Homemade Meal Hampers - Ideas please

[Innat]

I want to make some hampers to give to the couples in our families. Instead of just having random chutneys etc in I thought it might be more likely to get used if it contained the ingredients to make a meal of some kind. However this is where i have got a bit stuck. I don't want to end up buying a taco discovery kit or something...but I'm struggling to think of ways to get around not having fresh stuff in. The only thing I could think of was a kind of "Meze" hamper with some nice olives, stuffed peppers, stuffed vine leaves etc but would quite like to include some homemade things as well. ANy ideas out there???
THanks

I think you'd be hard pushed to do a whole meal - and the point of foodie gifts is luxury treats, no everyday staples, non?

afternoon tea hamper?
cheese and biscuits hamper?
Meze / tapas a v good idea.

ooh, tea hamper - excellent idea...

thanks MrsB, I do like the afternoon tea idea too.

I was talking to a friend recently who said she rarely uses the fancy ingredients that you often get as presents so i didn't want to get a random assortment if things iyswim.

We were given an ice cream sundae hamper - sundae dishes, long spoons, several bottled sauces and various 'sprinkles'. Just had to add the ice cream.
And an 'Italian' hamper - stuff from Carluccios like a jar of wild boar bolognaise sauce, fancy dried pasta, chunk of parmesan, wine, biscuits etc.

Nigella does a recipe for pancake mixture that you just add eggs and milk to - you could make up a batch of that and put it in a nice glass jar with instructions and some maple syrup (bacon too if you like)
Add jam, tea, coffee and maybe a nice couple of mugs and you've got a breakfast set.

we were once given a fab cheese hamper
[rummages]
they don't do the exact one any more but it was from this range - cheeses, biscuits, chutney and fruit cake, so nothing outrageous or fancy

I like their 'luncheon hamper' with cheese, chutney, pate and biscuits to spread it all on

Ooh thanks for all the great ideas. I was going to do the same thing for everyone, but now I think i'll do lots of different ones based on all these ideas.
I did think about adding a fiver in a wee envelope and instructions to buy any fresh ingredients (maybe like the icecream) but couldn't decide if it was necessary...

I wouldn't add the fiver - it might imply that you think they can't afford to shop for food rather than want to give them a lovely treat!! It's a really lovely idea which I might well steal

I like the pancake idea - I make up batches in bags to take on holiday, with the number of eggs and quantity of milk scrawled on the bags. Look out for heart-shaped... er.. metal shapes, can't think of the word, to cook the pancakes in. A pretty teatowel is a nice colourful addition to a hamper too.

Just let me know if you want me to post the pancake recipe - it's in Nigella Express.

ooh yes please squiffy that would be great if you could post it. it's making me hungry - maybe i'll have to do a test run - just to make sure it's ok!!

sounds fab!

you could do a coffee type one with some posh coffee, posh sugar crystals, mugs, biscuits, cake etc..

a girly hot chocloate one..mug, chocolate,marshmallows, squirty cream, girly film..dirty dancing for eg?

a romantic one, with candles, wine, after dinner choccies etc..

can i have one pleassssse??

Here you go;

For the pancake mix:
600g flour
3x15ml tablespoons baking powder
2 teaspoons bicarbonate of soda
1 teaspoon salt
40g vanilla or caster sugar

Mix all the ingredients and store in a jar

when ready to make the pancakes...

For 150g of pancake mix, add and whisk together;
1 egg
250ml milk
1 tablespoon of melted butter.

Heat a griddle or pan with no oil then spoon on 1 or 2 tablespoons. Cook for a minute or so on each side.

I always have some of this made up and feel very smug when I make them!! Last week I made up the batter in the evening and kept it overnight in the fridge so the children had pancakes before school - very domestic godessey

How about a risotto one ...

Arborio rice

Dried porcini

Olive oil

Sun dried tomatoes

then cantucci and vin santo for pudding.

we got a carluccios one.. let me see if I can find it..

Or a breakfast one...

Home made marmalade

Pot of runny honey

Home made muffin mix (like the pancake thing - just put dry ingredients in a jar and add a label saying how much egg and milk to add)

Posh granola

To breakfast one also add nice tea or coffee

honestly...i think these are a really lovely, clever, not at all wasteful idea.

i WISH i had friends as thoughtful as you guys!

am going to do a mini one for my hubby with all things hot! chilli sauce, chilli type dip, dipping chips or tortillas etc...

and a little elevensies one for my mum and dad...coffee, biscuits, mugs etc..

thanks for the inspiration!

I did a ginger one once:
chocolate covered ginger
ginger wine
ginger cookies
ginger cake
etc
for a relative who adored ginger obviously

I've just seen this:Christmas muffin mix.