Teacher Appreciation Gifts

School is almost out for the summer and calendars are filled with graduation parties, weddings, baby showers, family vacations and just about everything else.

Every year at this time, we as mommas wonder what to do for teacher gifts...so...since I have gotten a few e-mails, and questions about ideas, here are a few for you to think about!

If you aren't needing teacher gits, these would make for great hostess gifts for summer parties and gatherings!

Happy almost summer!



Zesty Strawberry Shortcake

INGREDIENTS:
2 cups flour
2 Tbsp. organic sugar
1 Tbsp. baking powder
1 tsp. sea salt
Zest of 1 orange
1/3 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup whipping cream...sweetened a bit
Coarse sugar

DIRECTIONS:
• Mix dry ingredients together; Cut in butter; Add cream. Mix until dough is soft
and ingredients are all mixed in. It will look like cookie dough.
• Place six to eight mounds on greased baking sheet or SILPAT. Flatten just a bit.
• Brush tops with cream and sprinkle with coarse sugar.
• Bake at 425 for 7-10 minutes or until golden brown.

Note: Let cool and wrap each shortcake in cellophane bag.

BERRIES:
Slice four pints of fresh strawberries, add about half cup of sugar
Sprinkle with a little lemon juice;
Refrigerate until ready to serve.
Slice shortcake in half, add strawberries, top with ice cream.

If you want to make these in advance, just bag the individual wrapped shortcakes, put into gallon Ziploc bag and freeze. They will stay as fresh as the day you baked them!

















{ALWAYS TASTE TEST to make sure it is okay!}



Italian Cream Soda Bags





How many of you remember the craze of Soda Fountains?

Raspberry Flips, Pink Sodas and Patio Punch Sodas were all the rage. Well, here is a fun, frugal way to give an Italian Cream Soda {to go} as a gift.

This can be given as a shower gift, a graduation gift {teenagers love these!}, a birthday gift, a teachers gift etc.

They are great baby shower gifts as well. It is fun for the momma-to-be to be able to take something home for the rest of the family or hubby to enjoy as well. You could even include a gift certificate for a pizza to be enjoyed on a day where cooking is not at the top of the "to do" list.

These Italian Cream Soda gifts are very fun to embelish. You can use colors or a theme to customize the gift.

As mentioned before we are talking FRUGAL, so I made mine for under $10.00.
white gift bag: .79 {Party Depot}
2 12x12 sheets of scrapbook paper: $1.00 {Paper Zone}
napkins: $1.00
straws: $1.00 at the Dollar Store {on hand}
cups: $1.00 {the Dollar Store}
Torani Syrup: $3.99 {Cash-n-Carry}
Club Soda: .87 with deposit {Winco}

Ribbon I had on hand.

DIRECTIONS:

Club Soda:
Cut scrapbook paper into 6x6 square.
Remove label from Club Soda.
Glue 6x6 sheet on to Club Soda bottle being sure to cover any leftover residue from original label.

Drink Tags:
Use any size craft punch and punch drink tags out of scrap paper from cutting down your 6x6 sheet of paper.
Punch a small hole with a regular sized hole punch for straw.

Straws:
Place a handful of straws into standard cellophane bag or tie together with ribbon.

Italian Cream Soda Label:
Cut second sheet of 12x12 paper into 8 1/2X11.
Print label with Italian Soda directions.


I put enough for 8 into each package, but always more straws. They are inexpensive and fun to have extras. Can one ever have too many straws?

Suggestions if you are NOT on a budget:

*Add a glass straw dispenser with colorful straws.

*Add cookies or biscotti to carry the Italian theme.

*Add an ISI whipped cream maker...you get the idea!

Enjoy!





Scott's Famous Homemade Ice Cream



INGREDIENTS:

2 1/2 cups milk

2 1/2 cups sugar

1/2 tsp. salt

1 quart half & half

1 1/2 Tbsp. pure vanilla extract

1 quart and 1 pint whipping cream


DIRECTIONS:

• Heat milk until bubbles form around pan.

• Remove milk from heat

• Add sugar and salt, stir until dissolved.

• Stir in remaining ingredients.

• Place into ice cream maker and follow manufacturer’s directions.

This makes 6 quarts. You will need a big ice cream maker or adjust mixture to size of machine!


This is such a versatile recipe! Eventually you will come up with your own variations.

One of my favorite things to do is crush a package of Oreos and fold them in at the end. {Don't tell Lisa, she thinks hydrogenated oil and preservatives are bad, VERY BAD!} I will make sure we have some fun things to eat around here! I have your back.
This was fun. Maybe she will invite me back.


From Lisa: Since we make sooo much, we pour extra amounts into these little ice cream containers {from Cash-n-Carry} and freeze them. They make a quick treat to take to people or if I am tight on time and don't have enough time to take a meal. During strawberry season, I take one container of fresh strawberries sliced, sugared and sprinkled with a bit of lemon juice. and a container of ice cream for each family member...unless they are little. Everybody loves to have their own, and they can save some if it is too much!




 

Pack a Picnic

Let your child's teacher know that you are planning on bringing him/her lunch on the last day of school. It will be appreciated as the last day of school can be hectic. Quite frequently the teachers stay longer than usual to wrap things up. It is a fun thing to do that wont break the bank!


Menu:
Lavash Wraps
Fruit Salad{Fresh pineapple slices and sliced strawberries}
Kettle Chips {Our Favorite}
A fun drink...today we had Limonata and Sparkling Pomegranate Juice
Leftover ice cream with cones

Everything can be assembled ahead of time. Make the sandwiches last.

Keep it simple... sandwiches will do just fine and cute napkins always make any meal extra special!



Lavash wraps:

Softened cream cheese

Shredded carrots

Avocado

Red leaf romaine, torn

Garlic deli turkey , all natural

Sharp Tillamook Cheese, shredded

Directions:

Spread a thin layer of cream cheese on Lavash bread. Be sure to cover all the nooks and crannies.

Layer veggies, then the turkey. End with cheese. Roll tightly. Wrap with a piece of waxed paper. Cut in half. Tie a ribbon around the middle.

Just MAKE SURE the carrots and lettuce have been dried with a paper towel so you don’t end up with soggy wraps and end up ordering SUBWAY for your teacher. {ASK me how I figured that out!}

 

If all else fails, a sweet little plat from Trader Joes is AWESOME! A simple tag punched and signed and attached to a skewer is the perfect "thank you" for a great school year!

What are some of your ideas??? DO TELL!

Shared with: women living well