Give a Taste of Home for the Holidays

The holidays are ensconced in tradition and among these annual traditions are the foods that are enjoyed and shared this time of year. Like scents, foods often trigger memories. That's why just a whiff of nutmeg can touch off memories of rich eggnog on Christmas Eve, and the sweet taste of a cupcake can evoke feelings of coming home to a snack after the first day of school.

Central to memories set into motion by food are the hometown traditions and family recipes to which so many look forward to at the holidays. Who hasn't awaited taking a big helping of grandma's sweet potato pie, mom's matzo ball soup or a special treat from your youth?

But what do you do if you can't make it home for the holidays? Or what if you want to share a taste of nostalgia with someone who doesn't live nearby? Thanks to the Internet age and express shipping it may no longer be necessary to travel far and wide to enjoy the foods you love. Take a favorite dessert, for example. Philadelphia-based Tasty Baking Company, founded in 1914, is one of the country's leading bakers. Their iconic Tastykake® line of snack cakes, pies, cookies, and donuts is widely loved and the company enables its loyal fans to purchase products online and ship them to friends and relatives across the United States. They can also be bought at your favorite store and enjoyed at home.

"Everyone has a favorite comfort food, a food that calls to mind a wonderful memory," says Jon Silvon of Tastykake. "During the holidays, families often want to reconnect with those memories and Tastykake is just one of the many regional foods that can evoke this sense of nostalgia. Nothing is better than opening a gift that brings you home, especially when you can't be home for the holidays."

Gifting with food is often a welcome idea. Shipping favorite treats is one way to give friends and family members something to savor, or try these other ideas:

* Put together a themed gift basket that ties into the gift recipients' interests. For example, the chocoholic may enjoy bars of high-end chocolate, rich hot chocolate mix, and Tastykake Peanut Butter Kandy Kakes® or Tastykake's Chocolate Lovers' Chocolate Cupcakes.

* Even those who may be watching their waistline or on restricted diets can still enjoy food gifts. Gather a selection of freshly packed homemade preserves, soy energy bars, a variety of fruit, and a low-fat desert. Tastykake's product portfolio can also fit within such a gift as it includes Sugar-Free Sensables&trade, 100-calorie products, and low-fat cupckakes.

* The gourmand will certainly enjoy ingredients and cooking utensils so that they can create their own gourmet treats.

For more information on Tasty Baking Company or to send Tastykake products throughout the United States, visit www.tastykake.com or call 1-800-33-TASTY.