Mom Kitchen

Five Christmas Gifts For Your Mom
By Richard Mas

In this article, we will take a look at great Christmas Gifts for your Mom. She birthed you, she raised you, and she contributed to the person that you are today. This year, get an outstanding Christmas gift for your mother, the most important woman in your life.

Mothers and fathers too often get overlooked during the Holiday Season. Our traditional imagery of Christmas is kids waiting anxiously to open their Christmas presents that lay in wait under the tree. We also think of Christmas as the best time of the year for the family, the one time of the year when we all get together as family to celebrate.

Well, quite literally, none of this family would exist without the mothers and fathers who made this happen. These mothers and fathers, though they cherish this time for the kids, love to be honored during this special family time. Let's take a look at what we can get our mothers to show our appreciation.

Our first chosen gift is a personal one. Last year, my mother had seen a digital photo frame at her friends house and was in awe. She loved the idea of hundreds of family photos being seen throughout the day. We purchased my mother one of these digital photo frames for her birthday and she just loved it. The key with this gift is to load up all of the pictures for your mother ahead of time so that she does not have to do anything.

The second gift is a complimentary one to the first. After your mom sees all of the pictures in the digital photo frame, she will want to load up even more pictures of the holiday season. For this, she will need a new digital camera. Remember, your mom may not be technically savvy so get her one with a big screen that is easy to operate. Consider the best point and shoot digital cameras as they are easy to use and take great pictures.

Many moms love to spend a lot of time in the kitchen and relish any tasks that make their food preparation easier, their serving options more plentiful, or their food taste better. Options abound in the kitchen arena. From waffle irons to the best coffee makers, there is something for the kitchen that your mom will love.

You can also find great gifts that let your mom be a woman.

We often think of jewelry as a gift from husband to wife or boyfriend to girlfriend, but Mom's love to receive jewelry from their children. There are many different styles and types for children to give to their mothers. You may want to find a special stone with personal meaning that your mom will love. Watches also make great adornments for mothers. You can find amazing deals on women's watches at a watch store online.

Finally, gifts that all mothers enjoy are beauty and style products. If your mom likes to pamper herself, consider a set of bath oils so she can completely relax herself after the holidays. And after the bath, she can wash herself in a new fragrance that she received for Christmas.

Mom Kitchen

2009 Christmas Gift Ideas For Mom
By Jim Lucas




Are you running out of Christmas Gift Ideas For Mom this year? Well, you shouldn't be since the holiday is already upcoming. No worries though because there's something to rescue you. You have two ways to approach such concern. That is, provide her the most common traditional Christmas gifts that people used to give their moms with just like perfume, bathrobe, or a kitchen gadget, or give her something unusual that will surely surprise her.

It is observed that moms would normally love getting those above mentioned traditional gifts for the holidays probably because that's what they're used to receive and those are the gifts that anyone can easily figure out for their moms too.

It is never wrong to give such traditional gifts but perhaps you can put a little variation in it. For instance, when you buy perfume for her, don't just buy a single fragrance, instead purchase a gift set that has that fragrance and an additional bath and body items to enhance herself too. Jewelry might also be included when you buy these perfume gift sets. On the other hand, you can also choose to buy a luxurious bathrobe with plush microfiber for her or that which has a terrycloth robe. When it comes to the kitchen wares, you can either buy a programmable slow cooker or a standing mixer that will lighten her works.

For your 2009 Christmas Gift Ideas For Mom, you should start giving out that unique and more surprising things to her instead of sticking to the traditional ones. Why don't you wrap that technical gadget for her instead of her giving that to someone else?

An example for this is a portable vehicle GPS system that she can use so that wherever she goes, she won't get lost. If not, you can upgrade her buy switching her to HDTV and Blu Ray Technology which will provide her access to her favorite shows in high definition. You can then provide her a gift certificate that will give her the freedom to order her favorite Blu Ray discs. Another thing is the Kindle As Christmas Gift. Your mom will surely love this device especially if she's an avid reader.



With all these choices, finding the best gift for mom should no longer be a burden. It shouldn't also have to stick to the same, old boring routine that she usually gets. Although the traditional ones is what she will often expect, it would still be good thing for you to know that you can go the extra miles in choosing a gift for your mom.

Moms Kitchen

2009 Christmas Gift Ideas For Mom
By Jim Lucas


Are you running out of Christmas Gift Ideas For Mom this year? Well, you shouldn't be since the holiday is already upcoming. No worries though because there's something to rescue you. You have two ways to approach such concern. That is, provide her the most common traditional Christmas gifts that people used to give their moms with just like perfume, bathrobe, or a kitchen gadget, or give her something unusual that will surely surprise her.


It is observed that moms would normally love getting those above mentioned traditional gifts for the holidays probably because that's what they're used to receive and those are the gifts that anyone can easily figure out for their moms too.

It is never wrong to give such traditional gifts but perhaps you can put a little variation in it. For instance, when you buy perfume for her, don't just buy a single fragrance, instead purchase a gift set that has that fragrance and an additional bath and body items to enhance herself too. Jewelry might also be included when you buy these perfume gift sets. On the other hand, you can also choose to buy a luxurious bathrobe with plush microfiber for her or that which has a terrycloth robe. When it comes to the kitchen wares, you can either buy a programmable slow cooker or a standing mixer that will lighten her works.


For your 2009 Christmas Gift Ideas For Mom, you should start giving out that unique and more surprising things to her instead of sticking to the traditional ones. Why don't you wrap that technical gadget for her instead of her giving that to someone else?

An example for this is a portable vehicle GPS system that she can use so that wherever she goes, she won't get lost. If not, you can upgrade her buy switching her to HDTV and Blu Ray Technology which will provide her access to her favorite shows in high definition. You can then provide her a gift certificate that will give her the freedom to order her favorite Blu Ray discs. Another thing is the Kindle As Christmas Gift. Your mom will surely love this device especially if she's an avid reader.


With all these choices, finding the best gift for mom should no longer be a burden. It shouldn't also have to stick to the same, old boring routine that she usually gets. Although the traditional ones is what she will often expect, it would still be good thing for you to know that you can go the extra miles in choosing a gift for your mom.

Mom Kitchen

Sauce Emergencies Creamed, Substitutions For Milk, Buttermilk, Whipping Cream, Cornstarch, Arrowroot
By Laura Zinkan




When it is crunch time in the kitchen, running out of a crucial ingredient is no picnic. Neither is running out to the store at midnight. If you are missing an ingredient knowing its "equivalent" or substitution can save the day. Adapting recipes from antique cookbooks can also cause confusion. What is arrowroot and must I consult a wizard? Today, Mom helps cooks with tips on milk, cream and other sauce thickeners.





Milk: If you do not have one cup of fresh milk substitute 1/2 cup of evaporated mile plus 1/2 cup of water. Or follow the directions on a box of powdered milk. It's a good idea to have a can of evaporated milk handy for emergencies. If you don't use it during holiday baking, keep it for your other emergency kit.

Buttermilk: Also called sour milk, is used to give recipes a little zip. Substitute 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar plus enough whole milk to make 1 cup (let stand 5 minutes before using), OR use 1 cup whole milk plus 1 3/4 teaspoons cream of tartar OR use 1 cup of plain yogurt.

Whipping Cream: Whipped cream from scratch is worth the work. If time is not on your side, just use frozen dessert topping. 1 cup whipping cream equals 2 cups dessert topping.

Light Cream: if you do not have 1 cup of light cream use 1 cup minus 2 tablespoons of milk plus 2 tablespoons of butter.

Cornstarch: Great for thickening sauces; if you do not have 1 tablespoon of cornstarch use 2 tablespoons of flour. Always dissolve it in a little water, broth or juice before you add it to your sauce to avoid lumps.

Arrowroot: Not a mystical ingredient but another thickening agent for sauces and soups. Substitute 2 tablespoons of regular flour or 1 tablespoon of cornstarch for one tablespoon of arrowroot. If you decide your sauce still isn't thick enough, you can always add more. Dissolve in water or broth for easier mixing.

As a general rule if you are baking in the oven, you must follow the recipe as closely as possible. Not only do your ingredients add flavor, they also serve a specific function like making your bread rise, or binding ingredients together. If you are using milk or cream in a sauce, you have more flexibility. For example, if you are making gravy, a splash of milk instead of cream is fine. The fat content should only effect the flavor of your sauce, not the final product.

Food For diabetics

Wholesome Sweetener's Organic Raw Blue Agave Review
By Erika Ayala




When my mother got diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, she never ran out of stock of Wholesome Sweeteners Organic Raw Blue Agave in her kitchen cupboard. I had been wondering for the longest time on the reason behind this and the more research I do on this product the more I grew fond of it. I finally decided to raid my mother's kitchen cupboard, got a bottle of the organic raw blue agave and gave it a try.



I made up my mind that the first thing I would try the product on would be on my usual morning coffee. Afraid that it would ruin the taste of my coffee I only put a few drops of it and took my first sip. I was not disappointed. The few drops did not affect the taste of my coffee at all, no overwhelming flavor that most sweeteners have.

Next, I tried it in my tea and it perfectly blended well with my beloved tea that it made me decided that my usual pancakes would taste better with it. It lived up to my expectation and more. In two weeks, I was able to finish the whole bottle of blue agave that I took without permission from my mom's kitchen cupboard.

I went to my mom's house to take another bottle but asked permission from her first. She willingly gave me a bottle of it but said that it will be the last one from her and I would have to buy my own since she knew how hooked I was already. I did and I have been ordering Wholesome Sweeteners Organic Raw Blue Agave ever since.

Mom Kitchen

How To Get Banned From the Kitchen With Popcorn Eggs - A Mom's Secret to Never Cooking Again
By Lori Wilk



First, this cooking recipe is only for people who are busy, too busy to stand in the kitchen while the stove is on and watch the food cook. This recipe is for those who like to get the meal started and walk away and do other chores.

First take the eggs out of the refrigerator, place in a pot of water on the stove, put on the stove, turn on the flame and leave the room. Do something such as make phone calls, answer e-mails, do your nails.

When you start to hear the sound of popping, it's definitely time to go into the kitchen and check on your lovely eggs. The popping sound will only happen when the eggs have been on the stove long enough to have allowed the water to boil out of the pot. Therefore, when there's no water left in the pot, the eggs will start popping and fly like projectiles around your kitchen, most likely landing on walls, the ceiling, the floor, or aimed at you if you're in the kitchen when popping finally occurs.




This is not only messy, it's distinctively smelly... Okay, I'm only kidding about this being a good idea. The first time I made popcorn eggs I was permanently banned by my husband from the kitchen and he insists on making all of the meals....

I hope you enjoyed my recipe and kitchen tips and I'm more than happy to share with you my recipes for squash pancakes, pasta for the pets, and french onion soup.

Mom Kitchen

Mom's Kitchen: A Mother's Day Gift of Recipes and Recollections
By Ann Zuccardy Ann Zuccardy
Level: Platinum




Ah, Mother's Day. Remember when you were small, and Mom was everything? Back then, your world revolved around the music of Mom's voice... the padding of her footsteps, and savory aromas wafting from her kitchen, permeating the house with the promise of delicious things to come.

Remember rainy afternoons, and Mom's golden grilled cheese with a thick slab of red-ripe garden tomato? Or how about the Spaghetti-Os that Mom said had "no nutritional value," but even so you could always count on Wednesday mornings with Mom ladling warm spoonfuls into your plastic Thermos before popping the cup-top into place and sending you off to school. Remember gooey chocolate birthday cakes that Mom baked and frosted herself, and would later scrub off your cheeks and chin with the corner of her dinner napkin? You never could figure out how those crumbs got there, but Mom could spot a chocolate cake mishap from a mile away.

We all have our own distinct memories of life and meals in Mom's kitchen... the recipes that as a child maybe you didn't care for one way or the other, but then you came home from college and suddenly all you wanted more than anything in the world was a plate piled high with Mom's pot roast, carrots and mashed potatoes. So this Mother's Day, instead of picking up a last-minute gift at the jewelry cart in the mall or grabbing a potted plant at the nursery down the road... why not gift-wrap some of those cherished recipes and recollections that you and your brothers and sisters grew up with. Give Mom a taste of yesterday. Create a book of favorite family recipes and memoirs from Mom's Kitchen.

There are no hard and fast rules for creating a memento of this kind. Your Mother's Day cookbook can be whatever you'd like it to be. If arts and crafts is your cup of tea, pick up a brightly colored photo album at the local craft store, one that you can hand-print personal stories right onto the pages and fill with photos from your childhood. If you're graphically gifted, create your cookbook on the computer. You can even turn your Mother's Day cookbook into a web page if you're familiar with HTML.

The most complicated part of this Mother's Day creation will of course be the information-gathering. Luckily, if you have several brothers and sisters, then you likely have plenty of memories to work with. Hand out Mother's Day Homework; ask everyone to poke around the attics of their minds and jot down their best moments from a lifetime of eating, chattering, fighting, laughing and loving in Mom's kitchen. Was there one favorite food that Mom only prepared on special occasions? What about an ethnic dish that you secretly loved but would never confess it to your playmates from school? Think of those hilarious dinnertime mishaps, perhaps something involving loose baby teeth and corn on the cob. Remember those little brother antics around the supper table that we all had to deal with... Or how about all the times you slipped your green beans to Harry the hound dog when Mom's back was turned?

Once everyone's submitted their Mother's Day Remember Whens, have one stealthy family member root around in Mom's old recipe files when she's not around and collect the epicurean evidence of Mom's chef-like wizardry in the kitchen. If you can match a memory of Mom's cooking with an actual recipes of hers that you found buried in the bottom of the kitchen drawer, include these together in one entry of your cookbook. If not... that's okay, too.




Finally, you'll need a volunteer to collect photos, and also scan them if this Mother's Day cookbook will be designed on the computer. Rummage through the old family photo albums and picture boxes and pull out all the snapshots of holiday meals around the dinner table. Maybe you have one of Mom chopping and Dad carving side by side on Thanksgiving Day. What about those classic birthday cake pics and summer barbecues? Any meal-related photos you can find will serve as the basis for your Mother's Day Cookbook.

How many recipes should you include? Ten is a good number, but if you have more than ten by all means load up. If you have only five, that's okay too, as long as your presentation is attractive and the feeling is there, which it no doubt will be if everyone puts their all into the project. Again, this is your Mother's Day recipe book, created with love... and that means there is no "wrong" way to do this. On Mother's Day, have every family member pitch in with a covered dish they made themselves... to create a stupendous dinner of all Mom's favorite foods that she can enjoy without lifting a finger. After dessert (homemade chocolate cake from Mom's recipe box, of course), present your family gift, tell your Mom how much you love her and feel really good about yourselves as a family. After all the years your mother spent nourishing your belly and soul with love, comforting and delicious foods, you gave her back a truly meaningful Mother's Day gift that she'll cherish for the rest of her days.