Mother’s Day Kitchen Gift Guide: Cookbooks & Edible Gifts

Disclosure: My opinions of these products are my own. I have tested all of them out in some way, shape or form. I also didn’t choose to put in items to the gift guide that I didn’t think that moms would find use for in the kitchen or would be good quality. I wouldn’t want to steer you wrong on Mother’s Day. Here is how to tell which items I got for free and which ones I didn’t.

We will use a star system, 1*, 2**, 3***. 1* – means that I didn’t receive the product for free as part of the review, I either owned it already or I reviewed it and sent it back to the company. 2** – means that I got the item to review and to keep. 3*** – means that I received the item to review and keep and received one to give away to a reader (see the Mother’s Day Gift Guide guidelines for entering).

Most cooks like to eat. Whether it be whipping up their favorite dish or finding a new one in a cookbook. Today’s review is of some very tasty treats and some cookbooks to help make very tasty treats. As the giver of these gifts I dare to say you won’t be disappointed with the rewards you reap. I know, gift giving isn’t about what you get from it, it being the right product for the person. However, isn’t it great when it is the right present for the recipient AND you get to reap the rewards. Come on, you know it is!

Edible Gifts

Lollicakes***

These are just as delicious as they are cute! A Lollicake arrangement is a PERFECT gift for a mom that has just about everything. It is also a great idea for sending to mom in place of the usual flowers. This arrangement she can EAT! I think they are even a good treat for those moms that are watching their waste line. Well, that is if they can eat just one at a time. A Lollicake isn’t as big as a cupcake so you are forced to have only a couple bits. They are packed full of flavor too.

The arrangements come with a flavor guide so you know exactly what you are getting. Did I mention how cute they are? How about the fact that they can be stored in the freezer for up to 12 weeks. You know Once A Month Moms love things that go in the freezer!

It cost $25 for your first dozen and $20 for each dozen you add after that. They come in a cute pot that you can choose to customize for an extra $5. You can choose the paint options and coordinating ribbon. What a great idea for the mom in your life! And they ship in the United States as well. I got mine in the mail and it was still cool when I took it out of the packaging. Impressive.

Facebook Fan Page: The Lollicake Company

Jules Gluten Free**

When this company connected with me about their product, I knew it had to be in the gift guide. Well, that is if it tasted good. I have readers all of the time that are indicating their families need gluten free recipes and resources.

Jules Shepard, a single mother of two (an 8 year old and a 5 year old), and celiac sufferer, has a patent-pending all purpose flour that does two important things:

1. Allows moms to continue making delicious homemade baked goods – an important factor for moms in keeping family unity by NOT having to alienate those eating gluten free with separate food items.

2. Insure the health and vitality of the celiac (or gluten intolerant) family member with a safe, certified gluten free product.

I was sent a sample to try and they were very good. If your family is in need of gluten free foods, this would make a great item in a gift basket of goodies for mom. They have all kinds of products and cookbooks to choose from.

Twitter: JulesGlutenFree

Facebook Fan Page: Jules Gluten Free Flour

Naturally Nora***

Does the mom in your life wish that she could make boxed cakes, cookies or brownies but is health conscious about all of the crazy ingredients? Naturally Nora baking mixes might be a great idea for a Mother’s Day Baking gift. These boxed mixes aren’t ordinary. They only contain all-natural ingredients, no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives and not hydrogenated oils.

And they taste great too. I made the brownies for my husband and he couldn’t tell the difference between these and the one I regularly buy at the store. Well, I am assuming he didn’t since they are all gone now! I think these mixes would be great paired with The Party On the Go for the mom that loves to bake!

Twitter: NaturallyNora

Facebook Fan Page: Naturally Nora

Roaste.com**

Most moms (well, admittedly not me) love a good cup of coffee to start their day off right. And a fine cup of coffee with a great coffee bean might just send her heart aflutter (of course, that could be the caffeine). Roaste.com has a great service where you can order coffees from all over the world. It is a great gift for the coffee enthusiast mom. The one that likes to try new things, explore new flavors and support growers around the world. It is a great place to purchase a unique flavor.

Maybe you are wondering about the fact that I don’t like coffee but I have it listed in the review. Fortunately, my husband does. He is a bit of a coffee snob too. So if he says thumbs up, we are good to go. You won’t be steered wrong.

Twitter: Roaste

Facebook Fan Page: Roaste

Seattle’s Best Coffee***

Seattle’s Best is a more local (as in U S of A) to purchase coffee for mom. And if the mom in your life is always running out for an iced mocha or other coffee drink, well Seattle’s Best has an AWESOME idea for a Mother’s Day gift; the Toddy. The Toddy is an iced coffee brewing system for at home. You can slow brew a pound of Seatle’s Best and have a “syrup” that can be mixed with milk and ice to make a fabulous iced coffee, right at home. (Wouldn’t that help your budget too?) What an awesome idea! It is not that expensive, it retails at $39.95. Much less expensive than buying an espresso machine which is what is normally required to make an iced coffee.

Again, I sent the Toddy and Seattle’s Best to the office with my husband. They are all coffee snobs so I wanted to see if this system would survive their test. They make iced coffees with their espresso machine all the time. Their opinion of the Toddy:

It worked very well but went WAY too fast! It makes a lot but these men like their coffee. Overall, a worthwhile product, especially if you don’t have an espresso maker.

Cookbooks

The Rotisserie Chicken Cookbook***

Would you believe that this cookbook excited me a bit more than the next one I am going to tell you about that is about chocolate? I know, I’m a little whack. I just love a cookbook that is so practical and can be used to find great recipes for our freezers. This cookbook provides you with nearly 200 ways to utilize chicken from a rotisserie chicken. How awesome! You could make a whole weeks or even months worth of meals (if you were willing to eat chicken every night) simply from this cookbook. From appetizers to main dishes or even brunch items, this cookbook covers it all.

If the mom in your life is a connoisseur of chicken, this would be a great cookbook to get her. Maybe pair it with a gift card to the grocery store for that rotisserie chicken. Or even some spices and ingredients to make up one of the fabulous recipes. The options are endless.

Enlightened Chocolate***

Don’t get me wrong, I was super excited about the rotisserie chicken cookbook but chocolate? What woman doesn’t get excited about chocolate? This cookbook is filled with over 200 recipes using dark chocolate and cocoa. And they aren’t all desserts. This cookbook would be great paired with one of the coffee gifts above. You can’t really go wrong with chocolate now, can you?

101 Recipes for Microwave Mug Cakes**

This tiny cookbook is brimming (he he) with great recipes for making single serving snacks in less than 10 minutes. You know, for pulling together those last few minutes before the kids get off the bus. Or when you forgot to make a decadent dessert to go with dinner. Or while your OAMM meal is baking in the oven you can just whip one of these treats up.

This is also a great idea for the mom trying to cut back on dessert intake. They are single serving desserts so you aren’t left with half a cake that you now feel obligated to eat so it won’t go to waste.

Do It For Less! Parties & Do It for Less! Weddings**

Both of these books are fabulous for the mom that likes to entertain. You don’t have to be Martha Stewart but every mom knows it is fun to entertain guests every now and then. And if nothing else, to impress the in-laws when they stop in.

Both of these books are packed with great ideas for saving money, decorating and entertaining. They have a lot of great and useful information in them as well. Like, where does a cut of meat come from on a cow? They are also filled with recipes that make enough for up to 75 people (and increments if you only have 12, 25, or 50 people. An all-around great resource for a Once A Month Mom because many of the recipes can be frozen or made ahead.

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, April 20th, 2010 at 1:00 pm and is filed under Reviews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.