Picking out the perfect gift can be a tricky task, especially when it’s for someone you care for. Every year around Mother’s Day, marketing for World’s Best Mom mugs and trinkets fill the ad section of screens country wide. But many moms prefer something made by their children, regardless of their age. Whether you’re someone helping a child prepare a gift or you’re in need of a DIY project for your own mom, we’ve got you covered with two ideas.
Mother’s Day falls in the spring when herbs are flourishing. Take advantage of the season’s bounty with a healthy homemade herbaceous whipped spread:
Gourmet Herbed Whipped Goat Cheese
What you need:
- 8 oz goat cheese
- 1 cup Greek yogurt (this recipe used 2% fat, but 1% or fat-free can also be used)
- 2 Tbsp. olive oil (1 Tbsp. separated for topping)
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 10 chives, finely chopped
- ¼ cup Italian parsley, finely chopped
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Mason jar
- Ribbon
- Multigrain crackers
Instructions
- Combine goat cheese, Greek yogurt, 1 Tbsp. olive oil, garlic and salt and pepper in a food processor (or bowl if using immersion blender).
- Stir in chives and parsley.
- Place mixture in a mason jar decorated with a ribbon and top with 1 Tbsp. olive oil. Give gift with a package of multigrain or whole wheat pita crackers.
Many people love starting a garden in the spring, and herbs are a gift that keeps on giving all summer long. Seeds can easily be started in an egg carton, then transplanted to larger containers. Here’s an idea for a DIY Herb Garden Kit for mom:
DIY Herb Garden Seed Kit
Here’s what you need:
- 1 empty 6-egg carton
- 6 types of herb seeds, divided in small zip bags
- Quart size zip bag of 1 cup potting mix
- 6 small decorative stones or popsicle sticks
- Paint or sharpie
- Ribbon
Instructions:
- Add 10 of each type of seed in each small zip bag or gift the entire seed packet. Consider parsley, chives, basil, thyme, cilantro and tarragon.
- Paint stones or popsicle sticks with the names of herb seeds included.
- In the egg carton, add bag of soil, bags of seeds and painted stones. Close carton, then wrap egg with a ribbon.
Shanthi Appelö is a registered dietitian and health and wellness spokesperson for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan based in Detroit. Passionate about the science of nutrition and behavior, Shanthi has experience working in clinical nutrition, public health and teaching in the university setting. In her free time, she enjoys experimenting in the kitchen, exploring the outdoors, working on art and spending time with family. Find out more on AHealthierMichigan.org.
Author: A Healthier Michigan
Our mission is to help everyone in Michigan get healthier from the inside out. This means everything from giving you resources to help you make better decisions about diet and exercise, as well as information on creating and sustaining nurturing communities and successful businesses — everything you need to help create a healthier Michigan.
Our mission is to help everyone in Michigan get healthier from the inside out. This means everything from giving you resources to help you make better decisions about diet and exercise, as well as information on creating and sustaining nurturing communities and successful businesses — everything you need to help create a healthier Michigan.
