What can you do to make sure that you get the “gift” you prefer? Start talking to the people in your life. Let them know when you see an item you would like to have. Tell them how much you wish you had just a few hours to relax and read that romance novel you have had your eye on while drinking your favorite beverage. Mention that you might need your hair cut, colored and styled or that you wish you had time for a manicure, pedicure and facial. The people around you will start to pick up on your hints and when the time comes they will have  a slew of ideas for your Mother’s Day gift and you’ll be pleased when you get it because you have given them all of the ideas.

It is the same thing with food. Would you prefer a quiet meal at home or do you have your eye on a particular restaurant for your Mother’s Day dinner? Given the fact that Mother’s Day is one of the busiest days of the year for restaurants, it is important to make reservations in advance so make sure that the person in charge of choosing your present knows your wishes early – hint, hint, hint!

When it comes down to the nitty-gritty, mom, you will be just that on Mother’s Day – the mom that is honored on her special day. You will appreciate the cards, the gifts, the food and your friends and family for taking the time to spend the day with you. But, a mom can dream, can’t she?

What You Need:

1 (8 oz.) container sour cream

2 T onion soup mix

1 1/2 C seasoned bread crumbs

2 1/2 lbs. frozen fish fillets, thawed

1/4 C butter, melted

1/2 C Parmesan cheese, shredded

How to Make It:

Set the oven temperature to 425 degrees and allow the oven to preheat.

Place the sour cream into a small mixing bowl.

Sprinkle the soup mix in with the sour cream and blend together well.

Place the bread crumbs into a shallow bowl.

Cut the fish fillets into serving size pieces.

Coat the fish pieces with the sour cream mixture.

Roll the coated pieces through the bread crumbs covering them well.

Spray a 13X9 baking dish on the bottom only with a non stick cooking spray.

Place the coated fish pieces into the prepared baking dish.

Trickle the melted butter over the top of all the fish.

Bake in the uncovered pan for 12 minutes.

Sprinkle the fish with the Parmesan cheese.

Return to the oven and continue baking 5 minutes or until the fish flakes easily with a fork.

Makes 8 servings

Preparation time:  approximately 12 minutes

Baking time:  approximately 17 minutes

Total time:  approximately 29 minutes

If Mom likes fish she is sure to love this dish.  If fresh fish fillets are available they can be used in place of the frozen fish.  Add a salad and a nice dessert and enjoy.

Mom, this is your holiday. They even named it after you when they called it Mother’s Day. So, how would you like to spend your day? Would you prefer breakfast in bed served by your loving children? Or do you long for some quiet time all to your self? If you have a definite idea in your head of what you would like to do on this day dedicated to Mother’s then make sure to let your loved ones know. Believe me, your family wants to give you exactly what you are wishing for so leaving hints for them will be welcome.

While you as a  mom are always appreciative of the efforts of their loved ones, there are times when the gift you receive on Mother’s Day takes the wind out of your sails. Especially, when you really want something like the gift of  time with your immediate family time and instead you receive a large party celebrating your day. Not that you don’t appreciate the effort, you just had a different idea of how you wanted to spend your day.

What You Need:

1 C of mayonnaise

1 (8 oz.) container of sour cream

3 lb. boneless and skinless chicken breasts, cooked and cubed

1 C of celery, diced

1 C of seedless grapes, quartered

1/4 t salt

1/4 t pepper

How to Make It:

Place the mayonnaise into a small bowl.

Fold the sour cream into the mayonnaise until well combined.

In a larger bowl place the chicken, celery and grapes.

Fold the mayonnaise mixture into the chicken mixture and blend until completely covered.

Sprinkle in the salt and pepper and stir to combine well.

Chill for at least 1 hour before serving, being sure to stir again after removing from the refrigerator.

Makes 12 servings

Preparation time:  approximately 30 minutes

Chill time:  approximately 1 hour

Total time:  approximately 1 hour 30 minutes

Place a T of this chicken salad on homemade biscuits and serve it to Mom for her lunch.  Add a bouquet of flowers and a card and she will know just how much you truly appreciate her. 

What would a tea party be without perfect tea?

Instructions for Brewing a “Proper” Pot of Tea

Here’s How:

• Fill a tea pot with tap water to warm it up prior to adding tea leaves and boiling water.
• Fill tea kettle with fresh, cold, non-distilled water.
• Place kettle on stove and bring to boil.
• Just before kettle begins to boil, pour water from tea pot and add one teaspoon tea leaves per cup to pot, plus an additional teaspoon for the pot.
• Remove kettle from heat right after it comes to a boil and pour 6 ounces per cup into tea pot.
• Let tea steep 3 – 7 minutes depending on desired strength.
• While tea steeps, ask a friend to “do the honors” by serving the tea to your other guests.
• Add cold, whole milk, or lemon to tea cups depending on preference of guests.
• Pour tea into cups using a strainer to catch loose leaves.

Tea Brewing Tips:

• Use a ceramic tea pot rather than metal. Metal can affect the taste of the tea and will cool the water more quickly.
• Keep boiling water available for second cups and to dilute tea that becomes strong while sitting in tea pot. Rinse out the tea kettle and start with fresh, cold tap water. Never boil anything but water in your tea kettle.
• Bring the water to its first rolling boil. Never over boil. Over boiling takes the oxygen out of the water, which in turn creates a flat beverage.
• Take the teapot to the tea kettle and rinse out the pot with the boiling water from the kettle. Never take the kettle to the teapot, as you lose one degree of heat per second. Water for tea should be 212 degrees.
• Use one teabag or teaspoon of loose tea per cup. Leaves enter the warm teapot and the infusion begins when the leaf opens.
• Allow the tea to brew for three to five minutes, according to the blend of tea and how strong you like it.

By purchasing tea sampler boxes everyone will be able to choose their favorite. If you’ll be serving iced tea additions like peach, raspberry, cranberry or lemon can be a refreshing change from plain old sweet tea.

If you’re looking for a change of pace or want to start a new tradition this Mother’s Day consider a tea party.

What You Need:

1 C Romaine lettuce, rinsed and dried

1 bunch of fresh watercress, rinsed, dried and stemmed

1 ripe avocado, peeled and sliced

1 navel orange, peeled and sliced

1 mango, peeled and sliced

1 t lime juice

1 t cilantro

1/2 t salt

1/4 t pepper

1/3 C extra virgin olive oil, divided

1/2 lb. extra large shrimp, peeled and deveined

How to Make It:

Place the lettuce into a mixing bowl.

Add the watercress and toss to combine well.

Place the avocado, orange and mango slices into the bowl.

Place the lime juice into a jar with a tight fitting lid.

Add the cilantro, salt and pepper to the lime juice.

Pour 1/4 C of the olive oil into the jar.

Tighten the lid and shake until the ingredients are well combined.

Pour the remaining oil into a skillet placed over medium high heat.

Add the shrimp and cook, stirring often for 3 minutes or until the shrimp are a bright red in color.

Turn off the heat under the skillet.

Pour the dressing into the skillet and stir to cover the shrimp well.

Let the mixture set in the skillet for 5 minutes or until warmed through.

Spoon the shrimp over the salad and fruit mixture.

Pour the remaining dressing from the skillet over the salad.

Makes 2 servings

Preparation time:  approximately 15 minutes

Cooking time:  approximately 8 minutes

Total time:  approximately 23 minutes

When heating the salad dressing in the skillet do not let it boil.  Boiling the dressing will cause it to become too hot.  When poured over the salad it will cook the fruit and lettuce causing them to wilt.  It will also cause the dressing to separate.  Canned watercress, drained may be used instead of fresh if you prefer.

With Mother’s Day fast approaching now is the time to start planning your special activities for the day. If you’ve never considered holding a Mother Daughter Tea for family, friends or even the ladies in your church group, here are a few ideas to consider you started.

Usually, simple is better, easier and more elegant. After deciding on your theme just add tea bags, hot water, lemonade and a few finger foods and you are ready to host a well planned tea party. If you don’t have a full tea set sitting around, you can find some very nice cups, saucers and tea pots in places like Goodwill or other thrift stores for very little money. You could also borrow them from your friends or, should you decide to make this an annual tradition, everyone could bring their own special cup just for the occasion.

Here are three tea themes perfect for moms and daughters of all ages. Choose one of these or create one of your own to make this Mother’s Day even more special. 

• Mother/Daughter – This can be a special time for moms with grown up daughters. Simple decorations with a simple flower arrangement to grace the table alongside tea cups and saucers can be pleasing to the eye as well the heart. Finger sandwiches, cookies and scones finish the menu. For a special treat, have the mothers and daughters write a note or letter to each other sharing how much they are appreciated.

• Mommy & Me – For moms of younger girls this theme would be really cute if the moms came elegantly dressed and the girls were able to rummage through a trunk with donated dresses, shoes, gloves and jewelry so they could look just like mom. Include cookies or simple finger foods along with lemonade, punch or hot chocolate for those that prefer it over tea. Have the invitations ask the children to bring a stuffed animal guest to share the table. Think about the tea parties you hosted as a child and let your imagination run wild.

• Beach Time Tea – With Mother’s Day being celebrated in May, just prior to the official summer season, why not take the opportunity to serve flavored iced tea instead? Use iced tea glasses instead of tea cups and serve typical summer appetizers. Have everyone dress in straw hats, sunglasses and flip-flops or sandals in anticipation of the warmer weather.

What You Need:

1/2 C of mayonnaise

2 t curry powder

1 lb. ground turkey breast

2 oz feta cheese with basil and tomato, crumbled

1/2 t salt

4 pita flat bread

8 red onion slices

8 spinach leaves

How to Make It:

Set the broiler to preheat.

Place the mayonnaise into a small mixing bowl.

Add the curry powder and mix until blended together well.

Place the ground turkey into a large mixing bowl.

Add 2 T of the mayonnaise mixture.

Sprinkle in the feta cheese.

Add the salt and mix until all the ingredients are well combined.

Make into 4 patties.

Place the patties on the rack of a broiler pan.

Broil 4 inches from the heat for 12 minutes being sure to turn the burger half way through the cooking time.

Spread the remaining mayonnaise mixture onto the pita bread slices.

Place a patty onto one side of the pita bread.

Add 2 slices of onion and 2 spinach leaves on top of the burger.

Fold the pita over the top of the burger.

Makes 4 servings

Preparation time:  approximately 10 minutes

Cooking time:  approximately 12 minutes

Total time:  approximately 22 minutes

Mom will love these new style burgers.  Add some fried potatoes and a fruit salad and you have the making for a perfect Mother’s Day lunch. 

Handmade Gifts – Anything made by hand is sure to be loved by your mother and a handmade gift could be anything your precious hands can create from her favorite desert to a new sweater or quilt. If your not exactly the crafty type, keep in mind that “hand made” might not even have to be “made by your hand.” If your mom likes hand crafted items or maybe you have recently been to a craft fair and your mother has shown interest in a specific item you could purchase it for her as a surprise.

Help Her With Chores – There are a ton of things that your mom might appreciate help with.  Some things that come easily to mind:

• Gardening- mow the yard, weed the garden or help plant flowers and shrubs
• DIY – houses are in constant need of care. Maybe you could visit your mom’s house and make a list of everything that needs to be done from painting to helping with remodeling. Make a seasonal checklist and help your mom make sure her house is ready for each season
• Wash Windows – this is probably her least favorite job anyway so why not help her out by bringing your cleaning solution, buckets, rags and squeegee and get those windows spotless and squeaky clean
• Wash Her Car – clean and vacuum it out, too. A clean car just makes you feel good.

Pamper Her – Call her favorite hair stylist and make an appointment for a cut and style. Then make an appointment for a manicure, pedicure and facial. Be her chauffeur for the day and take her out to lunch, too.

With a little effort and planning you could show your mother how special she really is to you and make this Mother’s Day one your mother will never forget.

What You Need:

1 1/2 C quick cooking rolled oats

1 C + 2 T of flour, divided

3/4 C brown sugar, packed

3/4 C butter

1/4 C sugar

1/2 t + 1/4 t ground ginger, divided

2 C fresh strawberries, sliced

3/4 C powdered sugar

3 t apricot nectar

How to Make It:

Set the oven temperature at 350 degrees and allow the oven to preheat.

Line an 8X8 pan with foil extending the foil over the edges of the pan.

Place the oats into a mixing bowl.

Add 1 C of the flour and the brown sugar and toss to combine.

Use a pastry blender and cut in the butter until the mixture resembles small peas.

Remove 1 C of the mixture and set aside.

Press the remaining oat mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan.

Bake 25 minutes or until nicely browned.

Place the sugar in a mixing bowl.

Add the 2 T of flour and 1/2 t of the ground ginger.

Stir in the strawberry slices until well coated.

Spread the strawberry mixture over the hot crust.

Sprinkle the top evenly with the reserved crust mixture.

Return to the oven and bake 32 minutes or until the topping has turned a golden brown and the filling is bubbly around the edges.

Remove and place on a wire rack to cool completely.

Sift the powdered sugar into a large bowl.

Add the remaining ginger and the apricot nectar and stir until blended together well.

Drizzle the icing over the top of the streusel bars before cutting.

Makes 16 bars

Preparation Time:  approximately 25 minutes

Baking Time:  approximately 57 minutes

Cooling Time:  2 hours

Mom will love having one of these tasty bars for breakfast, a snack or even as her Mother’s Day dinner dessert.  If she’s not fond of strawberries try blueberries, raspberries or rhubarb instead.