Whether
your Mom’s into testing all the newest recipes or checking out new takeout
spots — a food-focused gift basket is a great way to say “Happy Mother’s Day.”
Here
are a few of my favorite ideas for foodie gift baskets that Mom will be sure to
love:
Baker’s
Dozen:
Line a basket — or in my case, a new bundt pan — with a cheery kitchen towel
and fill it up with small bags of specialty flours, nuts, chocolate chips,
sprinkles, cookie cutters, a bench scraper, oven mitts, a kitchen timer, a cake
tester, non-stick baking spray, paper baking cups, fancy vanilla beans, a
reusable silicone baking mat and pastry brush and, really, anything else you
can think of. Want to create an extra-special gift? Slip in a copy of a good
baking book that suits Mom’s tastes.
Does
she have a sweet tooth and enjoy cake decorating? Give her “Martha Stewart’s
Cupcakes: 175 Inspired Ideas for
Everyone's Favorite Treat.” Does Mom spend weekends baking bread? She’ll love
“The Bread Bakers Apprentice: Mastering the Art of Extraordinary Bread” by
Peter Reinhart.
Wine
& Cheese: Get
a few of Mom’s favorite bottles, adorn them with pretty bows and place them in
a basket or wine caddy surrounded by cheeses and fruits. Not sure what to get?
Ask your wine merchant or visit a wine-lovers’ Web site for pairing
suggestions. Include a corkscrew, a bottle stopper, a set of cork coasters,
crispy crackers, a small cutting board and cheese knife and, if you like, a set
of wine glasses or Champagne flutes. Take this basket over the top by including
a good wine guide, like “The Wine Bible” by Karen MacNeil, a gift certificate
for a local wine tasting, wine event or wine class, a membership in a wine-of-the-month
club or a one-year subscription to a oenophile’s magazine like Food & Wine or
Wine Spectator.
Out
to Eat: Does
Mom love a good meal but prefer to leave the cooking to someone else? If so,
you can still put together a great gift basket. I like to make this basket in
something small and useful, like a recipe box that can be used to organize
coupons and takeout menus or a festive Chinese-style takeout box. Get a few
gift cards to Mom’s favorite restaurants and, if you have one available in your
area, a good guide to local dining. If you live in or around Cleveland,
Cincinnati or Columbus, visit groupon.com, a “collective buying power” Web site
that frequently offers great dining deals at local restaurants. A gift
certificate for catering services makes a nice addition to this basket,
especially if your mother likes to entertain. Coffee shops and bakeries also
offer gift cards — definitely appreciated by moms’ on the go.