Great family recipes
Great summer punches
Think drinks Pour a selection of colourful yet refreshing homemade drinks into pretty bottles. Perhaps use freshly squeezed orange juice, pink lemonade or watermelon squash.
Whiffy gift Nearly-fill three small bottles with olive oil. To one, add rosemary, thyme, bay and peppercorns. To another, add whole dried chillies and a few loose chilli flakes. To another, add 5 whole garlic cloves and 2 chopped garlic cloves. You've got infused oils!
Crunch bunch Use your mum's cookie recipe to make a giant biscuit for her! When it is cool, drizzle a message on there with icing, pop it in a box with tissue paper and vibrant petals and finish with a pretty ribbon.
Chew-chew train Make your own sticky-toothed toffee by dissolving 3 cups sugar, 1 cup water and ¼ cup brown vinegar in a saucepan over a low heat. When melted, boil for 15 minutes, leave to cool for 5 minutes and then pour into paper cases.
Sauce-licious Why not create your own garlic mayo, chilli sauce or salad dressing for your mum to enjoy with dinner this Mother's Day?
Chocahol-chic Buy a giant bar of your mum's most beloved chocolate, break it up into a glass bowl with a splash of cream and place over a boiling saucepan of water. Stir until melted, then dunk juicy strawberries in, before placing on baking paper to cool.
Have a jar Whizz up basil leaves with extra-virgin olive oil, parmesan, pine nuts, salt and pepper and a squirt of lemon juice. Pop in a big jar with a label and give it a personalised name such as "Pesto for Pasta" or "Besto Pesto".
Tea glee Fill a cute little Asian teacup with miniature bags of different flavoured teas that your mum can sip and slurp.
Decor-ate-tions If your mum loves Christmas decorations, make her edible Mother's Day versions! You could make heart- or star-shaped biscuits attached to ribbons to hang and present them in a basket lined with a pretty tea towel.
Make 'n' bake cupcakes Fill a tiered cake plate with home-baked cupcakes decorated with lollies, chocolate, cream or colourful cream cheese icing.
Heavenly hamper Make delectable chocolate truffles for a champion mum! Or, if you don't have time, just fill a hamper with all her favourite chocolate treats such as hot chocolate powder, sprinkles, bars, flakes and eggs.
