Easter baskets aren't just for kids. Those that include even just a single homemade touch make wonderful hostess gifts for a holiday brunch or dinner. There are also fun, out-of-the-ordinary dessert treats for adults who want to have kid-sized fun.

These types of additions can be homey, from the heart and much appreciated, but they also help the Easter Bunny keep his finances in order by usually costing much less than the filled baskets you purchase. You can save time, too, when you concentrate on strategic shortcut strategies, like those that help produce finished feasts such as a variety of quick-to-prepare ham glazes or jelly beans that release fun flavors when "brewing" with fruity loose-leaf teas.

Food preparation can be delicious yet simple, nutritious and inexpensive, as the following sensations prove. They take just 10 seconds each to read and are almost that quick to prepare. The gift foods are tasty proof everyone has time for cooking and, more importantly, the healthy family togetherness — including prepping with your kids — that goes along with it!

Another benefit: You effortlessly become a better cook, since there are no right or wrong amounts. These are virtually-can't-go-wrong combinations, so whatever you choose to use can't help but draw "wows," as well as make your Easter easier.

Get ready for better baskets when you use strategies like these:

SASSY SPRING MIX

The combinations of "spring mixes" in markets often contain just blends of greens. Sometimes they are conveniently packaged, and other times, you pick them from the bins yourself under the titles of "mesclun" or "field greens." Originally, though, spring mixes often had a bit more spring in their step, including fresh herbs and edible flowers, especially dandelions that are grown for sale as culinary products.

Consider an economical large wood salad bowl as your "basket" and fill it with a spring mix jazzed up with your inclusion of just such items (e.g., chopped seasonal herbs like mint, tarragon, chervil and parsley).

Wrap it up tightly along with a dry spice mix you create to mix with miniature bottles of oil and vinegar you include for a custom dressing. Get greens just before needed and have your host refrigerate them promptly.

MINT MEDLEY

Fill a basket with everything mint: tea, bouquets of the fresh herb, jelly — even exotic mints, gums and herbal pillow or room sprays.

HAM IT UP

Prepare, tightly bottle and refrigerate until gifting a variety of glazes that can be used on ham, such as one featuring cloves, another pineapple, others Asian- or Mediterranean-themed. Make them the same day as you will give them, refrigerate and have your host do the same.

ARTISTIC EGG MASTERPIECES

Get creative and vividly paint and refrigerate until gifting hard-boiled eggs your host can serve with the meal or snack on the next day (always keeping refrigerated). You don't even have to cook yourself, as they are available inexpensively in the ready-made aisles of most supermarkets. Perhaps personalize with the host and hostess's initials or kids' names.

JELLY BEANS THAT FIT TO A T

Jelly beans solo are fine, but using the Easter staple as an innovative added ingredient is even more memorable. Employ them as a drizzle on top of frosting on homemade cookies, cupcakes and brownies, and you won't help but draw smiles.

Mix them into a compatibly flavored canister of loose-leaf tea (such as a fruity lemon-, orange- or berry-based one), and when they are included with the tea in a strainer ball while brewing, they will melt a bit and release fun flavors into the finished cup. Best: Include a steal strainer ball or two in the gift basket. These look impressive, but often sell for even under $3 at supermarkets and national tea and gourmet chains.

Photo courtesy of BettyCrocker.com

Lisa Messinger is a first-place winner in food writing from the Association of Food Journalists and the author of seven food books, including "Mrs. Cubbison's Best Stuffing Cookbook" and "The Sourdough Bread Bowl Cookbook." She also writes the Creators News Service "Cooks' Books" column. To find out more about Lisa Messinger and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.