Eight Unique Herbal Gifts for Mom

As Mother's Day approaches, I get asked what is a good herb gift for a mom.  It is a simple question with a huge answer.  So I thought I would put together a list of suggestions for Mom that include herbs from loving the scent to tea to just enjoying the look of them.  There is a gift here for all types of herb lovers!

HERB SCENTS

1. Grow your own Herbs with an Herb in a Pot (available from the Backyard Patch for $6.50 each)

This terra cotta clay pot combination includes soil, seeds, instructions and recipes for growing your own herb in a pot.  Tied into a package with raffia and twine it makes its own rustic gift box. Herbs available include: Basil, Cilantro, Thyme, Oregano, and  Chives.



2. Chase bugs and enjoy the relaxation of Lemon Grass Candles (available from Ashka Candles for $6.50)

Lemon grass scent energizes and relieves nervousness with its strong bug chasing scent.  These 4 ounce candles will burn for 30 hours or more.


HERBAL TEA

3. You can a new tea every month with a Tea Subscription (available from the Backyard Patch in differing lengths)

You receive two bags of loose tea, a tea infuser and a description of the tea in a decorative container each month.  You can customize the tea selections or leave the choices to us.

4. Beaded Tea Ball (available from the Backyard Patch for $3.50 each)

A bead decorated tea ball that will look elegant in any cup or mug!

5. Tea Samplers let Mom try out several teas (available from the Backyard Patch for $4.95 each or a set of 3 for 15.00)

These brochure-shaped samplers contain tea infusing bags, and three small packets of loose teas on themes like Bright Morning, Marvelous Mint or Luscious Lavender.

ENJOYING HERBS

6.  A Plant Press lets you save leaves and flowers and enjoy them later  (available from KathleenEmilyAnne for $30.00)

This plant press book is a set of paper envelopes into which you can place leaves and flowers and hold shut with the elastic band.  It is portable so you can take it on a walk with you and save memories.

7. Chocolate Cake in a Mug (available from the Backyard patch for $10.95 for 2)

Never forget Chocolate is an herb and this quick and easy cake can be made in the microwave in the mug provided.  Many mug patterns and styles available.  Save shipping by ordering more than 2.

8. Herbal Note Cards (available from LoriLooDesigns for $6.49)

Note writing is becoming a thing of the past, but your Mom may still be one to enjoy sending a thoughtful card and these wonderful photo note cards with herbs come in sets of three!

So hopefully I have given you some ideas for items to give your Mom to celebrate her special day!

How Tuesday! Making Lemon Thyme Cupcakes

I decided to add some “HOW TO” to my blog, so I am calling this HOW TO-SDAY!

For the first How To-sday I am going to demonstrate Lemon Thyme Cupcakes!

The first plants I generally can harvest from in the spring are my thyme plants.  Growing close to the ground and shallow in depth, they start to enjoy the warmth of the sun and warmer soil the soonest of all my perennial herbs.  As a result I am snipping them and touching them as I get into the spirit of Spring which in Illinois means it is still too cold to grow anything new or work with the soil for fear of compacting it when the soil is wet.  All I can really do these days is rack off the mulch and look for new growth (see my post from Saturday for the fruits of my labors.)

Of the thyme plants I grow, my favorite is lemon thyme.  I love to cook with it, make tea with it, and even use the sprigs to decorate with.  The scent they emit is earthy and sweet and thoroughly rejuvenating.

Recently I found this nice recipe for Lemon Thyme Cupcakes and decided to give it a try.  Here are the instructions and pictures of the results.

HOW TO MAKE LEMON THYME CUPCAKES

This moist cupcake recipe was adapted from a recipe by Susan Belsinger.

Ingredients:

1 ½ cup unbleached flour

½ tsp. baking powder

¼ tsp. salt

2 Tbls. finely minced lemon thyme (reserve 1 tsp.)

¾ cup milk

1 tsp. finely grated lemon zest

½ cup unsalted butter, softened

1 cup sugar

2 large eggs

½ tsp. vanilla extract

Lemon glaze:

3 Tbls. lemon juice

3 Tbls. sugar

1 tsp. thyme

Directions:

Step 1:

First preheat the oven to 350 degrees and prep the pans with papers, so I don’t forget.  There is nothing worse then being ready to pour and oops!

Then I prep the fresh ingredients, mincing the thyme and grating the lemon zest.  Remember the zest is only the yellow part of the skin, not the white pith underneath, that is bitter so you want to avoid it.





For this recipe you need a couple of bowls, so get those out

Now I will measure my dry ingredients flour, baking powder, salt into a small bowl.  Remember to fluff the flour before you scoop to get an accurate measure and scrap off the excess to make a level measure. 
.

Add the thyme (minus 1 tsp.) and lemon zest to milk and stir well.

In a medium bowl, cream the butter with a mixer on medium speed for about 3 minutes. 

Scrape down the sides and add 1 cup sugar and beat for two minutes, stopping to scrape down the sides.  Add the eggs one at a time, blending well after each one and scraping the sides as needed.  Continue beating until the batter is light and fluffy. 

Add the vanilla and beat one minute longer.

One low speed now blend in half of the dry ingredients, then add the milk mixture and mix well. 

Then add the rest of the dry ingredients.  Scrape down the sides and make sure the batter is well blended.

Now spoon it into the prepared cups. Bake for 25 minutes at 350 degrees in a preheated oven for about 25 minutes or until the tops are just starting to turn golden brown and a tooth pick comes out clean. 

While they are baking, combine the glaze ingredients, lemon juice, sugar and 1 tsp. of thyme and stir well to dissolve the sugar. 

When the cakes are done, remove the pan from the oven brush with the glaze while still warm.  Then let the cupcakes cool in the pans for 5 minutes before removing them to cool on a rack.






Here are the finished cupcakes ready to enjoy!  They do not need frosting, but I have put a lemon frosting on in the past.

Stop back for more How-tosdays in the future!

~ Marcy Lautanen-Raleigh