Mothers can expect chocolate, flowers or perfume this weekend. But if you want to show mom how appreciated she truly is, make her life a little easier.
HAVE A BALL: Sophisticated sweets by the Texas team at Austin Cake Ball are an elegant gift. Crumbled cake is blended with frosting, shaped into a two-bite ball, given a chocolate coating then decorated. We loved the lush red velvet. Austin Cake Balls in a variety of flavors are packed in copper-toned tins, a half-dozen for $16.95; a dozen for $28.95.
CHOCO-LUXE: Vosges Haut-Chocolat's Katrina Markoff offers this kitchen assist: Love Goddess Chocolate Cake Mix. You add eggs, butter and vanilla to transform the mix into three slim 9-inch layers of tender goodness. Finish with a favorite frosting; Markoff suggests sweetened whipped cream or chocolate ganache.
WARM WHIMSY: Comfort your soul with a cup of hot chocolate made with The Ticket Kitchen's Hot Chocolate on a Stick! Use to 1 cup (6-8 ounces) steaming whole milk for American style or to cup (3-4 ounces) water for European style. The 1.5-ounce chocolate blocks come in French Dark and Three-Chili flavors.
MAMA ROCKS: Retro-designed 12-inch, hardened-glass worktop savers pay homage to classic vinyl while doing double duty during food prep or serving as trivets. Rubber feet stall slipping; the tomato makes it feel at home in the kitchen.
NUMBERS GAME: You have 6 ounces of milk. Is that enough to finish a recipe calling for cup? Mom will have to worry no more with the Cheat Sheet Apron strapped around her waist. It offers the equivalent measures for cups, teaspoons, ounces, and pan sizes. It comes in a variety of colors and costs around $18.95.
FOR GOOD MEASURE: Pinch + Pour Prep Bowls from the Chef'n Sleekstor line do double duty: Marked with measurements, the flexible bowls need only a gentle "pinch" to create a spout for pouring. In a variety of colors, they work for serving too. A set of four: $14.99. For stores, go to: chefn; to purchase:
PAUSE. SIP. REFRESH: Treat mom to delicately flavored bottled organic teas from Harney & Sons. The lineup of five includes black tea enhanced with black currant or peach (we loved the peach), and green tea with citrus.