I braved the grocery store this past Saturday morning to pick up a few last minute items for Easter. As anyone who has ever shopped in or around the holidays can attest, it’s certainly quite a mad house.

I wanted to pick up a simple bouquet of flowers to take my mother as a hostess gift. I also brought a potato dish and pumpkin pie, in case you think I’m lazy and not contributing to dinner at all!   However, there didn’t seem to be anything resembling simple bouquets. Gone were the 4 dollar bouquets of tulips or 7 dollar bouquets of daffodils (those weren’t a top choice anyways, as I know she’d bought some the week before to support the Canadian Cancer society). Everything else seemed to be a rip off and/or far too elaborate.

So, I went the simple route. I bought her a nice little pot of crocuses.  This might not be a suitable gift for everyone, but my mother has a green thumb, and will enjoy the plant.

Here are some other ideas for when you want to bring a “hostess gift”, but not break the bank while you’re doing it:

• Pretty napkins. Everyone can use them sooner or later, and places like Winners often sell them at an excellent price
• An extra item. My sister in law brought dessert to Easter dinner, but she also brought deep fried pickles..mmm..deep fried pickles.
• If you brew your own wine or beer, you can bring that. Assuming that your host drinks and that whatever you brewed is decent.
• Flowers from your garden

And failing this – helping out with the dishes or the prep is always appreciated!

What’s your favourite hostess gift to bring?