How to Make a Christmas Breakfast Basket

Ah, it's Christmas morning. You wake up to the gentle strains of a Christmas carol and you snuggle into the pillows for ... Dream on, right? More often than not you wake up to a pair of eyes staring at you and the seasick sensation of a child jumping on your bed. Your spouse groans while the noise in your head translates into "He came, Santa came. Get up!" The clock reads four thirty, five thirty, some thirty you do not want to see. Merry Christmas! We've had a rule at my house ever since I copied my mother's Christmas tradition from my childhood. No stockings, no presents until you eat something for breakfast. If you find it incredibly hard to come up with a breakfast at the early thirty hour on Christmas morning you may not be alone. While you make up a few Breakfast baskets as gifts be sure to set aside one for your early morning fiasco.

Simply Quick Breakfast Bake or purchase a beautiful batch of blueberry muffins in extra large size. When cooled wrap in plastic wrap and set aside. Line a basket with a holiday dish towel. Place a Christmas coffee mug in basket for each member of the family you are making the gift for. Add in a box of Gevalia or other delicious coffee or cocoa packets, one per mug. You can add in a small jar of your homemade jellies or jams and a pretty little jelly spoon. Voila, a simple little breakfast or pre-breakfast for the parents who are trying to get their eyes open. Cost under $30.00

Omelet for Two Do you have a newly wed or empty nest couple on your gift list? Why not gift them with an intimate breakfast basket or should I say, pan? Take a small fry pan that is perfect for omelette's and crepes and line with a Christmas dish towel. Add in a half dozen box of organic eggs, package of shredded cheddar cheese a small canned ham and a spatula. If you want a larger gift then transfer all to a beautiful basket with 2 elegant wineglasses and a container of orange juice. Add in a pint of fresh strawberries or other fruit. Cost $25.00 to 50.00

Fruity-licious Basket Make up a fruit basket with a breakfast twist. Line basket with Christmas or fruit decorated dish towel. Add in clear glass goblets
and spoons for each member of the family. Select and add in fresh or frozen fruit that can be quickly prepared in goblets for a healthy breakfast. Top off with a package of granola that can be sprinkled on the fruit. $10.00 and up.

Ho Ho Breakfast Santa himself has been known to leave a breakfast basket or tray in kitchens and bedrooms. He likes to bring a Christmas bowl and cup with elf size boxes of cereal and packets of cocoa in mugs. He knows parents enjoy tea, coffee and coffee cakes, cinnamon rolls and muffins. Children are overjoyed that he leaves breakfast in their room and actually eat the entire thing when the family gathers in the kitchen. Cost less than $5.00 per person.

Any of these gifts can be wrapped in tissue or cellophane and topped off with a decorative bow. To stick to a green ecology theme wrap them in a second matching dish towel.