This best foodie gifts post has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #BIGSeason #BigLots #CollectiveBias
Have you been to Big Lots lately? If not, get in your car now! There are more foodie-friendly finds there than ever before, and it’s prime time for creating some spectacular holiday gift baskets…and gift jars, and gift platters, and a smorgasbord of other great gifting ideas! On top of saving money, you’ll save lots of time because you can get every single thing you need to create the best foodie gifts to please all palates with one simple trip to Big Lots.
But you may have noticed that the title of this post mentions two easy steps… Let me explain.
In my family, we tend to be pretty practical during the holidays, but we do like to splurge, too. That’s why food gifts are always a favorite. (Well, that and we’re Italian, so you can never go wrong with food, holiday or not.) But for me, the best food gifts contain a little bit of homemade magic, too. So…
Step 1: Head to Big Lots First
Step 2: Add a Homemade Touch
Nothing personalizes a gift of great quality foodie finds like a heartfelt creation from your own kitchen. This year, I tossed around the idea of homemade biscotti, meringues, or scones. But after my trip to Big Lots where I found lots of olive oil and cute bottles to put it in, I knew exactly what to do with the herbs I had dried from our summer garden.
Herb-infused oils are so easy, and when you can buy the ingredients at Big Lots, they’re really inexpensive, too. Choose a blend of herbs and/or spices you like, and just add them to the oil! This one is a Tuscan blend, with lots of garlic, basil, oregano, rosemary and thyme.
Homemade Tuscan Herb Olive Oil Blend (made with ingredients from #BigLots!) #BIGSeason @BigLots Click To Tweet
Sundried tomatoes are another great addition, but you’ll want to score or slice both those and the garlic to help release the flavor a little more quickly.
Once everything is in the bottle, just pour the oil over top. Let it infuse for a few days, then enjoy!
- i bottle olive oil
- 6 cloves garlic
- 4 sun-dried tomatoes
- 1 large sprig rosemary
- 1 large sprig basil
- 1 large sprig oregano
- 1 large sprig thyme
- Slice garlic and score tomatoes to release flavor. Add all ingredients to oil; allow flavors to infuse for a few days before using. Flavors will intensify over time.
I found everything I needed to create this yummy herb oil at Big Lots (except for the herbs. I used my own, but you can definitely grab them while you’re there if you need them.) And this is the part where I admit that my gift idea went about a million different directions before I finally settled on one. There was just SO much to choose from.
With all the jars and bowls, mugs and dishes, baking pans and cutting boards, my head was spinning! Some themes I considered for a gift were: Morning Muffins, Wine and Cheese, Crock of Chili, Tailgating Favorites, Movie Night Snacks…and the list goes on. When I saw the mug display, all I could think of was Home Cafe!
But then I saw this cute decorative drawer, and I knew it was the perfect way to hold everything from breakfast to dinner, and it would be reusable and pretty practical, too. No wasteful gift bag to throw out!
Big Lots carries tons of name brands, and my local store had lots of imported specialty items, plenty of organics, and an entire wall of Bob’s Red Mill grains and mixes! I had to narrow it down, so I chose a 10-Grain pancake and waffle mix, black bean soup mix, Italian sea salt breadsticks and Tuscan seasoning, and finished it off with a set of bamboo utensils. No dessert on this one, but oh, I could have! The specialty cookie aisle at Big Lots is my own personal heaven.
At Big Lots, you really never have to sacrifice quality for price, and I was able to buy enough to really round out a gift I was proud of for my sister-in-law.
Styles and assortment vary by store.
When you stop at Big Lots, be sure to check out the seasonal section – that’s where I found all my bows, ribbons and tape!
The Best Foodie Gifts the Pizza Lover, too!
But that’s not all I got! I got more than one bottle, and I’ll be using the same Tuscan Herb Olive Oil in a pizza-themed gift, too! Big Lots had great quality pizza ingredients (including a Bob’s Red Mill Gluten-free Crust Mix and some organic seasonings) and a great pizza baking stone to hold it all. And who doesn’t love pizzelles?! Score for my brother! (Note, these bottles don’t have oil yet because I don’t want to risk spilling it this far before Christmas.)
I hope you’re feeling as inspired as I was after my trip to Big Lots. I’m heading back with my husband next week to finish shopping for our bosses, the mail carriers, the kids’ teachers and my mother-in-law! We’re going to the same line, too, because our cashier was super friendly and I think we’re besties now. 🙂
For more great gift inspiration from Big Lots, follow them on Instagram and Pinterest.
I love infusing olive oil. It’s a great way to add flavor to any sautee or fry. Thanks for sharing this.
Jennifer recently posted…Gift Ideas for People Living the Fit Life
I love dipping bread into oil mixtures. This sounds awesome.
We dont have a Big Lots that close to us so I don’t shop there often. Those prices are fabulous though and looks like they have a really big selection
Jennifer recently posted…Little Charmers “Charmers Chow”
Thank you so much for sharing this! I have to find a Big Lots near me because I have been wanting so much stuff I see in your pics. New coffee mugs, dish sets, and I’ve really been wanting a dispenser for my olive oil, which I use almost daily. It’s super easy to make me happy, haha.
Danielle recently posted…#MakingDogsSmile With Jones Natural Chews
What a great idea! I have a few foodie friends that would never do this for themselves but would love it.
Jeanette recently posted…How to Make Your Own Canvas Pictures
I love this foodie gift idea! Homemade gifts are the best, and looks like I need to get to Big Lots it’s been a while since I have been!
Vera Sweeney recently posted…Daily Diary: Saying Goodbye To A Family Tradition
This is so great! This would be a great gift idea for my sister in law who is a HUGE foodie. I think she’d really appreciate this too, it’s a lovely gift.
Jeanine recently posted…Pure Hazelwood to The Rescue! #PureHazelwood
Wow, I’d love to receive a gift like this! We love shopping at Big Lots, especially around the holidays.
These are great gift ideas for any food lover. I will have to make some infused oils.
I love to give homemade gifts. This is a great idea. I want to try making this recipe for myself. It sounds delicious.
Tammi Roy recently posted…Nerf for the Holidays
Thank you so much for sharing this awesome post. This is really a perfect gift for mommy’s.
Onica {Mommy Factor} recently posted…First Experience of Dolby Cinema Technology at AMC Prime Theaters #DolbyCinema
I love spices or oils the best but, any foodie gift would do for me. Your Tuscan oil looks delicious.
Wow that olive oil looks awesome! I’d definitely be using it for bread. I need to pop into Big Lots sometime soon!
Liz Mays recently posted…Christmas in Carolina with King’s Hawaiian
What a cute gift idea for anyone! I had no idea they carried such a variety of items!
These are perfect gifts for the foodies in your life! They’re just hand-crafted enough to be special!
I just love that bottle you found at Big Lots that you use to store and serve tuscan dipping oil. I’ve bought many unique kitchen and table ware items there and will have to look for this the next time I shop.
Janis @MommyblogExpert recently posted…Target $200 Giftcard Giveaway – Enter DAILY to Win Worldwide, Ends 12/28/15
What a beautiful gift idea! I think I need to drop a few hints and get one for myself.
Kelly Hutchinson recently posted…Cheesy Bacon Chicken Alfredo Pasta Bake Featuring Ragu® Pasta Sauce
I love this so much! I would totally love to receive this awesome package too!
Amy Desrosiers recently posted…Functional, Stylish Tech Accessories at Walgreens
OMG DELICIOUS! I absolutely LOVE artisan oils, but I’ve never made my own. I’d be super happy to get this as a gift, and Big Lots ROCKS. [client]
Summer Davis recently posted…A Quaint Holiday Party How-To for the Underachiever who Wants to Look Like an Overachiever
I love herb infused olive oils! I agree with you that a gift with a homemade touch is the best kind of gift.
Oh my goodness, I love, love, love this idea. I had no idea what to get my Step-Mom for Christmas because she has everything, but this is just perfect. Plus, I was planning on going by Big Lots to get some other things, as well. Thanks so much for sharing.