So my boyfriend's mum's birthday is this Thursday. We're in a LDR and I get to Sydney (where he lives) on Thursday, so I figure I need to get her something. Last year I got her a photo frame as he and his brother got her a camera.

I have absolutely no idea what to get her. I don't want to spend to much, either, $30 max - I only see her a few times a year.

I made her sister (my boyfriend's aunt) chocolate truffles for her birthday, but she lives in the same city as me and she was having a big 50th birthday thing. So I didn't have the issue of a 5 hour plane trip before she got the present. If she were closer I would just bake her something but this is harder!

Suggestions? She's in her early 50s. No particular hobbies or anything. Can you think of any baked goods that will travel reasonably well with no refrigeration or anything and will still taste good a day after they're made?

Edit: I meant to put this in S&A but accidentally clicked OI. I'm leaving it here for now as I'll get better baked good suggestions, it's the most impressive for her because she doesn't cook/bake (at all).

Apple squares.
Nanaimo bars.
Cupcakes with various decorations.

Ask around about her favourites.

Make sure that it's something you can take as a carry on bag.

- Rumballs
- Cookies
- Caramel squares

You could consider preparing/ bringing the ingredients with you and putting it together there. It'd be the best way to ensure quality.

I would, but I get there at night and leave the following morning for a weekend out of the city. I'm only staying the one night there.

You could make a nice cake and put the icing on when you get there, that way you don't have to worry about keeping it perfectly still.

what i do when i make chocolate chip cookies is i make about a kilogram of dough at a time before squeezing them into plastic rap sausages. i throw them in the freezer and whenever i feel like cookies, i can just slice chunks of it off and throw it on a pan

with that being said, cookies are pretty good as gifts.

i do the same thing! i have a tube of choc chip cookie dough in the freezer.

it's a good idea - i might make choc chip and double choc cookies and just give that to her.

They're not baked, but you could go to a boutique chocolatier and get a gift box.

http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/9028/ideauz4.jpg

Delicious stuff.

That's an excellent idea. Then she'll be able to remember your nice gift, until she mows down all the cookie dough.

Watch out though, she may want...more.

Buy her a blender .

I'd say a ginger spongecake.