Shopping day

It’s eight days till Dec. 25. If you haven’t decided what to give to people yet, try rethinking your giving this year. Do buy your loved ones and friends thoughtful gifts, but perhaps you can also buy practical things for neighbors who are in need or some charitable organizations that might appreciate new towels and toiletries.

This is similar to my column last week, which was a list of things to do. Santa Claus doesn’t have all the concession to making lists and checking it twice. The list this week is all about gifts, food gifts since this is a food column.

We all want to receive gifts at Christmas. It’s exciting to unwrap gifts to find out what’s inside. This year, choose certain organizations and neighbors as the object of your generosity. To make the project special, include everyone in the family in the planning and shopping. Of course you can make your own list of things to give, since this is just a sampler. Match the gift with the person or organization. 1. A box of queso de bola. Since it’s in a box already, all you have to do is add a ribbon to make it festive.

2. The market is flooded with prepacked grocery items in a basket. It makes a pretty and at the same time practical gift for big families.

3. Another gift you can give is a pack of spaghetti ingredients: noodles, tomato meat sauce, a block of cheese and a can of Vienna sausages. Malls have these already packed but you can make your own by placing the gift on a large non-breakable serving dish and wrapping it with cellophane.

4. Give a breakfast package. In a plastic container, pack coffee, sugar, cream, milk and breakfast cereal.

5. If you decide to give towels for a child shelther, choose good quality towels. There are less expensive towels that have plush fiber. Add good quality soap, shampoo sachets and body powder.

6. Give a box of imported chocolates. There are chocolate hampers, bags and boxes that can fit your budget. It will make the recipient’s Christmas memorable.

7. A fruit basket is another thing you can give, since most people buy fruits to grace the table at Christmas time and also as a New Year’s day ritual of having round fruits on the table.

8. Canned goods might be appreciated, but make sure to buy good brands, not just for the sake of giving.

My cousin Dona and her husband Peetong often buy a nationally advertised corned beef that Heart Evangelista used to endorse to give to their laundrywoman. They place around six big cans of the corned beef in eco-bags, along with a Japanese brand soy sauce and a popular brand of sardines.

I still have to do my shopping. Merry shopping to all of us.