I wanted to send new-mum friend a meal for her birthday, but Cook demand a minimum order of £35! Any other ideas?

[franch]

If she lived nearby I'd be hand-delivering a homemade meal for two, but she's miles away. She's just had her 1st baby so it does seem like the most appropriate thing.

I would like to spend less than £20. A fruit basket seems a bit lame ... I guess a Meg Rivers cake or something might do ...

Any thoughts?

I don't think a fruit basket is lame, I'd have loved a fruit basket!

could you do an on-line shop at the supermarket for you with ready meals etc - still less than £35 and possibly then 2 meals worth.

How about ordering some marks and spencer ready made meals online and have them delivered to her address. I know it's not handmade but she will probably appreciate having something that she can freeze and eat at her convenience.

homemade, I mean. Thigs like fruit baskets are lovely but probably will cost you the same as sending flowers about £25-£35 I think

does this cover her area? taster pack 5 days of meals and desserts for £21.50.

Which area is she?

do you live near a cook at all? i do surely they do vouchers for less you could send to her recorded delivery then she can choose just what she fancies.

or some m&s vouchers good idea then she can buy herself some yummy food, or some comfy pj's!

We got a friend some M&S vouchers, they regularly do those meals for £10. As long as your friend can get out and about (or send someone!) then I think that's fine.

Could you send something home made that might travel well, this could be in addition to vouchers or similar if you wanted to make it more personal.

Something like flapjacks/fairly robust cookies or similar?

Thanks all.

CarGirl - hadnt thought of that - I suppose they're unlikely to be out for the delivery ...

samsonara - dont think you can do that with M&S can you?

Good idea Ledodgy - doesn't look quite as tasty as Cook however ...

Trebuchet - she's in Kent

nicola - I do live near a Cook but don't think she does!

onepiece - that's a good idea too, hadn't thought of actually sending homemade food.

Really wanted to give her an actual meal tho - I know that's what I appreciated most in the early days. I guess I'm not really a voucher person. Will have a look at Ocado or similar

Sorry you are right, try Waitrose and Ocado delivering the food but I don't know if it works for a different address and if the recipient would need to be in their delivery address.

zone I mean.

Had another idea, if you know what type of takeaway she likes, you could ring up a local takeway near her and pay with a card and they can deliver to her address, you could arrange with her a night when she would like this.

An Ocado order like that would've been amazing when my baby arrived. What a nice friend you sound! (Recommend the new Gu chocolate cake is included. And the Comfort fish pie. Yum.)

Thanks Qally You could be right about ocado tho samsonara - not sure you can use it that way

Can't quite find what I'm looking for so think I'll get some sort of pampering set instead. Thanks everyone for your suggestions tho