Showing your Love on Mothers’ Day – The Fourth Sunday in Lent is Mothering Sunday. This year it falls on March 10, and is also called Mothers’ Day. Whatever you call it, it’s a great time to show your appreciation of your mother, if you’re fortunate still to have her in your life. If you’re able to see your mother, and perhaps bring her some flowers, on March 10, then that’s probably one of the best presents you can give – but there are also lots of other options:
They sometimes describe gin as ‘Mother’s ruin’, but here’s a great present that’s not a ruinous price! Yes, you could just send a bottle of gin by mail order, or take one to her, but Hampers.com has put together a fabulous Mother’s Day Luxury Gin Hamper for £69. What’s more, it contains a full-sized bottle of an unusual gin, much appreciated by any gin fan. The star of the show is a bottle of Shivering Mountain’s Early Harvest Edition of their Premium Dry Gin, distilled in the Peak District and inspired by local mountain Mam Tor. (full of berry, floral and spice notes). It’s paired with a duo of tonic waters to complement it perfectly, and there are sweet treats, including a bar of 72% dark chocolate from Chococo and gin fizz gummies, followed by Mr Filbert’s dry roasted peanuts. It’s packed into a reusable bamboo tray. If she has a sweet tooth, you could instead opt for the Mother’s Day Gin Lovers Cream Tea Hamper for £59, with a smaller bottle of the hard stuff, and the components of a wonderful afternoon tea.
Start her morning the right way by whipping up some pancakes topped with fresh fruit and drizzled in some top-notch New Zealand honey such as Melora Mānuka Honey. It’s an unusual, indulgent (and sweet) idea and one that Dad can easily do with the help of the children. The Squeezy Melora Manuka Honey bottle (£12.50) is so handy and perfect for the breakfast table. The company has a fascinating story: it began in the mid 1990’s, with a vision to have the traditional Māori knowledge of the Mānuka plant recognised as an important and worthwhile resource for world health. They created a fair and open agreement between the landowners, beekeepers, and processing company. This agreement ensures all parties receive an equal share of the profits from all honey sold. More information and the delicious range of products made from Manuka honey is at melora.co.uk
Chocolates are always welcome, and so is an Espresso Martini, so how about combining them? Joe & Seph’s – makers of the most fabulous popcorn – also make delicious choccy truffles and have just launched an Espresso Martini Caramel Truffle. This boozy Espresso Martini caramel, made with fresh double cream, blended with 5% coffee liqueur & vodka, and a shot of espresso, is encased in a Belgian chocolate shell. Each truffle is a decadent little globe of flavour, so you can let your mother know that you think the world of her. £12.99 a box from joeandsephs.co.uk They also make Milk Chocolate Salted Caramel Truffles and Vegan Dark Chocolate Caramel ones.
Everything’s coming up rosé! To keep her ‘in the pink’, how about a perfect medley of Sea Change wines, including the new Prosecco Rosé, an elegant Provence, and a tasty Whale label Rosé from Château Canet. The Only Rosé Pack contains a bottle of each for £44.99. Sea Change is an award-winning, ethically sourcing, eco-friendly wine company, supporting global ocean conservation projects. Organic practices encourage soil fauna and flora and improve soil structure and health. There’s no unnecessary plastic wrap around the cork, natural corks are used, and the paper for the labels comes from certified sustainable forests and made partially from grape waste. Combine these factors with a donation to marine charities from every bottle sold, and choosing Sea Change does make a difference. More info at seachangewine.com
If she’s not into alcohol, I’d suggest a trip to your nearest Whittard store, or visit the website. The company has put together a lovely gift set for £30 that contains an English Rose Loose Tea Caddy, Luxury White Hot Chocolate and Salted Caramel Biscuits in a smart jute bag. It’s also fully customisable, so you can choose a different hot chocolate, tea, or coffee to swap in her preferred flavours. You can collect from the store free of charge or pay £3.95 for standard or £6.95 for next day delivery. Whittard.co.uk
If mum’s a foodie, I’d recommend a fascinating newly published book: Leftovers. It’s an informative and entertaining history of food preservation and waste in Britain, from the 16th Century to today. It explores the ingenious ways our ancestors sought to extend the life of food, and opens a window on the lives and values of ordinary folk in the past, revealing how wealth, inequality and religious doctrine shaped perceptions of food waste from Elizabethan time onwards. Embracing Tudor household management, new methods of food preservation introduced in the Industrial Revolution, state promotion of waste avoidance in two World Wars, and politics of food in the era of sustainability, Leftovers is interesting. It’s written by Eleanor Barnett, a food historian who, as @historyeats on Instagram, posts daily food history stories, paintings, and objects from across the world. It’s published by Head of Zeus at £27.99 hardback.
Save the expense of a restaurant meal with a ready-to-cook meal from a company such as Côte At Home. Its Mother’s Day three course dinner is designed by Gordon Ramsay’s former executive chef with everything delivered to your door in a chilled box, ready to cook. Start with Pont-l’Évêque cheese, pickled carrots, and cucumber, romesco dip, baguette & truffle saucisson. Then Beef Wellington, peppercorn sauce, new potatoes, roasted root vegetables and red cabbage, then chocolate roulade, pistachio ganache, and cherry compote. This three-course meal for four people costs £114.95. Available now to pre-order for delivery 6-8 March. More info on the website coteathome.co.uk
The Seasoned Gastronome