By Deirdre Parker Smith

deirdre.smith@salisburypost.com

Don’t even have time to spice some nuts or bake a pan of brownies?

Here are some ideas for food gifts from the store — pairings of foods that are good for the holidays and beyond.

Pick up a baguette, or another kind of crusty bread, add some spreadable cream cheese and a jar of pepper jelly. Instant snack or last minute hostess gift.

Change it up a little by getting firm crackers, such as Triscuits, a package of goat cheese and some honey or orange marmalade. The tangy goat cheese, spread on a cracker and topped with a sweet element like honey is another great snack or appetizer.

Treat your friends to a bag of flavored popcorn and a fizzy drink that’s out of the ordinary, such as Jarritos tamarind, grapefruit or pineapple. Or, instead of popcorn, maybe look for pork rinds. The salty fat would go well with a sweet soda.

Chocolate — the possibilities are endless. Pair a dark chocolate bar with fruit — oranges or tangerines, fresh raspberries or strawberries. Then add some holiday-shaped pretzels.

Pair chocolate squares with dried fruit, such as apricots or cherries. Think about dried cranberries or blueberries with white chocolate.

Get a selection of unusual chocolate bars and wrap them up with ribbon.

For the baker you know, take advantage of holiday sales and get them baking chips in all flavors, from semi-sweet chocolate to minty chocolate to butterscotch and white chocolate. Maybe that will encourage them to bake for you after Christmas.

Provide a pretty towel or napkin to go with your finger-licking good chocolate.

An old-fashioned gift of a bag of mixed nuts and a handheld nutcracker can keep someone busy for a while. Or buy several different kinds of raw nuts such as almonds for snacks and recipes.

Make up your own fruit basket, but don’t go overboard. Include  fruits that will keep, such as tangerines or clementines, a few lemons, apples, dried fruits and nuts. Add a citrus peeler or apple corer, and the gift lasts after the food is gone.

If your friend has a bar, buy some mixers other than the usual juice, Look for bitters, Grenadine, sour mix  or bloody mary mix. Add a bottle of Tabasco sauce and a mix of lemons and limes.

Think of your older friends and neighbors, who need food items they can easily open and use. Consider granola or protein bars, juice boxes, cups of fruit or pudding and individual packages of crackers or cookies. Bottled water comes in handy, and add a box of tissues or roll of paper towels. If they’re able to open cans, add canned tuna and chicken and a selection of low-sodium soups.

Neighbors and friends know how busy you are — most of them are the same way. Any gift that makes their lives easier will be appreciated.

Extension agents Toi Degree and Danelle Cutting will have more great ideas later this week.