Congratulations Albany State University

ASU football players and Cheerleaders receive Ram Cookies from a special ASU Fan.

ASU Football Jersey Cookie Favorts

The Albany State University Golden Rams football team and cheerleaders received a nice surprise Thursday afternoon. Over 100 cookies in the shape of football jerseys in blue and gold, and personalized with the players’ jersey numbers and coaches’ names arrived at the ASU Athletics Office.

Let’s Honor Grandpa and Grandma on Grandparent’s Day

Celebrate Grandparent's Day with these Gift Ideas

You’re probably thinking to yourself, “Grandparent’s Day…when did all that start?” Well, there was a lady Marian McQuade who was a housewife in West Virginia who started it all. According to other sources ‘Her primary motivation was to champion the cause of lonely senior citizens who lived in nursing homes.’ She also wanted to get grandchildren everywhere to simply honor their grandparents. This holiday is now a special part of our September tradition. Even presidents have proclaimed this a national day of celebration and is now celebrated every year on the first Sunday after Labor day. This year, 2009, Grandparents Day falls on September 13th.

If you grew up with Grandparent’s in your life count your blessings. You know how truly special they are. They always said yes when mom and dad said no. When everyone else had lost their patience, they seemed to have just that little extra. Their advice was savored and they could fix any problem, sometimes just with a hug or a big cookie. So if you are lucky enough to have Grandparent’s in your life, make sure you celebrate them this Grandparent’s Day. Send them a little token of your memories with a truly special Grandparent’s Day gift that lets them know how invaluable they are to you and your children. For some great Grandparent’s Day gift ideas click here.

Happy Father’s Day

A Tribute to Dad's Everywhere

Every third Sunday in June, families across the United States gather to honor their fathers. This national day of observance is known to all American’s simply as Father’s Day. But where did this holiday originate?

The idea for creating a day for children to honor their fathers began in Spokane, Washington in 1909. A married woman and daughter by the name of Sonora Smart Dodd thought of the idea for Father’s Day while listening to a Mother’s Day sermon in her local church when she realized that in her own childhood, it had been her father, William Jackson Smart, a Civil War veteran, who had sacrificed raising herself and her five brothers alone, following the early death of her mother during childbirth. For her, the hardships her father had endured on their eastern Washington farm called to mind the unsung deeds of fathers everywhere.

Having been raised by her father, William Jackson Smart, after her mother died, Sonora wanted her father to know how special he was to her. It was her father that made all the parental sacrifices and was, in her eyes, a courageous, selfless, and loving man. Sonora’s father was born in June, so she chose to hold the first Father’s Day celebration in Spokane, Washington on the 19th of June, 1910. Mrs. Dodd proposed a local Father’s Day celebration and received strong support from the town’s ministers and members of the Spokane YMCA.

As newspapers across the country who were already endorsing the need for a national Mother’s Day carried stories about the unique Spokane observance, interest in Father’s Day increased. However, Father’s Day was not as quickly adopted as Mother’s Day had been. Members of the all male Congress feared that a move to proclaim this new holiday official might be interpreted as a self indulgent, and Father’s Day remained an unofficial day of observance, although it’s popularity was still gaining recognition throughout the country.

Stellar Gift Suggestions from the Gift Guru

Hand Delivered Wine and Fruit Basket

What do you send when you can’t be there? What if you want to make a special impression and the event is soon and you have no time to shop? A gourmet gift basket or a gift of a specialty or gourmet food is always welcomed. If you shop online you have a myriad of great choices offered by your favorite gourmet gift sites. We’re living in a somewhat virtual world and know that family, coworkers, clients and friends may not always be in close proximity. The gift you send must be endearing, appreciated and remind the gift recipient of you, your thoughtfulness and still be appropriate for the occasion. More and more consumers and corporate gift givers are turning to the Internet to close that gap and as a new source for gift ideas. The Internet makes it effortless. But it should also be a stellar experience.

My Fast Basket Company offers a wide variety of stellar gifts, gift baskets, gourmet foods, flowers, bonsai and florist plants suitable celebrating all of life’s special occasions. Gourmet cookies and bakery baskets and affordable cookie bouquets can be found already themed for an occasion or event. Just peruse our wonderful assortment of gift choices such as decadent gourmet but no sugar added cheesecakes and bakery items. Yes, healthy choices are available and include premium fruit baskets, nuts trays and fruit & nut arrangements that make wonderful and thoughtful gifts and are suitable for anyone with special dietary needs. Decadent chocolates is always a good choice and we include selections from Lindt, Godiva, Ghirardelli and many more. You can delight the little tykes with some of selections that Elmo, Spiderman and Dora the Explorer or jungle themed cookies.

When you are really pressed for time consider a hand delivery of a wine basket, or fruit baskets. Some can be customized with a Mylar Balloon or chocolates and a teddy bear. Hand delivery can in most areas be scheduled for the same day and often saves a bundle common carrier overnight shipping.

At My Fast Basket Company we offer our guarantee of product excellence and stellar service. We thank you for visiting and invite you to visit us often. We hope you enjoy our stellar gifts and recommendations from the Gift Guru.

Create a Romantic Couples Spa Retreat At Home

Can’t get away for a romantic weekend? Create your own couples spa weekend away right in the comfort of your own home. We provide all the essentials in our luxurious Couples Weekend Retreat Gift Basket. Yes, you can spend that romantic weekend with someone you love! This kit has everything you need for a truly divine experience including Spa Robes, Godiva Chocolates, a candle, romantic music and massage stones with massage instruction. This makes the perfect couples gift for Valentine’s Day, an Anniversary weekend or special Birthday retreat.

Create a Spa Retreat at Home

To make the weekend even more special and relaxing try this inexpensive Warm Rose and Clove De-Stressing Bath. Here’s the recipe to try:

Warm Rose and Clove De-Stressing Bath
Ingredients:
1 cup Fresh Rose Petals
1/2 cup Epsom Salt
1/4 tsp ground Cloves

Equipment:
You will need a small and medium bowl, a 12″ square of cheesecloth or large coffee filter and a rubber band

Instructions:
Wash rose petals, and gently crush them in a bowl with the cloves. Tie the mixture loosely in a 12″ square of cheesecloth, or in a coffee filter, and secure with a rubber band. Steep sachet for 5 minutes in a bowl of hot water. Meanwhile, fill bath with warm water, and add Epsom Salts. Pour Rose & Clove “tea” in bath and squeeze sachet gently to extract as much as possible. Soak 10 – 15 minutes. Delightful and so fragrant! Roses are very soothing to skin and the scent is known to be relaxing and de-stressing. Cloves are known to be highly antiseptic, and in China are believed to be an aphrodisiac!

Relax and Enjoy your weekend retreat.

Super Sized Valentine’s Day Conversation Heart Candies etc.

Valentine's Day Conversation Hearts

Don’t run to your car and drive to the mall for a Valentine’s Day Gift just go to My Fast Basket which is just a click away. We make shopping for your Valentine easy. Here are some gift ideas for giving that special someone a unique Valentine’s Day gift.

Conversation Hearts

Remember those tiny little conversation heart candies we traded as kids. Each of them had a tiny little message of love printed on each heart like – “Be Mine”, “Hot Stuff”, “Lover Boy” and “Cutie Pie”? Forget those tiny little hearts.

We’ve transformed and super sized them into a Valentine’s Day Conversation Hearts Cookie Bouquet. Each conversation cookie heart measures a whopping 3-4 inches. You can also turn this cookie bouquet into a cookie basket with an assortment of favorite cookie flavors for your “Hot Stuff”.

Valentine’s Day Cupcakes

Valentines Cupcakes

If cupid made cupcakes these would be the ones. They’re ready for you to indulge your sweetheart. These moist and tender cupcakes will gratify their hearts and indulge their sweet tooth. Each cupcake is hand iced and and pretty in pink and red. The nice little keepsake box with a floating heart will be cherished for years to come.

So, as I said before don’t run to your car just click to find your Valentine’s Day gift.

Super Bowl ‘09 Steelers vs. Cardinals

Customize Your Team Colors

This is the time of year football fans get ready for the big game. Super Bowl is Sunday, February 1st this year. Whoever you support you can show your true colors at the Super Bowl party you will be attending or hosting. Customize this cookie bouquet with your team’s colors whether it is the Steelers or the Cardinals.

Super Bowl Party Idea

Super Bowl parties are supposed to be fun with lots of easy to prepare foods and snacks that can be served buffet style. To make it easy on the host or hostess it is best to try to prepare as many of your party goodies ahead of time and and cook or bake everything before your guests arrive so you too can enjoy the big game. Here are a couple of my favorites that work well with minimal effort and easy preparation.

For a taste change and easy preparation I love this honey glazed pork loin for my buffet. The pork loin is true to it’s description — smoked pork tenderloin that is lean and succulent. Because its already cooked and spiral sliced it’s the easiest part of my Super Bowl buffet. Next to a make ahead casserole of wonderful Swiss potatoes you now have a dynamite duo that’s quick and easy and will be scoffed down by your guests. Just add a variety of chips, dips and a veggie or cheese platter and fresh fruit.

Here’s my recipe for Swiss Potatoes:

Swiss Potatoes Recipe

8-9 medium potatoes, peeled
1 small to medium onion
4 eggs, beaten
2 cups whole milk
6 tablespoons melted butter
1 teaspoon salt (pepper to taste optional)
8 ounces Swiss Cheese, grated
Paprika and Parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare a large casserole or oblong pyrex dish (9″ x 13″ or larger) by greasing it or spraying with Pam and set aside. This makes a big casserole.

Grate potatoes and onion using your food processor grating attachment which is very fast. You can also use a hand grater but it takes longer. Once grated, press down on this mixture with a large spoon to release excess moisture from the potatoes. Drain as much of this liquid as possible before mixing with the milk mixture.

In a large bowl mix the eggs, milk, melted butter, salt and Swiss cheese. Pour over the potatoes and onions and mix well. Pour this mixture into the prepared casserole or Pyrex dish. Sprinkle lightly with paprika and Parmesan cheese. Bake for one hour or longer if needed until it is set in the center and the top is browned. To serve — slice into serving size squares and leave them right in the dish for guests to help themselves. ENJOY!

Note: Swiss Potatoes can be made a day ahead, baked and then reheated the day of the party.

Five Favorite Gifts For Valentine’s Day

Cupid is starting to stir and Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. Just to be sure your gift arrives on time, we thought we could help out and compile a list of some of our favorites for this romantic holiday. Here are a few Valentine’s Day Gifts we think you might like:

1. Pink Roses Cookie Bouquet – Say it with roses – of a sweeter persuasion! This is one of our favorites. Send this sweet and romantic gift and you won’t got wrong. Our Pink Roses Bouquet will brighten the room and fill their tummies with the sweet taste of our beautifully hand decorated butter creme cookies. This pretty bouquet can say it all when you add your own personal message to the center cookie to make it a great gift for any occasion!

Chicken Sausage Sampler

Wow are these good… the flavor is incredible.

If you are starting the New Year off on a low carb or low fat diet these chicken sausage links will add some spice to your diet and are easy to prepare as well. As I said before…Wow these are good!

Looking for a way to enjoy great tasting sausage, while reducing fat in your diet? Developed by a well known chef from Germany, this lower fat sausage sampler is made from all chicken meat, flavor enhanced with fresh herbs, spices and cheeses.

Zesty, delicious flavors include Chicken & Basil Sausage with zesty sun dried tomatoes added, Chicken & Spinach Sausage with Greek feta cheese, and Chicken & Apple Sausage with petite chunks of fresh apple. These delicious sausages are all natural (no artificial ingredients, fillers, preservatives, etc.) and low in sodium and cholesterol. They arrive fully cooked. Just heat and eat.