• Cheese is a staple for many food-based gift baskets.Creative Crop/Digital Vision/Getty Images
  
  If you want to avoid picking out the same old store-bought cheese basket for your friends and loved ones this holiday season, you have options. Prepare your own and give a tasty gift you can be sure will not be re-gifted. Cheese is a versatile food staple which can be paired with a variety of items. Choose several varieties and create a special cheese basket for everyone on your list this year.
  
  

Ham and Cheese Sandwich

• Include all of the fixings for a ham and cheese sandwich.Ham lettuce tomato and cheese open sandwich on wholemeal bread. image by Brett Mulcahy from Fotolia.com
  
  Create a ham and cheese sandwich gift basket by including a loaf of fresh artisan bread and a can of smoked ham with a block of cheese. Add a variety of condiments including a jar of specialty pickles and a couple of different flavors of mustard. Include a cheese slicer and a small cutting board. You might also add a small container of butter and a spreading knife for those friends who like their cheese sandwiches grilled. And for those who like a bowl of tomato soup with their cheese sandwich, throw in a can of specialty soup.
  
  

Cheese and Wine

• Cheese and wine are a classic couple.cheese and wine image by CraterValley Photo from Fotolia.com
  
  Create a cheese and wine basket complete with a couple of bottles of wine, a wedge of cheese and a set of wine glasses. Include other items such as a cheese slicer, cheese board, a selection of gourmet crackers or a couple of fresh baguettes. A variety of fruits, including grapes and strawberries, pair well with cheese and wine. Include a magazine about wine or a wine tasting guide with detailed information on what types of wine go well with certain foods. Don't forget the corkscrew in case your friends decide to enjoy their cheese basket on a picnic at the park.
  
  

Fondue Basket

• Create a fondue cheese basket.fondue (chees) image by araraadt from Fotolia.com
  
  Fondue is an import to the U.S. from Switzerland, and is a creative idea for a cheese gift basket. The foundation piece of your gift basket will be a small fondue pot, complete with a stand and a small tea light candle to heat the pot. The recipient of your gift basket will also need a handful of fondue spears for dipping. Include several types of cheeses as well as a variety of items for dipping into the melted cheese. This might include such delicacies as small bread cubes, pita bread or bite sized vegetables such as broccoli and carrots. Add a bottle of champagne or wine to complete the basket.
  
  

Italian Pasta

• Italian cheese baskets are another creative idea.spaghetti image by bofotolux from Fotolia.com
  
  Cheese is a staple in Italian meals, so make your cheese basket Italian by throwing in a package of your favorite specialty pasta along with a jar of marinara sauce, either store-bought or home-canned. Add several types of cheese, including Parmesan and mozzarella. And don't forget a loaf of crusty Italian bread and garlic dipping sauce for a tasty side treat.