Mother’s Day Gift Ideas
My daughter’s gift to me last year was my inspiration for this Mother’s Day gift ideas post. She gave me the sweetest handmade card with a mother-daughter spin-class voucher tucked inside. As a mom I treasure the time I have to spend with my precious children, so her very thoughtful “experience gift” couldn’t be more perfect! Today more than ever, I appreciate what a gift my kids are to me, what a gift I was to my mother, and what a gift my mother was to her mother, and up the line it goes like the run-on sentence this is. What mom’s really want is quality time with their families, so I’ve rounded up a “Top 10” list of the best experience gift ideas for Mother’s Day along with some Kelly family recipes. I hope my family is reading…hint, hint.
1. Plant flowers or a vegetable garden together. My family knows this is my absolute favorite thing to do together on Mother’s Day.
Token coordinating gift: a flat of flowers, a pretty vase, gardening gloves, Claritin
2. Go to the beach. If the weather is nice, pack a picnic and a Frisbee and head to the beach for some fun in the sun.
Token coordinating gift: personalized beach towel, Frisbee autographed by the family, beach bag
3. Surprise her with a future family vacation together. Plan a trip anywhere (overseas, an exotic island, the ski slopes, private boating trip or cruise, camping). She won’t care where you go as long as you’re together.
Token coordinating gift: passport wallet, sunscreen, ski gloves, tent, mess kit
4. Take a yoga or exercise class together. Sweat together, laugh together, and cry together when you are completely sore the next day.
Token coordinating gift: yoga mat, workout top, pretty water bottle, Advil
5. Have a group lunch/dinner date with your friends … and invite all their moms to join you! I just read this on Forbes and thought it was such a fantastic idea.
Token gift: tea, coffee, wine, flowers
6. Cook something together. There is no better place to spend time with Mom than in the kitchen sharing family recipes. (see below)
Token coordinating gift: heart shaped measuring spoons, a personalized platter, burn cream (Dare I admit I’ll need that last one)
7. Take a painting lesson together (or other craft). There is something very therapeutic and rewarding about making things with your own hands.
Token coordinating gift: paint supplies, knitting needles, crafting tools
8. Give her a day doing something she’s never done before. Who knows, maybe she’ll love skydiving, trapeze flying, riding in a helicopter, race-car driving, or hot-air ballooning.
Token coordinating gift: An engraved trophy, a plaque, a picture frame (Don’t forget to take the picture)
9. Go see a show together. Take her out on the town and head to concert, movie, comedy show, opera, ballet, theater or sporting event.
Token coordinating gift: emblem T-shirt, popcorn, ballet slippers, music CD from show
10. Give her a lifetime of memories. Buy her a Ken Kelly kitchen! OK. This one may be a bit extravagant.
Token coordinating gift: an outdoor kitchen, a spa bathroom
Happy Mother’s Day Everyone!
Strawberry Cheesecake
Ingredients List
For Cheesecake:
1 1/2 pounds cream cheese (3 packages of boxed)
1 package graham crackers crushed in food processor
3 eggs
1/4 cup sugar
1 Tablespoon Vanilla
1/3 cup softened margarine
1 Cup Sugar
1/3 tsp cinnamon
Fresh Strawberries 2 pints
For Graham Cracker Crust:
1 package graham crackers crushed
1/4 cup sugar
1/3 cup softened margarine
1/3 tsp cinnamon
Directions
For Graham Cracker Crust
Combine all ingredients in right column and spread in either a pie plate or preferably a 9 1/2 inch round pan. Bake the graham cracker crust for 8 minutes at 375 degrees and let cool. Then, pour in cheesecake batter (see below).
For Cheesecake
Combine all ingredients in left column and mix until combined and large lumps disappear. Place in graham cracker crust and bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.
For Strawberry Topping
With a fork, mash strawberries until soupy. Spread a thin layer of strawberry mix on top of cooled cheesecake with a spatula and serve.
Veal Cutlets in Wine
Ingredients List
2 pounds of veal cut in thin, even slices
3 beef bouillon cubes in 1 cup boiling water
flour
salt and pepper
4 tablespoons of butter
1 teaspoon ground thyme
1/2 cup red wine
Directions
Dust meat with flour. In a large skillet, heat butter and brown meat on both sides. Add bouillon, salt, pepper, and thyme. Cover skillet and simmer for 10 minutes. Add the wine and simmer 5 minutes longer. If gravy is too thin, remove meat to a side dish and boil down liquid to reduce, and return meat to pan cooking a minute longer to reheat meat. (Makes 6 servings)
Berry Royale
Ingredients List
1 package frozen strawberries
1 package frozen raspberries
Fat Free Cool Whip or Sour Cream
Directions
Cook in saucepan slowly, uncovered, for one hour or until mixture resembles a thick jam. Refrigerate. Serve with fat free cool whip or ff sour cream.
The best memories are made … in the kitchen!
