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Progress Times 2015 Mother’s
Garden inspired
gifts for Mom I
f you’re struggling to find the perfect gift for a mom who has it all, or just the right way to express your love and appreciation, this Mother’s Day you can give a gift that keeps on growing with items inspired by the garden. There’s no better way to show mom how much you care than by taking the time to create a DIY gift from the heart. Score extra points with a gift that helps her unwind by promoting calm, unplugged and peaceful serenity - a key trend in crafting for 2015. From pots and planters to floral patterned handbags and trinkets, the options are endless when you’re looking for project ideas that bring the soothing elements of nature indoors. One great option, as functional as it is stylish, is the Mini Indoor Garden created by the crafting experts at Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores. Pretty vases made from wine bottles instantly
add an herbal touch to mom’s kitchen, or seal the bottoms and fill the vases with her favorite flowers for a bright and beautiful accent in any room. Find this and more garden-inspired DIY gift ideas for mom at www.joann. com. Mini Indoor Garden Crafting time: 3-5 hours Skill level: Some experience necessary Supplies and Tools: Pencil Spray paint 2 wine bottles Ruler Wooden CD storage crate Marker Jig saw G2 bottle cutter Safety glasses Floral moss Surface cover Artificial herbs see INDOOR GARDEN pg. 07
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621 E. Griffin Parkway MISSION
956•519•0339 We have Mother’s Day Specials www.serenityflowersandgifts.com
Show Mom how much you care with our premium floral arrangement. Artfully designed using the finest, freshest blooms, our bouquets will last beautifully long after Mother’s Day.
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Mother’s Day
KITCHEN
TRADITIONS
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here’s no better place than the kitchen to honor your special bond with a woman who has taught you all you know about cooking and baking. Whether she’s your mom, or a woman who has been like a mom in your life, Mother’s Day is the perfect time to create kitchen traditions you can cherish together year after year. A decadent recipe you can prepare together and enjoy warm out of the oven is an ideal choice. As you wait for the dough to rise in these homemade cinnamon rolls, you’ll have plenty of time to catch up and reminisce over shared memories of your childhood and beyond. Remember, the best results in baking come from top quality ingredients. The secret to the melt-in-your-mouth flavor of these rolls is the vanilla. Wilton Pure Vanilla Extract, made with the world’s finest vanilla from Madagascar, lends
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Progress Times 2015 Mother’s
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Gift Guide
unmatched flavor and aroma to enhance or rolls, stir together warm cakes, puddings, pie fillings, custards, salmilk, yeast and 1 tablead dressings and more. spoon sugar in large bowl. For more tradition-worthy recipes to Let stand 5-10 minutes or until share with mom, visit www.wilton.com. foamy. Add butter, remaining 3 tablespoons sugar, egg yolks, Cinnamon Rolls with Caramel Glaze vanilla and salt. Mix with elecServings: 1 dozen rolls tric mixer using dough hook on medium speed until combined. Rolls: Gradually add flour, 1 cup at a 1 1/3 cups warm milk (105∞F) time, and mix on medium speed 2 packages (1/4-ounce each) until smooth, elastic dough active dry yeast forms, about 5 minutes. 1/4 cup granulated sugar, divided Spray large bowl with vege 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened table pan spray. Form dough into 2 egg yolks ball, place into bowl and cover 1 teaspoon Wilton Pure Vanilla with plastic wrap. Let stand in Extract warm place for 45 minutes or 3/4 teaspoon salt until doubled in size. 4 cups bread flour, plus more for or filling, stir together butdusting ter, sugar, flour and cinnamon in medium bowl until Filling: well-combined. 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened Prepare 13-by-9-inch pan 1/3 cup granulated sugar with vegetable pan spray. 2 tablespoons bread flour Punch dough down and roll 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon out to 18-by-14-inch rectangle on floured surface. Spread filling Glaze: onto dough and roll up from long end, like 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter a jelly roll. Pinch seam to seal, trim ends 1/2 cup lightly-packed light brown and cut into 12 equally-sized pieces. sugar Place rolls into prepared pan; cover 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream with plastic wrap and let rise 25-30 min 1 teaspoon Wilton Pure Vanilla utes or until doubled in size. Extract Meanwhile, heat oven to 350∞F. Re 1/4 teaspoon salt move plastic wrap from rolls and bake 25 1 cup confectioners’ sugar 29 minutes or until golden brown. Cool in
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Beauty Shop
216 Mayberry • Mission • 585-1287
Pamper her with a gift of
Beauty
Specializing In:
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pan on wire rack while preparing glaze. or glaze, melt butter in saucepan over medium heat. Add brown sugar and cream. Cook over medium-high heat until mixture reaches a simmer; cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla and salt. Whisk in confectioners’ sugar until smooth. Pour glaze over warm rolls. Serve warm. Source: Wilton
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Progress Times 2015 Mother’s
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EXPLORE THE WAYS TO SHOW YOU CARE M this Mother’s Day other’s Day is the one day each year when men, women and children across the country gather to honor the mothers in their lives. Though it can be challenging to find new and unique ways to display your affection for Mom on Mother’s Day, rest assured that sometimes the simplest concepts are the ones mothers most appreciate. This year, look no further than the following ideas for some inspiration as you aim to make this Mother’s Day as special as possible for the mother or mothers in your life. • Give the gift of sweet treats. What better way to highlight mom’s sweetness than with some delicious treats made just for her? Whether you decide to whip up some homemade confections in the kitchen or visit a nearby store for something decadent, mom will no doubt appreciate the chance to indulge on her big day. Moms who prefer cookies and portable snacks will no doubt enjoy Pocky and Péjoy biscuit sticks. These tasty snacks from Gilco are dipped or filled with popular flavors, such as chocolate and strawberry, and are now available with green tea cream. Pair with a cup of tea, coffee or whichever beverage mom prefers to complement her favorite treat. Pocky is available in most grocery stores, and can typically be found in the Asian food section. • Make a meal to remember. Mom deserves a night off from dinner detail, and while dining out is an option, a homemade meal may come across as more intimate and heartfelt. Thanks to kitchen appliances that make it easier than ever to prepare gourmet meals at home, you can now make restaurant-style meals in your kitchen without sacrificing restaurant-quality taste. For example, new tacook Rice Cookers from Tiger Corporation do more than just perfectly steam rice. They
also incorporate synchro-cooking to cook two different items at once. Present mom with her favorite Asian-inspired poultry-and-rice dish or use the cooker to easily bake bread or steam a side of vegetables. Pair the meal with her favorite wine and make sure you handle all the cleanup. While mom waits for dinner to be served, a soothing cup of tea can set the tone for a relaxing evening. The Tiger Hot Water Kettle boils water in seconds. With three temperature settings and a de-chlorination cycle for removing chemical tastes and odors, the kettle allows mom to quickly enjoy a cup of her favorite brew. These kitchen essentials are available at Bed, Bath and Beyond. • Plan a Mother’s Day picnic. Busy moms may look forward to a break from the bustle of daily routines. An afternoon picnicking outdoors can be the ideal way to enjoy a special Mother’s Day. Plan an easy menu of foods that have portability. It’s easy to transport hot or cold foods when you have Tiger Stainless Steel Thermal Wares on hand. A refreshing fruit salad can be kept cool for about 8 hours. If mom prefers pasta primavera, the thermal container can keep it warm and ready until it’s time to enjoy. Gifting is made easy when you tap into the things mom likes. Learn more about these gift ideas and more at www.pocky.com and http://usa.tiger-corporation. com.
Progress Times 2015 Mother’s
Unique gifts ideas for Mother's Day
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hether she's still hard at work raising children or her kids have grown up and now have children of their own, Mom deserves our best efforts come Mother's Day. And while traditional gifts like flowers and chocolate might make for thoughtful Mother's Day gifts, those who want to go the extra mile for Mom this year can consider these unique gift ideas. • Concert tickets: Many adults recall the days of their youth when Mom would relax while listening to some of her favorite music on a lazy summer afternoon. Why not take a stroll down Memory Lane and take Mom to see one of her favorite acts in concert? Even if you have outgrown Mom's musical tastes, she will still appreciate the chance to spend an evening out on the town with her kids and some good music.
• Parts unknown: Moms who love to travel and experience other cultures would certainly appreciate a trip abroad or a domestic getaway to a region of the country they have yet to explore.Before booking any such trips, speak to your Mom and ask if there's anywhere in particular she'd like to go. Such trips can be expensive, so adults might want to speak to their siblings and finance such an excursion together. • Spa treatment: If Mom is still as active as ever, then a day of pampering at a nearby spa is sure to please. Many luxury spas offer packages, especially around Mother's Day, that make a full-on spa treatment a more affordable gift. Men and women can even accompany Mom on her trip and reap the rewards of being such a thoughtful son or daughter.
INDOOR GARDEN
From pg. 02 1. Use pencil to trace around bottom holes and mark 1 1/2 inch up from of wine bottles on one side of wood crate, using a Sharpie. crate, spacing evenly. 6. Follow instructions provided with 2. Cut out circles using jig saw. Wear bottle cutter to cut wine bottles at safety glasses while cutting to proSharpie marking. Again, wear safety tect your eyes. glasses to protect your eyes. 3. Cover surface where you will spray 7. Fill bottles with artificial moss and herbs, or seal bottoms of vases and paint. fill with fresh cuttings of mom’s fa4. Spray paint entire crate, inside and vorite blooms. out. 5. Turn bottles upside down in crate Source: Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores
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