Today it’s official: Now that it’s December,...

Today it’s official: Now that it’s December, you can begin to worry about holiday shopping. You say you haven’t even started? Maybe we can help.

For those foodies on your list, we’ve sought out gifts from specialty jams to pretty display pieces to pasta for Hanukkah. Our ideas fit a variety of budgets and occasions: There’s the perfect, inexpensive little hostess gift as well as the more elaborate special occasion present.

*

Always have a glass at hand when you keep these on the counter in their caddy. Use them with their matching tray or serve them from the bar. And with an attractive lemon slice on their sides, you can use them for just about anything.

6 glasses with caddy, $56; glass tray, $40 from Urban Objex, Los Angeles.

*

Fruit cheese is fruit cooked down to a point where it can be sliced. This quince cheese comes packaged in a French jar and is excellent served with a walnut bread and such cheeses as Stilton or Manchego. The tangy grapefruit marmalade would be great not only on bread but as a condiment to meat.

1-pound jar quince cheese, $22 plus shipping charges; 11-ounce jar grapefruit and Meyer lemon marmalade, $8.95 plus shipping charges from June Taylor Baking Co., Oakland. Phone and fax (510) 923-1522.

*

Malibu artist Brenda Holzke makes this versatile, beautiful bowl for B. Ware’s Fresco Collection. Use it for fruit or maybe float gardenias or candles in it--or just display it. Its rustic antique sponged look will complement most styles.

Moss bowl $120 from Malibu Colony, Malibu.

*

Give the gift of cookies--without having to bake. The dry ingredients for Sinter Klaasjes Dutch Holiday Cookies come packaged with a bright ribbon and a colorful card printed with the recipe. Nel Veder of Camino, Calif., developed the mix packages from a favorite family recipe. When baked, the cookies are rich and buttery with a slight spiciness--a good crispy cookie for a cup of coffee.

Dutch Holiday Cookie Mix, 1 package plus shipping and handling, $8; 3 packages plus shipping and handling, $19.60 from Nel Veder, P.O. Box 183, Camino, CA 95709. (530) 644-7406. Send check or money order.

*

What holiday hostess wouldn’t like a gift of napkin rings? These look beautiful when arranged at each place setting. Or try them in a bowl as a centerpiece when not in use. They’ll look real.

Gardenia napkin rings, set of eight, $48 at the Frank MacIntosh Home Store at Saks Fifth Avenue, Pasadena and Beverly Hills.

*

Finding tasteful festive glasses at the holidays can sometimes be hard. These handblown English-made glasses have brilliant designs on frosted glass--very holiday. They’re so colorful and their patterns so irresistible that it’s hard to choose which you like best. They’re sold individually, so choose your favorites.

Glasses, $44 each, Freehand, Los Angeles. Shipping available.

*

Satisfy the java drinker on your list with these robust coffees from Indonesia. They come packaged in pretty boxes with Christmas decorations.

170-gram box Indonesia Java Coffee, $7.25; 200-gram box Bali Gold Gourmet Coffee, $9.50 from Asian Antiques & Furniture, Los Angeles.

*

Looking for a great little gift or something for someone in the office? These Santa or snowman “Stuff-Ums” might be the thing. Stuff each with your favorite Christmas candy and you’re all set.

Santa Claus and snowman Stuff-Ums, $7 each (not including candy) from Pottery Shack, Laguna Beach.

*

A very elegant gift for your favorite hostess might be this Frances Stoia variegated naturally shed horn slab and spreader. Its free-form shape makes it an attractive cheese or hors d’oeuvres serving piece. And for New Year’s, this individual glass caviar server might be just the ticket. Give several so they may be set between place settings.

Variegated horn slab and spreader about $40 to $55; and glass caviar server, about $26 to $33 from the Woods, Brentwood, and Jordanos, Santa Barbara and Montecito.

*

No one can stay a Grinch for long with these merry tea towels in sight. They come bundled in packages of four and are sure to get anyone in the holiday spirit.

Tea towels, set of four, $17.95 from Crate and Barrel stores.

*

Forget wrapping papers and ribbons and make things easy on yourself. Wrap gifts in boxes. Each comes packaged with a silk scarf and a ring; wrap the scarf up around the box and tighten it through the ring to seal the box shut. Fancy. They’re available in a variety of colors and make a striking package.

6x4 1/2x5-inch box, $6.50; 8x4 1/2x4 1/2-inch box, $7; and 4-inch-square box, $5 from the Japanese American National Museum Gift Shop in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles.

*

This semolina pasta in the shape of the Star of David comes in a mix of durum semolina along with tomato and spinach pasta. The Hanukkah Gelt cookies come in a traditional blue and gold motif with a wooden dreidel attached with the ribbon.

Pasta Judaica, 16-ounce bag, $3.95 and Hanukkah Gelt Cookies, 7-ounce bag, $6.95 from Fair Oaks Pharmacy and Soda Fountain, South Pasadena.