturday, my stepdaughter’s 11th birthday on Friday, my nephew who is having surgery on Friday, and a friend who lost her Dad on Sunday, oh, and a 3rd tooth fairy visit this week, my creative juices are spent.
Do you have any “go-to” gifts? Also “go-to” meals that you cook for meal trains, etc.

These gifts are all taken care of now, but just for the future. There was a tulip post, and I sent those to my grandma last month, and they were absolutely beautiful:). So thank you for posting about that:)

[jinkies]

Go to for meal trains: beef tortellini soup and fresh bread www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/slow-cooker-beef-tortellini-soup/f09fea6a-6916-4cf2-ac97-b494c1832bd6

For vegetarians, I generally make a quiche.


I don't have many other go to gifts, but my father in law just died and I can say that a lot of people's go-to bereavement gift is an edible arrangement.

I do like Hopes Cookies as a go-to food gift for people. I linked them in your other thread.

[shalu]

Apr 7, 2021 6:52:55 GMT -5 jinkies said:

Go to for meal trains: beef tortellini soup and fresh bread www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/slow-cooker-beef-tortellini-soup/f09fea6a-6916-4cf2-ac97-b494c1832bd6

For vegetarians, I generally make a quiche.


I don't have many other go to gifts, but my father in law just died and I can say that a lot of people's go-to bereavement gift is an edible arrangement.

I do like Hopes Cookies as a go-to food gift for people. I linked them in your other thread.

Yes! Thank you for the recommendation! Amazing customer service too!

[DotAndBuzz]

Meal trains: Shredded chicken
carlsbadcravings.com/easy-slow-cooker-shredded-mexican-chicken-recipe/
And I take a bunch of taco fixings for them to make their own tacos/nachos/salad/whatever. That way the people can make it how they like. Adjust the recipe spiciness level with what kind of salsa you pick, and how much Chipotle pepper you add. Freezes great, so leftovers can be stashed away for a later time.

Something else to think about for meal trains. Most people only bring heavy carby/warm dishes (because they're easy, keep/travel well, and are comfort food), and not necessarily fresh fruit and veggies. I try to bring a bag of salad, or some fresh apples, clementine oranges, or something like that, for when the individual wants something a little lighter.

Go-to gifts: specialty foods. I'm really getting into those. They don't clutter, and they're delicious. Depending on budget/interests, you can customize to the individual. Like, for Christmas I sent my dad a package of high quality grilling meats from a local restauranteur here. They offer breads, desserts, cheeses, gourmet snack baskets....all sorts of stuff. Club (6-8x/yr) or single delivery.

[acr]

Go to meals to take:
- Chicken Caesar Salad
- Power Bowl (add chicken) www.theleangreenbean.com/easy-farro-recipes/

[wildrice]

For kids: Books. I usually try to get something else, too, but so far any kids that I buy for are readers (or enjoy being read to) so I almost always include a book with whatever I'm giving, or if I don't have other ideas, buy a few books that are age appropriate.

For adults: flowers or food. None of the adults that I shop for have a need for more "stuff" so unless I know of something specific that I really want to get them, I tend to send edible or disposable items so they don't have to hang onto things they don't really need or want. For food I try to order something like Chicago popcorn, really good cookies, hot chocolate in the winter, etc. My parents have really enjoyed the Universal Yums subscription I got them for Christmas so that's another good idea. I've also bought them Penzey's spices in the past.

Oddly, I've never been asked to participate in a meal train and it has never occurred to me to start one.

[simpsongal]

Penzy’s spices come to mind.

[twinmomma]

For a recent meal train that I did, I threw in some banana bread and muffins with the main course that I sent over. That way they had something easy on hand for breakfast too.

[ohgillian]

Gift box from etsy with a succulent. Here is one I've sent: www.etsy.com/listing/766220534/gift-box-birthday-love-and-hugs-care

[af1212]

Meal train -
I always do baked ziti (can heat up that night or throw in freezer for another time) with a bag salad and frozen garlic bread or all of the stuff for tacos individually packaged.

[cricketwife]

My FIL died last week and we were sent the Sympathy Gift basket from here.

www.spoonfulofcomfort.com/product/sympathy-soup-gift-baskets-package/

The also do gifts for college, illness, etc. It's more than I would personally spend, but we really enjoyed it.

[af1212]

Adult gifts - I don’t give gifts to very many adults and those that I do I would know them well enough to have their birthday wishlist. If I had to get a gift for someone and didn’t know their birthday wishlist I would probably send flowers or food.

Condolences - I always do a card and $$ to their requested charity. If I wanted to get them something special just for themselves I often send pictures of their loved one if I have any, and/or cash/gift card in a card with a note to do xxx. With it (like if loved one was a big ice cream eater - take yourself out to ice cream, or something like that)

[af1212]

Things I stay away from are anything scented/skin products. In my own family my H and one kid have terribly sensitive skin so we only use certain kinds of hand soap and lotion.

And I have migraines which are triggered by scents.

So unless unless I know someone likes a certain product I do not buy stuff like that.

Also I try to stay away from mugs, decor, etc as I have a ton of those things and feel like other people do too.

[madringal]

My two older girls are 9 and 13. For their friends I usually do a little bag with things like bath bombs, scrunchies, face masks, Albanese gummy worms, and the card game "Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza".

I also so charcuterie boards as meals for things like deaths, new baby, surgery, etc. Or I bring over a bag of groceries for snacks/breakfast foods since most people tend to bring dinners. Fruit, granola bars, orange juice, bagels, cream cheese, string cheese, muffins, trail mix.

[morecoffeeplease]

For meal trains I always get people their choice of take out and bring it to them or get them delivery. LOL

[af1212]

Ooh kid bday - I go to local toy store that wraps for you. I let my kids pick out usually a craft kit or board game for a kid we don’t know very well. For a kid we do know well they pick out something that person would like.

[followyourarrow]

I keep a gift idea list in the notes app on my phone. Like this weekend my sister was making pancakes and mentioned a two burner griddle would be nice, so I added that to my notes list. Then when her birthday or Christmas gets here I have a few ideas.

[af1212]

Apr 7, 2021 10:02:40 GMT -5 followyourarrow said:

I keep a gift idea list in the notes app on my phone. Like this weekend my sister was making pancakes and mentioned a two burner griddle would be nice, so I added that to my notes list. Then when her birthday or Christmas gets here I have a few ideas.

Yes I do this as well! But I add it as a calendar entry on the persons bday.

[chickadee77]

Food for adults - something local or Harry and David. Books or crafts for kids - an "art bucket" is pretty much always appreciated by most kids (maybe not teens, I dunno - wouldprobablyjust do cash for that age).

[waverly]

I had a go to gift for kids ages 5-6 but they aged out. We had lots of class birthday parties. For boys it was a card game like Uno etc and 5 year old Legos. For girls it was a unicorn veterinarian backpack set from Amazon. Or Lol dolls. It’s too bad my kids aged out of that because I don’t have set gifts yet for older kids.

I do donation and card for funerals and cash for teenager birthdays/ Christmas. The tooth fairy brings $1.

[picksthemusic]

Apr 7, 2021 8:31:42 GMT -5 cricketwife said:

My FIL died last week and we were sent the Sympathy Gift basket from here.

www.spoonfulofcomfort.com/product/sympathy-soup-gift-baskets-package/

The also do gifts for college, illness, etc. It's more than I would personally spend, but we really enjoyed it.

My brother and I did this for my mom and her husband when they got Covid in November. They really enjoyed it and said it was really good. It's pricey for what you get, but she said it was really high quality and well packaged.

[BeagleMama]

The very best gift/drop off we received when DD was born was a large paper bag of groceries from a neighbor: 2 cans of soup, microwave popcorn, pasta and sauce, pita chips, apple chips, big bag of M&Ms, San Pellegrino sparking fruit juice, Clif bars. It was so nice to have an easy meal or treat on hand that first week home with a new baby.

[verycontrary247]

Apr 7, 2021 8:06:24 GMT -5 DotAndBuzz said:

Something else to think about for meal trains. Most people only bring heavy carby/warm dishes (because they're easy, keep/travel well, and are comfort food), and not necessarily fresh fruit and veggies. I try to bring a bag of salad, or some fresh apples, clementine oranges, or something like that, for when the individual wants something a little lighter.

I can't stress this enough. When I had my baby last year we got so much lasagna, spaghetti, heavy cheesy casseroles etc which, while delicious, got to be overwhelming. One day my mom brought over broiled salmon on an arugula salad and a tray of fruit and I'm fairly certain I cried.

[winnied]

Apr 7, 2021 8:31:42 GMT -5 cricketwife said:

My FIL died last week and we were sent the Sympathy Gift basket from here.

www.spoonfulofcomfort.com/product/sympathy-soup-gift-baskets-package/

The also do gifts for college, illness, etc. It's more than I would personally spend, but we really enjoyed it.

THIS. We received Spoonful of Comfort after an adoption fell through and it was such a welcome gift. I've since used it for funerals or new parents as well, especially for out of town friends/family.

For in-town food gifts or meal trains, I bring banana bread muffins, breakfast burritos, fresh cut veggies with hummus, and cookie dough balls with baking instructions. I want a mix of indulgent and healthy items, depending on how the person/people are feeling and especially for new parents, I want items to be one-hand edible. 

For gifts for friends, I've used Small Packages which has been especially nice when you want to acknowledge something without going overboard. 

[simpsongal]

I'm sorry about your FIL cricketwife,

In the same vein as your rec, I love products from Edwards of Surray VA. They have a Brunswick stew, Virginia ham, cured meats, peanuts. It's high quality and gifty - esp if you're from VA and sending it elsewhere.

We got a lot of H@rry and David when my dad passed. The fruit was decent but some of the candy and cookies stuff is so highly caloric, it's just too much.

[jewel]

For a meal train, I usually go to Costco and get 1-2 rotisserie chickens, a bag salad, and garlic bread. I’ll also usually get a pack of fresh cinnamon rolls and a box of berries, and usually some kind of kid snack, if there are kids at home.

For gifts for kids, I almost always just do money now. For youngish kids that don’t have a good sense of value, I give it all in ones and they think they’re super rich with $10.

For an older person that you’re fairly close with - a photo blanket. I had one made for my GMIL, mostly with pictures from when she was young. She had dementia, so she wouldn’t recognize any of the current generation, but she absolutely knew her parents, husband as a young man, her kids as children, and old pets. She kept it on her bed as a bedspread and LOVED it.

[notsopicky]

My go-to for older folks (parents, grandparents) is edible-usable-readable (that's 3 things). So for example (and I do it often for my step-grandmother, the only semblance of a grandparent I have left), I send something she can eat, drink or use to cook (e.g. specialty chocolates, tea, fancy oils), something she can use to display or serve the edible item, or use with it (a decorate plate or mug, a blanket, a cutting board or kitchen towel), and a book related to some aspect of the edible item. Last year I did a tea gift--international tea bags, a mug & a fiction book. The year before, I sent herb garden seeds, a small indoor planter, and a nonfiction book about cooking with fresh herbs.

[shauni27]

Apr 7, 2021 8:31:42 GMT -5 cricketwife said:

My FIL died last week and we were sent the Sympathy Gift basket from here.

www.spoonfulofcomfort.com/product/sympathy-soup-gift-baskets-package/

The also do gifts for college, illness, etc. It's more than I would personally spend, but we really enjoyed it.

seriously love. We have been gifted this 3 times and it is always so nice. Side note: the roasted poblano and chicken chowder is AMAZING.

You can often find promos too, so you do not have to pay full price.

[nothingcontroversial]

Apr 7, 2021 13:45:28 GMT -5 BeagleMama said:

The very best gift/drop off we received when DD was born was a large paper bag of groceries from a neighbor: 2 cans of soup, microwave popcorn, pasta and sauce, pita chips, apple chips, big bag of M&Ms, San Pellegrino sparking fruit juice, Clif bars. It was so nice to have an easy meal or treat on hand that first week home with a new baby.

I love this idea.

[cricketwife]

I have a new go-to gift for the elderly, gardeners, and those recovering from illness or surgery is an alpaca nesting ball, a birdseed bell, and something like muffins or bread (for the person, not the birds 😉 ).