What Mom Really Wants (the perfect gift - you'll be surprised)
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Make Your Mom Happy and Save Money
I'm about to let you in on the secret of what mothers really want. You moms might want to print this and leave it somewhere to be discovered by your loved ones (the bathroom seems like a good spot).
It's a Good Time to Save Money
With the current economic climate, many of us are hesitant or unable to splurge on an expensive gift for Mom. The good news is that your mom probably doesn't want or need that crystal vase, or those pretty-smelling bath salts, or even a big bouquet of roses. And, with a few exceptions, we DO NOT want cute stuffed animals. It doesn't really require a whole lot of thought to go out and buy whatever is being advertised. Grab a card, buy the gift and you're done. But what if you could make your mom even happier and save money at the same time?The best gifts often cost little or nothing, but they require some thought and effort on your part. Here is my list of what I would like, and I'll bet a lot of other moms want the very same things.
1. Mom Wants Someone Else to Do the Cooking
This doesn't necessarily mean going out to a restaurant. Of course, going out is nice, but it's a special treat when a loved one cooks for you. And you can save a ton of money. It can be simple or a multi-course meal; I don't care. You can make spaghetti with sauce out of a jar as long as I don't have to cook it, serve it or clean up after it. You get extra points if you take the time to find out Mom's favorite food. Don't use paper towels;get out some real napkins, even if they are paper. Moms are so impressed when you make a fuss over them. Light a candle, steal a few of the neighbor's flowers for a nice centerpiece. If you love to cook, you don't need to read the rest of this section. Otherwise, read on for some good meal ideas. Please remember to clean up the kitchen afterwards. How to Set a Table
Here are some meal plans that you might want to try as a special surprise for Mom. Keep your skill level in mind; make something that you know will be successful.
Simple Brunch
Scrambled Eggs (How to Make Scrambled Eggs)
Bacon or Ham or Sausage
Biscuits (home-made or from the store)
Strawberries (dipped in chocolate?)
Coffee
A Little Fancier Brunch
Quiche (make it yourself or get it frozen or fresh at the supermarket)
Fruit Salad
Rolls (Make your own yeast rolls or bake those pop-em-open cinnamon rolls that come in a tube)
Mom's Favorite Juice
Coffee
Simple Supper
Chicken Caesar Salad
Loaf of French Bread from the Bakery
Wine, or Iced Tea, or whatever Mom likes to drink
Mom's Favorite Ice Cream for Dessert
Fresh Italian Dinner
Pasta Primavera
Tossed Salad
Bread Sticks (Make or buy)
Beverage
Fresh Fruit for Dessert
South-of-the-Border Dinner
Chicken Enchiladas Suizas
Mexican Coleslaw
Tortilla Chips and Salsa
Fried Ice Cream
Marguaritas or Limeade
If you really don't know how to cook:
Frozen lasagna (yes, you still have to put it in the oven)
Order a pizza
Order Mom's favorite takeout
Can you cook on a grill?
Take Mom for a picnic, and pick up sandwiches at the deli.
Don't worry; Mom won't judge your cooking. She'll just be thrilled that you were willing to make the effort.
Recipes for South-of-the-Border Dinner for Mom
Chicken Enchiladas Suizas
6 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves1 tablespoon butter
1 cup chopped onion
1 green bell pepper, seeded and chopped
8 oz. grated cheddar cheese
1 4-oz. can diced green chiles
1 cup purchased green chile salsa
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
4 teaspoons ground cumin
salt and black pepper
12 to 15 7-inch flour tortillas
10 oz. Monterey Jack cheese, grated
1 cup whipping cream
1/2 cup chicken broth
Garnish:
chopped avocado
chopped tomato
chopped fresh cilantro
Place chicken in pan of boiling water to cover, and simmer 15-20 minutes. Remove from heat, drain, cool, and shred chicken. In skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Cook onion and bell peppers until just soft, 5-8 minutes. Transfer to large bowl. Add chicken, cheddar cheese, green chiles, salsa, cilantro, and cumin. Season with salt and pepper to taste and mix well.
Note: you can do this much a day ahead and store in the fridge. It's pretty tasty just as is without the rest of the recipe, but since you're making a special dinner, read on.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 10x15x2-inch baking pan or 2 smaller pans. Place 1 flour tortilla on flat surface and place about 1/3 cup chicken mixture along 1 edge. Roll up from filling side, and place, seam side down, in prepared pan. Repeat process with remaining chicken mixture. Sprinkle Monterey Jack over enchiladas.
Combine cream and chicken broth and pour over enchiladas. Cover pan with foil and bake 30 minutes. Remove foil and continue baking 10 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Garnish individual servings with avocado, tomato and cilantro, if desired.
Mexican Coleslaw
1/2 to 3/4 cup garlic vinaigrette salad dressing16 oz. bag of shredded cabbage for coleslaw
1 15 oz. can whole kernel corn, drained
1 15 oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and diced
1 large tomato, diced
1 red pepper, seeded and diced
1/2 cup fresh cilantro
Mix all ingredients together and serve.
If You Can Afford to Spend More
If you happen to have the extra cash on hand, there are a number of options other than just taking Mom out to a restaurant. You can hire a private chef (find one now) to come to your house and cook or deliver the meal to you (cooked or ready-to-cook). Many grocery stores today have gourmet sections with an astonishing variety of yummy treats like tapenades, pestos and fancy olives. I would be thrilled to have a meal made up entirely of dips and sauces and other things from the gourmet section. To go with them, I would like a nice crusty bread, some vegetables and some fruit, please. Some Good Sites for Finding Recipes
- Allrecipes.com
- This is my absolute favorite place to go for recipes. You can do specialized searches to find what you want, and every recipe is rated by people who have tried it. I look for those recipes that have 5 stars and lots of good reviews.
- Food Network
- Lots of different recipes and styles from your favorite TV chefs.
- Recipe Source
- Especially good for finding regional and ethnic recipes.
- Epicurious
- Recipes from Gourmet and Bon Appetit Magazines.
2. Mom Wants Someone Else to Clean the House
or wash the car
Mom loves you, but she doesn't love your mess. Surprise her by cleaning your bedroom (get tips here) without being told. Or the bathroom. Or any room. We are so grateful when kids and spouses clean without being told (and told and told). Your mom is likely to do a spontaneous Happy Dance when she discovers your good deed. If You Want to Spend More
Hire someone to clean the entire house. Hire professional organizers (find one here) to clean up the closets and the garage. DO NOT give your mother a vacuum cleaner, even if she asks for one. A vacuum cleaner is never a gift. If she wants or needs a new vacuum, give her one, but it doesn't count as a gift. 
Photo courtesy of Emily Roesly
Cool Things for Mom that Cost Money
Conversations with My Mother: A Keepsake Journal for Celebrating a Lifetime of Stories (AARP)
Amazon Price: $9.95 (as of 07/11/2009)
Do You eBay?
See what's up for auction today
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Things I'd Love You to Know: A Journal for Mothers and Daughters
Amazon Price: $12.44 (as of 07/11/2009)
3. Mom Wants Back Rubs and Foot Rubs
If You Want to Spend More
If you know for a fact that your mom wants body products, go ahead, but make it something really special.
4. Mom Wants Some Peace and Quiet (especially the peace part)
Kids, I know this will be a tough one, but make a contract that you and your siblings won't bicker, quibble, hit, push, insult, argue, gripe......with each other for a whole week. Better yet, make it a month. And each of you has to sign the contract. If you pull it off, your mom will be the happiest woman in the whole world. And if she's in a good mood, she's more likely to let you have that new video game you've been wanting. Helpful tips for getting along If You Want to Spend More
![mother's day by dan [durango99]](http://static.flickr.com/230/496717363_8c18f21771_s.jpg)
![A Mother's Kiss [123/365] by Lab2112](http://static.flickr.com/189/483370376_a20b18f563_s.jpg)
5. Mom Likes Mushy Stuff If It's from the Heart
Make a list of the "Ten Best Things About Mom." Put it in a frame and give it to her. Better yet, send it as a letter to the editor to your local newspaper.
Here's a nice journal
Blank Journal: Sunrise
Amazon Price: (as of 07/11/2009)
6. Mom Wants Chocolate
You didn't think I would leave this out of the list, did you? Chocolate is always appropriate, unless Mom has specifically nixed the idea. The inexpensive, yet perfect way to give Mom chocolate is to make it yourself. Truffles, I mean. Simple, endlessly variable, and oh so good. Truffles are incredibly easy to make. Here's one good recipe. Good quality chocolate will make a big difference here, so splurge a little if you can.Basic Truffles
from allrecipes.com
INGREDIENTS
12 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
1/3 cup heavy cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
DIRECTIONS
In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine chocolate and cream. Cook, stirring, until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth. Remove from heat and whisk in flavoring. Pour into a small dish and refrigerate until set, but not hard, 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Use to fill candies or form balls and roll in toppings.
You can roll these in powdered sugar, cocoa, crushed nuts, sprinkles, or anything else that makes you really happy.
To dress them up, add 1-3 teaspoons of additional flavoring to the truffle mixture. Try Kahlua or other liqueurs. A little grated orange zest is good. Just be careful not to make it too liquidy, or you'll end up with gooey truffles (not the end of the world; you just have to eat it with a spoon).
Wonderful, Wonderful Chocolate
2.2 Pounds of Chocolate Truffles - French Truffles - 1 Box - Great Christmas Gift!
Avg. Customer Rating: 
Amazon Price: $45.00 (as of 07/11/2009)
Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Leonidas Belgian Chocolates: 1 lb General Chocolate Assortment
Avg. Customer Rating: 
Amazon Price: $36.00 (as of 07/11/2009)
Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Leonidas Belgian Chocolates: 1.50 lb Signature Dark Chocolates Assortment
Avg. Customer Rating: 
Amazon Price: $54.00 (as of 07/11/2009)
Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Crispy Nut & Chewy Chocolate Assortment 2 Lb.
Avg. Customer Rating: 
Amazon Price: (as of 07/11/2009)
7. Mom Wants Things for her Hobbies
This is the catch-all category for other things to give your Mom. Once again, the secret is to put some thought into it. Does Mom garden? Has she been thinking about some new kind of flower or bush to plant? Ask her. Is Mom rabidly fond (isn't that an interesting pair of words?) romance novels? Give her a membership to the Romance Book of the Month Club. Does she weave? Find out what gadget or new yarn she might like. You get the idea. More Moms on Squidoo
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Now Go To It
What's the Best Gift You've Ever Gotten or Given?
But this is not the end. Keep reading below for a lot more suggestions!
CoolFoto wrote...
Great lens to lensroll to my mother and grandmother gifts www.squidoo.com/holidayshop. Thanks.
Posted November 23, 2008
oknowgo wrote...
I've had the Chicken Enchiladas and they are awesome. You have got to try them! Awesome lense as always darling. I finally got the time to read it and you are 100% correct. Cooking is an act of love. My son made my favorite for me... blueberry pancakes. The raw pancake batter and blueberries in the middle gave it a nice zing. That's love!
Posted July 20, 2008
Gandree wrote...
Hi, It's nice that you not only gave the suggestion but followed through with recipes. Great idea!
Posted May 19, 2008
mjrinella wrote...
Whoops, didn't notice the content below the guestbook!
You did a good job with the amazon modules! I would just suggest moving the guestbook to the bottom of the page :)
Posted May 17, 2008
mjrinella wrote...
Nice lens, I wish I found this before mother's day!
I was expecting tons of amazon modules, but this was a pleasant surprise. However, if you would like, this lens does lend itself well to amazon modules. I would suggest highlighting one, just for some potential income.
5*!
Posted May 17, 2008
jrs1013 wrote...
Awesome lens...going to try that recipe...will favorite it so I can come back to it...thanks!
Posted May 14, 2008
LDWorld wrote...
You are so right. It was actually an anniversary gift our 10 year old daughter gave to us, but I would appreciate it the same way on Mothers Day. She cleaned up the kitchen perfectly, made cookies from scratch and set up the table with beautiful candles and flowers. It was definitely the best gift from kids we've ever had
Liliya
Posted May 12, 2008
utradesports wrote...
Hello, great lens. I think that I added yours to my featured. Given you 5/5^
Posted May 07, 2008
Truly the Most Important Thing
Let your mom know that you really do appreciate everything that she does for you.
I Love to Read Your Messages!
Leave feedback or suggestions, or just say hi.
Please take the time to rate this lens using the stars at the top of the page.
dannystaple wrote...
Hi there, this is an awesome lens. Once for mothers day, although I could not be there, I gave my mother "vouchers" which translated into favours similar to those above from those around her. I did favours for those around her so it all worked out evenly. She loved the idea. I am going to place this lens on the links in my frugal lens Food Prices and The Credit Crunch
Posted August 27, 2008
LDWorld wrote...
Great lens! So true and so simple.
Check out my new lens for moms - tips on all natural products, harmful ingredients issue and more...
Liliya
Posted May 12, 2008
KimGiancaterino wrote...
Great lens, and a Squid Angel Blessing for you on Mother's Day. I love the part about stealing the neighbor's flowers!
Posted May 11, 2008
JasonE wrote...
Thank you for providing these great Mother's Day ideas, Bee! We actually did something like the "A Little Fancier Mother's Day Brunch" (as you described above) for my mother. (We later took my mother-in-law out to dinner and went back to her house for pie.) Most importantly, we were able to spend time with family members with whom we often don't spend a lot of quality time.
Posted May 11, 2008
