Make your graduation gift the one that actually gets used

View at Picasa beauty girl jumping in field under blue sky15-Jul-2006 08:47, Canon Canon EOS 350D DIGIT, 5.6, 70.0mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 100

The Mama Says, ‘No More Frozen Pizza!’ recipe kit is a unique collection of easy-to-prepare, nutritious and delicious recipes for new cooks. The easy-to-follow directions and photos of the completed dishes inspires them to turn fresh (and affordable) ingredients into healthy meals.

Help the new college grad in your life say “no” to processed food and “yes” to cooking quick and nutritious meals.

View at Picasa Canon Canon EOS-1Ds Mark I

It Only Looks Like A Pizza Box.                                           Inside are recipes for main dishes, sides and salads

Each recipe card features a photo of the dish on one side; the other side has a list of ingredients (many are pantry staples), cooking directions, and an equipment list.

Order Today. Mama Says, “No More Frozen Pizza!” is available online at Target.com and Amazon.com.

View at Picasa jumping couple in field under clouds15-Jul-2006 10:36, Canon Canon EOS 350D DIGIT, 9.0, 30.0mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 100

Give the hip gift that teaches skills for a lifetime.

Photo credits: BEAUTY GIRL JUMPING IN FIELD & JUMPING COUPLE IN FIELD UNDER CLOUDS © Anatoly Tiplyashin | Dreamstime.com

I know today is Cinco de Mayo.  I know I’m supposed to blog about mexican food, beer, tequila.  But I figured that since everyone else in the blogosphere is doing that, I’d take  a slightly different path today and talk about something a bit nearer and dearer to my heart – college graduation.

My second son just finished his last class at the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music.  (Whoo hoo, go Michael!)   So that got me thinking about a lot of different things.  One of those things was that I needed to get a bunch of college graduation gifts because it means that his friends are also graduating this month.

I randomly and totally unscientifically surveyed a number of graduating kids, and here’s what I heard about getting them a gift:

The #1 gift request is MONEY.  Surprise.

The #2 gift request is something that will help them live on their budget as they head off into apartments next year for grad school or work.  Shamelessly, I asked them about the Mama Says, “No More Frozen Pizza!” recipe box.  YES!! They proclaimed, something great like that.

The #3 gift request is for something fun – like DVDs or music downloads or a whole bunch of movie tickets - something that they’re going to really want to do/see/listen to but won’t have any extra money to spend.

The #4 and #5 gift requests are money.  Again.  A recurring theme. Big surprise.

So why not do whatever you can to help these young adults fend for themselves in the real world next year, and give them something they really want – like a chance to feed themselves, stay on their budgets, have a little extra pocket change, and have a great time doing it.

Unique and practical college graduation gift

View at Picasa

Graduation is an important step in a young person’s life. And whether you are a relative or a family friend you want to acknowledge the achievement with something special.

While stores don’t offer college graduation gift registries, you can find that perfect gift. Since graduates are starting fresh in the world they need a variety of things to set-up their first post-college home.

Consider something for their kitchen. Your practical graduation gift will help them transition from the college cafeteria and Cup Of Noodles to cooking nutritious and delicious meals for themselves.

View at Picasa

Mama Says, “No More Frozen Pizza!” Save someone you love from a life of frozen pizza!

This recipe collection, compiled by “Mom” and packaged in a retro pizza box, contains recipes that are simple and affordable, and while they are geared to fledgling cooks, they also are ideal for “school night cooking” for more experienced cooks and “date night cooking” when two are in the kitchen.

Mama Says, “No More Frozen Pizza!” is hip, practical and helps young adults feed themselves, wow their friends, attract a mate, and learn the value of self reliance.  The recipe collection is an ideal graduation gift by itself or you can personalize it by adding a favorite lasagna pan, selection of basic spices or wrap it with a silicone spatula attached to the bow!

View at Picasa

Available online at www.mamasays.us
$18.99 plus s/h

As seen in Daily Candy and CBS Better Mornings.

Rather than give another gift card — give your college graduate a present that will help them avoid a life of frozen pizza. Order today for immediate delivery.

Photo credits: NMFP/Points North;  MAN SMILING © Breezeart | Dreamstime.com; BAREFOOT GIRL © Dbgroup-inc | Dreamstime.com

Coloring on the Windows

One of my favorite kitchen tools is Crayola Washable Window Markers. These colorful markers are very useful when you are trying to prepare dinner and young kids want to be entertained.

The markers make a great diversion. The kids can draw on the large windows near the kitchen while I prepare dinner. They are within eye (and ear) range. And while one child draws on the windows the other can set the table or help in the kitchen and then they switch places.

I borrowed the idea from my friend Gita, her kids and their friends began leaving notes on her kitchen window when they were in high school. Today, the small panes that border her large picture window are a collage of messages that detail their journey through high school, to college and beyond.

This weekend the grand boys spent the weekend — so we had hours to fill with fun. And yes there is something decadent about drawing on windows knowing that your mother would never have allowed that to happen!

We had a wonderful time practicing the alphabet, drawing various shapes and doodling. Depending on the artistic value of the creation, you can either leave the artwork on the windows for several days or wipe it off with water and paper towels and start again.

View at Picasa Mama Says, “No More Frozen Pizza!”Canon Canon EOS-1Ds Mark I

A shout out to our son Andrew who developed a date night idea using the Mama Says, “No More Frozen Pizza!” recipe collection. To decide what to make for dinner, Andrew and his friend Martha divided the recipe cards in the NMFP collection in half; each reviewed the recipes and selected four dishes that they were interested in making that evening. Then they exchanged their top 4 recipe cards, so the other person could select two recipe cards for final consideration. With the remaining four cards they discussed their options and preferences for dinner. On this particular Saturday night Stir Fried Beef was the winning recipe. Andrew also offered a helpful hint: use the printable grocery lists on the Mama Says website to jump start your shopping list. It can be downloaded to your PDA, iPhone, etc. and you are off to the grocery store.

Keep in touch. We like to learn about how your kids or the new cooks in your life are enjoying the Mama Says recipe collection. Thanks for joining us in the kitchen, Lynn