ISO help for ideas for 'Super Foods' gift basket

[beacooker]

For Christmas, I am planning on getting my brother and his wife a gift basket of food based on a nutritional book my brother has been following for the last year - SuperFoods (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0060535679/qid=1102538493/sr=8-1/ref=pd_csp_1/102-0960719-5540149?v=glance&s=books&n=507846). I have already gotten him a few things, but could use help in thinking of some more things. The so-called super foods are:

Beans • Blueberries • Broccoli • Oats •
Oranges • Pumpkin • Salmon • Soy • Spinach •Tea -- green or black • Tomatoes • Turkey • Walnuts • Yogurt

I have gotten him blueberry jam, a few kinds of tea, and I thought I might make him a few different kinds of spiced walnuts (haven't decided which recipes). I also bought him some Fig-Lemon Balsamic Vinegar, mainly because I just couldn't resist ;) , but I thought it would fit because I think it would taste good over broccoli or salmon. Any other ideas of things I could include in the basket?

TIA!

[MISSINDI]

How about making one of those Soup-in-a-Jar gifts where you layer the beans?

Homemade granola bars with the oats?

Asian Punks (made with pumpkin seeds)?

Nice idea!

[beacooker]

I like those ideas, Missindi- thanks! Although, what is an Asian Punk? I did a search, but didn't find anything.

[Kingwell]

I love "super foods.'
I don't have the book, but I read a couple articles on those foods, and really took them to heart.

First--dried blueberries.
Second--soy nuts. They're not as perishable and are good for snacking. For that matter, any soy snacks. There are some pretty good soy munchies.
Third--a big can of Murphy's Steel cut oats (I think that's the brand). They're sizable cans and look good on a shelf.
Fourth--a couple bags of rarer types of beans that are maybe only available in your area.
Fifth--packaged smoked salmon.

Last--you should definitely give him some recipes that use these ingredients. There is a whole broccoli cookbook that I have; it's not very big, but focuses on that one ingredient. I have another called "Party Nuts," which isn't exclusively walnuts, but has good recipes for them.

Hope that helps.

[MISSINDI]

Originally posted by beacooker
I like those ideas, Missindi- thanks! Although, what is an Asian Punk? I did a search, but didn't find anything.

A seasoned snack. Here you go:

Asian Punks
2 c raw, shelled pumpkin seeds
2 Tbl soy sauce
1/2 tsp powdered ginger
2 tsp splenda

Preheat oven to 350. In a mixing bowl, combine the seeds, soy sauce, ginger, and splenda, mixing well. Spread seeds in a shallow roasting pan, and roast for about 45 minutes, or until seeds are dry, stirring two or three times during roasting.

Yield: 4 servings, each with 13 grams of carbs, 3 grams fiber.

[HUNGRY!]

What about a nice bottle of walnut oil?

[mrswaz]

How about different pastas? Spinach pasta, sun-dried tomato pasta, and a couple of recipes that would include the other super foods to top the pasta.

[Aubergine]

what a cool idea for a gift! i love putting together food baskets, gourmet or otherwise, and people love receiving them, especially something tailor-made and thoughtful like yours.

not sure if there is one "SF" list, but here are things i consider to be among them that haven't been mentioned:

garlic
flaxseed (i buy ground flaxseed by Bob's Red Mill)
cinnamon
wheat germ
oat bran
cranberries (as well as blueberries - same family, similar benefits)
deep orange/red veggies & fruit, so maybe some jarred red peppers and a couple of small butternut or other squash

for soy, you might look for soy granules or soy grits. i sneak them into a lot of things.

have fun!

[beacooker]

Thanks for all the great ideas - now I may find that I have too many things I want to put in the basket!! I will certainly include the Asian Punks and flavored pastas. I wish I had time to place an order to Spoon Foods for some really good dried blueberries. :( I love the idea of the walnut oil, but not sure whether or not they would really use it, and it goes rancid so fast. I did find a granola recipe on the bb that calls for walnut oil, oats, orange juice and dried fruit (I will use blueberries) - a batch of that should make for a very Super Food! I don't have walnut oil myself, though. I don't suppose there is any chance it wouldn't be extremely tacky to buy some walnut oil, open it to use in the granola, and give them the rest of it? Ok, that is extremely tacky, but it is my brother we are talking about, so its not like its a stranger. I'll have to price walnut oil before I decide.

Thanks again for the suggestions!

[wallycat]

Trader Joes has dried wild blueberries if there is one near you.

Oh, and you could also do soynut butter.
I love the idea of heirloom dried beans.
Dried tomatoes are good too.
Shelton's (I believe that is the company) makes Jerk Turkey--not as healthy as fresh though.
There's a company that sells broccoli seeds to germinate...the ones that say broccoli sprouts are so much more nutritious than a similar amount of broccoli...but my brain is dead and I can't think of the company now...they could then sprout there own broccoli sprouts.

[granolagirl]

What about blueberry juice?

[zackaboo]

Wow...what a thoughtful gift and a great looking book. I am going to have to order a copy. I think someone else mentioned including smoked salmon. I think that is a great idea. Salmon has so many beneficial properties.

[sugaree]

It sounds like your basket is already full, but if you want to include a grain, don't forget about quinoa.

[beacooker]

Yes, the basket is very full now! I'm finding it hard to stick to a budget.

Wallycat, I ended up getting some soynut butter - I hadn't even known that such a things existed. I got a chocolate flavored one. I hope it isn't dreadful!

Thanks again for all the ideas, everyone.

[wallycat]

Is it the I'm Healthy brand??

I could inhale that stuff!!!!!!!!!!!!