Ellington

While I prefer to make "food" gifts, I don't always have time. I have finally accepted the fact that it's perfectly OK to let other people do the work for me. Here are a few suggestions for edible gifts that only require the time it takes to drive to the appropriate store.

Nandy's Candy (Maywood Mart, 1220 E. Northside Drive, Suite 380, 601-362-9553) is well known for its chocolate-covered strawberries. This time of year, try the divinity, which sells for $8.95 a bag, or the assorted chocolates, which range from $16 for a 1/2-pound box to $32 for 1 pound.

Olivia's Food Emporium (820 Highway 51, Madison, 601-898-8333) makes and sells frozen meals including chicken pot pies, which sell for $18 per four-person serving, and Chicken Rotel which is $14 per four-person serving.

The Mississippi Craft Center (950 Rice Road, Ridgeland, 601-856-7546) offers its own signature line of coffee made by the Mississippi Coffee Company, which sells for $10 a pound. Grab a few handcrafted coffee mugs while you're there, and you've got a perfect gift.

Fat Tuesday's (5719 Old Canton Road, Ridgeland, 601-956-2971) offers up two great southern staples: JT's Seasonings, a Cajun spice blend that sells for $5 a jar, and Thames Foods' Comeback Sauce that is $6 a bottle. These make great stocking stuffers for any southern cook.

Apple Annies (106 Autumn Ridge Place, Suites 5 and 6, Brandon, 601-992-9925) has a delicious line of dip mixes. The flavors range from Baked Enchilada, which I hear is the best, to Mexican and Artichoke Parmesan. Each mix is $3.50, or you can get three for $10.
The Choppin' Blok (500 Highway 51 N., Suite F, Ridgeland, 601-607-4121) has the perfect gift for Bulldog or Rebel fans: the Ultimate Bulldogs Pasta Salad and the Ultimate Rebels Pasta Salad. Each package sells for $7. It also sells a variety of other school-themed items.

Candy's Confections (1149 Old Fannin Road, Suite 7, Brandon, 601-992-9623) offers a wide variety of goodies for those with a sweet tooth. Their melt-in-your mouth petit fours are each $1.50 for plain and $1.55 if decorated.

As a division of the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, the MSU Cheese Shop (Herzer Food Science Building, 925 Stone Blvd., Mississippi State, 662-325-2338, http://www.msucheese.com). The online store offers cheese, juice, cider, Bully's Breakfast packs, condiments, peanuts and meat. Traditional Edam cheese is $18. You can also get a White Gift Pack for $35 or a Maroon Gift Pack for $45. Each gift box contains a sampling of many of the cheeses made by MSU.