I always leave a card and unusually some flowers or a plant, a lot of my home owners are keen gardeners so I see if I can find something nice to add to their outside space. I often take local honey or preserves, marmalade, etc. I do leave milk and bread if they use it and always ask if I can get them anything for when they get home. Most people are having a shop delivery on return so don’t need much . However, I have occasionally been left a completely empty fridge on arrival so I am not inclined to leave much in that case . I try to be thoughtful about what they might like. Occasionally, I have cooked a meal if asked to stay until they get back, but I check what they eat first. Chilli and jacket potatoes are good in case of delays!
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We usually petsit in the EU and UK, traveling from our home in Tucson, Arizona, USA. We bring with us Ben’s Bells from a Tucson based organization that spreads intentional kindness. They are cute little chimes which have a note attached explaining the purpose of Ben’s Bells. We sign our names and the dates we cared for their animals on the back of the note. We have visited several of our homeowners years later and their Ben’s Bells are still proudly hanging.
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@Mary.Willmon how lovely- I just looked at the website for Bens Bells- its a beautiful , and much needed, idea- to spread kindness wherever you go 
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Hi @Mary.Willmon thank you so much for sharing, this is beautiful and like @Lokstar I just visited the website and watched Jeannette Maré’s video …I would encourage others to do the same …
“Kindness is a gift everyone can afford to give” 
Author Unknown
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Thank you Angela. We have recently been giving the paw shaped bell, since we are pet sitting. On a past sit, we took a heart, as the couple were getting married while we watched their pets and home. Since they are a Tucson group, we feel we are leaving a bit of our home where ever we go.
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I just remembered…
We have also found some really outrageous/silly/unique record albums while thrifting (the cover art just makes you squint and wonder what somebody had to have been thinking!) because it’s fun to sneak those in to their collection.
Silly books, too. “How to tone your upper arms in 30 days” was a favorite.
It tickles me to think that the next time they go through their things, they wonder, how the heck did this get here? Or ask a spouse, “Honey is this yours?”
This is a really great question and something I’m currently pondering.
I’m definitely no Nigella or Mary Berry in the kitchen so I can’t really rely on my culinary skills. If I did, well I don’t think I’d ever get invited back that’s for sure!!!
I brought these shortbread tins from Scotland for the owners to give to my recent sit as I looked after a dog and a cat but I can’t help but think this is possibly a little bit too cheesy rather than charming!!! 
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How lovely @Susana, if I was an HO I would be super delighted with a portrait of my best buddy.
@MissChef this is a fun idea!