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I am the world's worst gift buyer! Other than alcohol (some don't drink), can you ladies give me some ideas please. Many of these people I meet for the first time and have no idea about what they like.

The couple who hosted the SS (Slingshot) gtg in Virginia last fall had a few of us over for dinner and are doing the same next month. They don't drink.

When parked in someone's yard, I usually try to take them out for a meal or two, but that doesn't always work in the plans.

Today I was offered a place to crash on my way from Kansas to N.C. in May - the couple are complete strangers.

Any mail order food items good enough to send after the fact?

Thanks for any input!

A citronella candle for a patio, a sampler of cheeses, marinades, BBQ sauces, flavored oils or different condiments, gift basket of mixes for dips, etc, a 12 pack of assorted flavored gourmet soda pop, a unique kitchen gadget or a picture frame. Okay...that's all I can think of right now.

I have a similar problem with my younger son because he has everything, so I have been ordering food online. I just ordered him a sampler and a mug from Peet's Coffee. He drinks a lot of coffee, and prefers bean coffee so he can grind it himself. Last year I sent him a package of barbecue sauces and dry rubs for cooking outdoors.

I like the idea of the cheese sampler. Because I am from Michigan and Michigan grows most of the tart cherries in the country, I have always ordered cherry gifts online--cherry jam, chocolate covered cherries, plain dried cherries, along with oven mitts shaped like Michigan, etc. What does North Carolina produce that is unique?

Thank you, Ladies! Things I should have thought of - especially since I've done BBQ sauces in the past.

Just realized a couple of places I could take them some of my daughter's honey since I'll start my ride in Kansas.

I've been thinking about that... thinking that I might do would be to get something at some place I have been to any gift shop in that particular area... like when we went to get the Strawberry Shortcake... they have all kinds of stuff you could get.... I got a jar of fresh strawberry jelly and it was good it was in a jar shaped like a strawberry ...I think that would have been a perfect gift to give someone in that area if I was in the same position you have been in ...now I have to remember it just in case I get in that position...lol

Good ideas on gift shop shopping! I tell my kids that I have to order things online because my shopping is limited to visitor centers and Camping World!

Picking up things like jars of jam is a good idea because everyone like stuff like that! That place also had strawberry dishes and other strawberry stuff, so you could put it in a basket for a hostess gift. In fact, they also have an online shop: http://www.parkesdale.com/products.html

When Tina and I were in Brown County, she picked up some apple butter for gifting. How about a gift card for a nearby restaurant? If they're cooks, maybe some artisanal vinegars or oils in pretty bottles?

At one of the campouts I attended someone had a tray of cherries fixed indifferent ways. It was something that was ordered and everyone loved them. I will try to find the website for them. Of corse, the people that are on the road would have a hard time ordering them.

Martha

thecherrystop.com

Kathy is correct. I loaded up on several items, including their famous Apple Butter while in Brown County, that never got opened in my rig. Specialty jams and jellies are what I have end up most often. They keep well and don't take up too much room. Even folks that have high sugar can use them sparingly. By the time I got to FL I only had one jar of something left. On my way through Charlotte my daughter and her husband did see the pattern though. They remembered me gifting them some Jams from Savannah the year before. On the positive side they said it was delicious and readily accepted another treat.....

This store is in downtown Traverse City in Michigan and has lots of gifts: http://www.thecherrystop.com/

one thing that comes to mind is a canning jar filled with ingredients to make cookies or brownies or soup
chili...we were shown how in Relief Society the other week.....fun stuff easy to do lots of fun recipes
out there usually a cute cover and of course the recipe for the recipient to make the item...
the others have great ideas..
sheila

Great ideas!! Funny because I look at things like jams in gift shops, but I never think of them as gifts. Told you I was the worst. Thanks everyone!

Anita, I have often settled on fancy jams and preserves because I seldom feel "worthy" of purchasing them for myself but do love the upgrade in taste over the general store brands.... It is just one of the things I generally do without personally but really like so if I am too cheap to purchase for myself the best I can do if feel my family and friends ARE worthy!

I, too, like purchasing local things. I used to purchase jams and jellies because I'm not really tempted to eat them. I got a bunch of jam in Alaska... Locally made fireweed jam! I always am on the lookout for items that are local to areas. I purchased some Buffalo Jerky in SD, for example.

I figure if someone doesn't want to try it, it's something they can re-gift and I'd never know.