Homemade with heart
Enamoured by edibles
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It’s not uncommon to receive foodie gifts around the festive period but lately I’ve been lucky enough to receive a handful of homemade creations and it really made me appreciate just how lovely it is to receive such a thing and the comfort it brings.
When I turned 40 in October, a friend baked a double tier sponge, loaded with buttercream and fresh strawberries and drove it all the way to Margate in pieces before secretly assembling it in the kitchen of our Airbnb.
Just this week I whizzed up to York and back in a day to meet my parents for lunch (it’s a good half way meeting point between London and Newcastle) on my return journey I had acquired luggage in the shape of one of my Mam’s (have to address her correctly as she’ll likely see this and if I say ‘Mum’ it’s not the same!) famous lemon drizzle cakes (there really is nothing like it and generations of colleagues in numerous work places over the years can vouch for that - my old housemate still glazes over all dream like at the mere mention of it and I have been known to meet people suspiciously on street corners, to hand over a prized, foil wrapped block, so far without any intervention from sniffer dogs) and a generous slab of her Christmas cake.
A couple of nights later, a friend and trained pastry chef, who I have known for over a decade, surprised and delighted us with little bags of golden madeleines after realising we had never tasted her baking. Safe to say she has her work cut out now as they were absolutely divine and elevated my morning coffee ritual no end.
At the salon I have had clients bring me homemade biscuits and brownies, one lovely lady did this as a result of a ‘stress baking’ episode when she was going through a tough patch, the fact she thought to include me in the batch was very touching.
Another time, a restaurateur client who has become a friend, brought me in a gourmet sandwich unknowingly on a day when I was back to back with bookings, with no time to think about ordering in, it almost brought a tear to my eye, in that moment it was literally the greatest gift that anyone could have bestowed upon me!
Homemade foodie gifts are the epitome of thoughtfulness and kindness.
A considered offering because they demand pre-planning and time set aside to create, this shows the gift giver has made you a priority - and what could feel more special than that?
The comfort of settling down to enjoy something prepared with love and intent makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
Food really is the way to my heart and something homemade hits the jackpot.
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Aww this made me emotional! I'm so so so glad you enjoyed the madeleines and I surely will be baking more for you! It brought me great joy to do it, truly!
It's also so heartwarming to read about how the many other people in your life made you feel when giving you a piece of their homemade goodies. It surely is a special thing!