Looking for something special to celebrate Mom's big day? We've got you covered with all kinds of Mother's Day gift ideas for every budget. And, we'll take it a step further with four great prizes up for grabs that will make perfect gifts for any mom who loves food as much as we all do!
Cook the Books
1. The Sobo Cookbook: Sobo has since become a destination restaurant, having outgrown its food truck beginnings, with visitors making the pilgrimage to the west coast of Vancouver Island just to taste chef Lisa Ahier’s cooking–which is, to use Tofino slang, simply “killer”. The Sobo Cookbook includes over 100 of the restaurant’s all-time favourite recipes–recipes that have fed surfers, hungry locals, curious visitors and die-hard foodies alike. We have one author signed copy of Sobo Cookbook to give away courtesy of Random House Canada - see end of the post for details.
2. Delicious: In her bestselling memoirs Ruth Reichl has long illuminated the theme of how food defines us, and never more so than in her dazzling fiction debut about sisters, family ties, and a young woman who must finally let go of guilt and grief to embrace her own true gifts. We have one author signed copy of Delicious to give away courtesy of Random House Canada - see end of the post for details.
3. Blue Plate Special: A delectable memoir about the transformative power of food, Blue Plate Special is a deeply personal narrative in which food becomes the vehicle for exploring a life. Hungry not just for food, but for love and a sense of belonging, Christensen writes honestly about her struggle to find the contentment she has always yearned for. A beautifully written account of a knockabout life, full of sorrows, pleasures—and, of course, food—Blue Plate Special is a delicious reading experience. We have one author signed copy of Blue Plate Special to give away courtesy of Random House Canada - see end of the post for details.
4. The Oh She Glows Cookbook: FBC Member Angela Lidden's long-awaited debut cookbook, with a treasure trove of more than a hundred mouth-watering, wholesome recipes – from revamped classics that even meat-eaters will love, to fresh and inventive dishes – all packed with flavor.
5. My Paris Kitchen: David Lebovitz remasters the classics, introduces lesser-known fare, and presents 100 sweet and savory recipes that reflect the way modern Parisians eat today. David also shares stories told with his trademark wit and humor, and lush photography taken on location around Paris and in David’s kitchen reveals the quirks, trials, beauty, and joys of life in the culinary capital of the world.
6. Bouchon Bakery: Not a new release, but a favourite of ours here at FBC. The tastes of childhood have always been a touchstone for Thomas Keller, and in this dazzling amalgam of American and French baked goods, you'll find recipes for the beloved TKOs and Oh Ohs (Keller's takes on Oreos and Hostess's Ho Hos) and all the French classics he fell in love with as a young chef apprenticing in Paris: the baguettes, the macarons, the mille-feuilles, the tartes aux fruits.
Helping Hands in the Kitchen
1. The iconic KitchenAid Stand Mixer: Green Apple, Ice Blue, Watermelon and Majestic Yellow are a few of the cheerful colours to bestow upon mom this spring. As we wind down from the long winter and clear countertops for warmer weather, Mother's Day is the perfect excuse to brighten her day (and kitchen) with a new countertop appliance. The classic Artisan Stand Mixer is the perfect tool for all of her culinary aspirations. Why not help take her culinary creativity to the next level with one of the many Stand Mixer Attachments available for grinding meat, rolling pasta, making ravioli or dicing vegetables
2. KitchenAid 5 Speed Blender: The New Diamond Blender with patented diamond jar creates a mixing vortex for 20 second smoothies. It also boasts a Crush Ice mode that pulses automatically at staggered intervals to improve ice-crushing efficiency.
3. KitchenAid Electric Variable Temperate Kettle: This kettle combines beautiful design and smart functionality; the variable temperature feature allows you to keep track of both the water temperature and level even if removed from the base. It also boasts 1.7 litre capacity, 30 minute keep warm feature and an automatic shutoff function
4. The Philips Airfryer is a counter-top appliance that provides a more healthful way to fry, bake, roast and caramelize your favourite foods. Using Rapid Air Technology for the perfect result, your food will contain less fat than traditional cooking methods without sacrificing taste. For more info visit the Philips website.
5. The Breville Smart Scoop Ice Cream Machine produces homemade frozen desserts that can be as simple or decadent as you wish. It's the first ice cream maker that automatically senses the hardness of the mixture! With 12 different hardness settings, the Breville Smart Scoop lets you know when your frozen treat is ready whether it’s a sorbet, frozen yogurt, gelato or ice cream. The built‐in compressor will let you enjoy multiple batches of ice cream without ever having to pre‐freeze the cylinder bowl like many other brands. Learn more at Breville. We have one Breville Smart Scoop Ice Cream Machine to give away courtesy of Breville - see the end of the post for details!
6. Cuisinox Coffee Press - this sleek and elegant 6 cup french coffee press gives the mom who loves coffee the purest infusion of coffee and water without using paper filters. The double walled stainless steel thermo press keeps the coffee hot for us to two hours (and it works for tea as well!).
Useful and Fun!
1. & 2. We absolutely fell in love with these adorable coffee, jam and veggie washi tapes from Omiyage that are perfect for adding a special touch to household items, gift wrapping and handwritten notes. Dress up kitchen canisters with a strip of your favourite tape or create your own stickers to use on gift tags or cards. We thought it would be perfect for giving your canning and homemade jam jars labels some extra personality!
3. Speaking of canning and jam making, how about an HIC Canning Kit for mom this year? This kit is complete with a canning funnel, stainless steel tongs, jar wrench, magnetic canning lid and a jar lifter - everything mom needs to get started.
4. Have some fun keeping drinks cold this summer with these cute penguin ice cube molds that do double duty as baking molds. The molds are made of silicone and are heat resistant up to 450F, as well as being dishwasher safe. Also available as ducks, hearts, and fish!
5. Bamboo Non-Skid Coasters in a functional holder and fun colours are perfect for keeping those cold drinks from messing up tables and, they double as a great photography prop for the mom who blogs!
6. We also loved the simplicity of this beautiful eco-friendly bamboo untensil holder. It will keep mom's utensils easy to reach and her kitchen counter looking sharp!
Tasty Treats
1. Let mom indulge with a cup of Mighty Leaf tea. Available in a wide range of flavours, our favourite is the warm comforting vanilla bean!
2. And what could be a prettier way to indulge in that cup of tea than with this all in one cherry blossom tea mug complete with strainer and lid? It's microwave and dishwasher safe and holds a generous 12 oz cup of tea.
3. Mother's Day wouldn't be complete without breakfast in bed and Foodie Pages has the perfect Breakfast Box. Six delicious small batch foods perfect for a wholesome Mother's Day breakfast. Treat Mom to some of our favourite breakfast finds, including gluten free granola from Kimberley's Own, Ontario blueberry spread from Stasis Preserves, and Earl Grey Jasmine Tea from one of Canada's top tea sommeliers.
4. We can all use a simple pleasure to enjoy with a cup of tea or a mug of coffee. And Dare's Simple Pleasure cookies like these Oatmeal Dark Chocolate ones are the perfect companion. With 8 flavours, there's sure to be one to tempt every mom.
5. If tea or coffee aren't mom's thing then why not some luxurious Green & Black's Organic Cocoa? Make a smooth, delicious cup of cocoa or add a special touch to baking goodies with this organic fair trade cocoa.
6. The Coffee Mix's Fabulous 35 K-cup Sampler Pack is perfect for letting mom try a variety of flavoured coffees, teas, hot cocoas and more. It's a great way to try flavours you've never had before without committing to a whole box and works with Keurig single serve brewers.
Enter to Win A Great Gift For Mother's Day
We are thrilled to be able to offer up 4 great prizes as part of our Mother's Day Gift Guide giveaway. You must be a resident of Canada to participate. There are 4 individual prizes up for grabs:
- 1 author signed copy of The Sobo Cookbook by Lisa Ahier courtesy of Random House Canada
- 1 author signed copy of Delicious by Ruth Reichl courtesy of Random House Canada
- 1 author signed copy of Blue Plate Special by Kate Christensen courtesy of Random House Canada
- 1 Breville Smart Scoop Ice Cream Maker courtesy of Breville
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My mom took a Chinese cooking class when I was little and would make egg rolls in huge batches! So good!
I have been thinking a lot lately about my mother and my grandmother… both made fantastic yorkshire puddings and with Nanna’s recipe in hand I’ve been working on perfecting these.
Wow what a great giveaway!
We would make old-fashioned fudge in our farm house. After we were done we would fight to lick the spoon and scrape the bottom of the pan to eat all of the warm fudge.
My mom taught me how to make her famous lasagna. To this day I barely change the recipe. Although, to my credit, she swears I make it better lol
I love making pandan waffles with my mom on Mother’s Day, it’s not an annual tradition!
I remember sunday moring churos with mom.
My mom made the tastiest cinnamon buns, I always loved the way the kitchen smelled when she was baking.
I enjoyed making Swedish hardtack with my mom. She even had a special kid-sized textured rolling pin for me!
My earliest memory of cooking with my mom was when I was a small child and she taught me to wash and prepare the rice for steaming. We had rice every night for dinner and she taught me how to rinse the rice (at least 3 times!) and then measure the water level for the perfect, steamy pot of white rice.
I still wash rice the way she taught me and even though my mom has shown be how to cook many other dishes since then, the rice “ritual” still has a special place in my heart.
My mother has always made the best homemade bread, tea buns, molasses buns and fruit cakes, amongst numerous other things. I’m not sure I’ll ever get her recipes as tasty as she makes them, but this past Christmas I was able to make her dark fruit cake along side her in the kitchen for the first time ever. Learned from the master !
Hope I win something~
My mom always had me cut up the green and red peppers for our dinners..usually spaghetti.
Her making popsicles with freshie & jell-o
When we first moved to Scarborough, years ago, from BC, my Mom went crazy about all the Chinese food in the area. She was born and raised in Hong Kong and suddenly, decades later, was able to find the foods of her youth! She delighted in taking us out and introducing us to all these new foods!
Making our favourite Ukrainian food recipes
Whenever I would be studying for an exam my mom would fry me up some cauliflower dipped in a chickpea batter…
My mom and I entered a pie baking contest when I was five. I won for youngest entry and she took home the big prize. 🙂
My mom turned cases and cases of fresh fruits and vegetables into delicious meals that she shared with family and friends. She made mealtime special. She’s a great taste tester for my jittery cooking.
My mom is the reason I bake and cook! I most remember layering lasagna for her and the ingrained refrain: meat, noodles, cheese, noodles, meat. More cheese.
Every year, my mom, grandmother and I would make dumplings every year for new year’s.
My mom still needs to teach me her homemade soup recipe!
I learned to love food and to cook for those that I love from my mom. She has always been an inspiration in the kitchen.
I always loved doing the Christmas baking with my mom…especially when I’d get to be the official taste tester as a child!
I remember when my mom first tried to teach me how to make Spanish tortilla. I super failed at flipping it! I’m now finally (after many years of failed attempts!) able to flip it, as long as it’s a mini version, but still, it doesn’t taste like moms.
I was hosting a party and I decided to make pad thai. Suffice it to say it was a complete disaster. I got my mom to join me in the kitchen and begged her to fix it. She added a few things, took another another few and voila, the dish was an instant hit! I’ve always said my mom is the best cook I know!
I remember my mom teaching me how to make bread. I still remember the smell 🙂
Making eggrolls with my mom is a favourite food memory of mine.
I love the washi tapes. So adorable!
My favorite food memory of mom is us making chocolate chip cookies together for school bake sales! Her cookies were so good that they sold out quickly!
I remember learning how to make pie with my mom. We practiced by making lemon meringue pie many times because that was her favorite
Grandmas and moms are the best for teaching us how to cook and grow things to cook with 🙂
My mom didn’t bake often and still doesn’t but I remember often making my grandmas (her mom) biscuits. They were a favorite of mine!
Baking cinnamon rolls in the kitchen with my momma. She turned her back for five minutes and I ate the icing that was meant for the tops of them for when they were done. I regret nothign. Haha
I remember making popcorn balls with my mother for my 9th birthday party. They seemed so exotic and fun, and I loved working alongside my mother in the kitchen. She wasn’t much of a cook but she loved to entertain. We’d invited all of the girls in my class and danced and ate the most beautiful store-bought Strawberry Shortcake cake. And those magical popcorn balls. 🙂
When I was young, I have fond memories of my Mom and I just spreading ice cream on toast and eating that as a snack (right before dinner)! Oh the memories! My mom likes rules but sometimes having fun is important too!
My mom was a great cook. Unfortunately, she didn’t teach me so when I got married I couldn’t even boil an egg. Luckily i’ve improved since then.
Great giveaway! I still remember my first cookbook I recieved from my mom, five roses! I have long since given mine away and now use my grandma’s copy. It’s worn and still has flour on the pages from whatever recipe she was baking!
Wow! So many awesome ideas.
I remember making a messy, bright blue handprint for a Mother’s Day cookbook when I was in preschool. My mom still has it and bakes from it regularly!
Great giveaway ! Best cooking moment with my mom is after I discovered how to make successful home made pasta on my own with the rolling machine… she showed me how to do it old school using a rolling pin only. i was cooking for about 20 years when she did this — I was in awe. Love her to bits !
Great giveaway! My mom learned everything she knew in the kitchen from her mom, and I have fond memories of being in the kitchen with my grandmother making traditional Greek spanakopitas.
As my mom isn’t much of a baker I enjoy baking for her and perhaps teaching her some tricks of the trade! 🙂
What a great giveaway! My mom is Canadian, but she often cooked Zambian food for us when we were growing up. It helped us connect to our Zambian roots! I will always appreciate that!
Great giveaway! Just in time for summer!
What an amazing giveaway, thanks so much for the chance to win! My food related memory would have to be begging my mom to make homemade bread in the breadmaker. Once she would finally cave and make a loaf my two sisters and I would literally devour the entire thing in 10 minutes. Nothing beats fresh baked bread!
My mom let me cook family dinner every Friday evening from the time I was about 10 years old, and she never interfered at all, even when I was making a massive mess and a questionable product. Without that free reign in the kitchen, I would never have learned to cook like i did…
On my 17th birthday my Mom took me to the top of the Calgary Tower for my birthday. Just me, in our large family this was a treat. I had my first truly “fancy” meal and she even ordered us wine! What a special night.
When me and my mom tried decorating a cake for the first time for my dads birthday. We stayed up late night to finish it. We both decorated it the we want it, even though it wasbt perfect:p
My mom taught me how to bake cookies – we would always make ginger molasses ones and she always told me to use less sugar than the recipe called for. It’s a lesson I still use today.
My Mother made the absolute best pork chops smothered in caramelized onions with apple sauce on the side. I can still taste them but have never been able to exactly replicate them.
Super fantastic giveaway…great books and ice-cream maker.
Love my mom’s home made pies…the best ever especially the blueberry ones.
I remember baking chocolate chip cookies & having a ton of them fresh out of the oven with gooey chocolate chips!!
I have so many memories of cooking with my grandmother. I can see her baking apple pie in front of me like it was yesterday- the smell of cinnamon, sugar, and apples. I also have great memories of pickling with garden cucumbers- big stainless steel bowls with slices sitting in coarse salt waiting to be turned into bread and butter pickles. And then her bread baking marathon for Christmas- huge fluffy loaves of bread in a steamy kitchen. She was an inspiration and sparked my interest in food and cooking for others.
we made donuts together, just like I did with my grandma, and now with my daughter.
I remember my mom teaching my brother and I both how to make breakfast foods – she taught him to make pancakes and me to make a family recipe oatmeal muffin.
At the time I thought it was just about us gaining skills, but now as a mom myself, I get that it was also about teaching us to make breakfast so she could have a break every once and a while!
My mom didn’t do a lot of the cooking when we were growing up because my grandmother lived with us and she did most of it. I remember though, one time, my mom decided to bake chocolate chip cookies for us. She followed the recipe to the tee but somehow managed to bake up one large very burnt cookie. We still laugh at the memory!
Making chicken & dumplings with my grandma & mom.
Wow!! Thank you for the chance to win 🙂
When I was 17 I moved out with a stack of photocopies of my mothers regular recipes and I still have and use them today.
This is an amazing giveaway. My mom is an avid cook and she’ll love this!
Thanks for the chance. Happy Mother’s Day!
Thanks for the chance!
Scottish eggs is our traditional dish…I make it with my mom every year.
My mom is a great cook. I secretly want to learn everything from her.
My mom has this specialty dish that I love – it’s a filipino dish and no matter how hard I tried to replicate it, its hard. That’s why I love eating my mom’s cooking.
My mom taught me how to make dumplings and I will always cherish this special moment with her.
When I think about cooking with my mom, I think of Cinnamon Rolls. She would make the dough and then together we would roll it out, top it with butter, cinnamon, brown sugar and raisins. There are no Cinnamon Buns in this world better than the ones I made with mom!