With Easter passing, and spring upon us, now is the time to celebrate our Mothers in May.  Nurturing, providing, and aiding in our success from day one, our Mothers definitely deserve a day without cooking, cleaning, or hearing any complaining.  We here at Williams Food Equipment believe preparing, cooking, and cleaning for Mom is a great way to show appreciation to the one who brought you into this beautiful world. Mom will love the day when you come over with wrapped gifts and her favourite foods.  Letting her unwrap that special culinary gift and using it to make that special meal will sure to delight her.  Depending on her expertise in the kitchen (and yours if you are making her beloved dish), will aid in purchasing the perfect gift.  Whether it be a simple, yet elegant and quality Italian Frying Pan by Ballarini like the nonstick 12.5” for only $64.99 (on sale from $120 regularly!), or for the advanced home chef, Mom will love the Fissler Vitaquick Pressure Cooker Bundle.  German craftsmanship and modern technology make this one of the best pressure cookers on the market!  On sale at only $469.99, regularly $800, this is an acquisition that Mom will love to use for all the seasons. [caption id="attachment_2319" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Fissler Vitaquick Pressure Cooker Bundle.[/caption] If Mom isn’t a Home Chef, kitchen accessories are an awesome present.  Buying a few little items always adds up to a thoughtful gift.  For example, everyone uses salt and pepper.  Why not treat Mom to the best grinder available?  The Cuisinart Salt, Pepper, and Spice Mill does it all!  This beauty grinds from the top and bottom.  It is rechargeable and has a removable spice tray for easy cleaning.  On sale at $59.99 ensures Mom will be spicing it up in the kitchen for years to come.  Cuisinart is quality Mom will appreciate. Some more thoughtful ideas that Mom will enjoy as a cute bundle could be some Le Creuset Cherry 10cm French Coasters. At only $20, these coasters make a great gift to protect Mom’s valuable coffee and dining table.  Add a Sevy Decorative Oil Can to her kitchen décor collection for $26.99, along with a Spice Paradise Stainless Steel Oil and Vinegar Cruet Set at only $22.  Le Creuset is a great way to say Happy Mother's Day. Before we explore Mom’s favourite meals, and how to prepare, cook, and clean afterward, something that is forgotten when cooking:  Posture and support for the body.  The best Mother’s Day present is caring for Mom’s health and well-being.  Wellness Mats are the solution.  Reducing pain in joints and lessening fatigue in feet, knees, and hips are what Wellness Mats were designed to do.  They compliment any kitchen.  And, the Wellness Mat will be greatly cherished by the home chef Mom.  Wellness Mats are now on sale at 30% off! [caption id="attachment_2323" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Trellis Light Antique Wellness Mat[/caption] Now that we are set with great gift ideas for Mother’s Day, cooking a Mother’s Day meal the entire family will remember will be easily ascertained.  We all know what our own Mom loves to eat.  And what a grand gesture to arrive at Mom’s house, with gifts and food at the ready.  Plan and order your gifts now, so not to worry later.  Or miss out on the great sale!  And spend part of your Saturday May 11^th shopping for all the special foods Mom deserves. My Mom loves Chinese food.  Growing up near many Chinese restaurants, my love for Chinese food is strong as well.  Something about an old, classy Chinese restaurant that instantly takes me to childhood.  My Mom and Dad raised me more on Chinese and Mexican food than anything.  That’s the great thing about food.  It’s universal.  It’s where you grew up. Making shrimp toast isn’t hard.  The first step to this delicious Chinese appetizer is to purchase cheap white bread.  If you are shopping on Saturday for Mother’s Day Sunday, place as many pieces as you will need for the big meal out on the counter to go stale for Mother’s Day.  Cut the crust off at this time also.  This is an important point to the process.  It aids in keeping this appetizer’s grease at its least. Now for the other ingredients, in which you should leave all at Mom’s house for her culinary needs later, are all found at large supermarkets. [caption id="attachment_2317" align="alignnone" width="6000"] Shrimp Toast[/caption] SHRIMP TOAST (12 pieces) Ingredients 10 large shrimp 1 tablespoon each: Soy and sesame oil 1 teaspoon hoi sin 2 egg whites ½ can water chestnuts (diced small) 4 stalks green onion (diced, green only) ½ teaspoon each: garlic & ginger powder & white pepper 3 pieces dried out white bread (crust removed) Sesame seeds (topping) Chinese hot mustard and/or sweet and sour sauce (dipping) Directions Another great Mother’s Day gift is the Breville Control Grip immersion Blender.  With 15 speeds and its own blending base, making shrimp toast is a breeze.  Simply place the shrimp (de-veined and peeled) into the blending base.  Add the soy, sesame oil, hoi sin, garlic, ginger and pepper.  Pulse on low until a paste with some shrimp still just chopped, not all pureed.  Add the water chestnuts, green onion and egg whites and fold in by hand with a spoon. Around 1 minute to incorporate.  Spread the mixture onto the bread (about 3mm thick).  Using a Cuisinart Professional Deep Fryer or a Zwilling J.A. Henckels 12” Sensation Wok ( both, awesome Mother’s Day gifts!), heat vegetable oil to 350.  Gently place toast shrimp side down for 2 minutes (or until golden brown, not burnt).  Flip until toast is browned on other side.  Remove.  Blot with paper towels and sprinkle sesame seeds on top.  Dip in mustard, sweet n’ sour, hoi sin, sambal, or nothing since it’s so tasty on its own! [caption id="attachment_2324" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Cuisinart Deep Fryer[/caption] This is one of my Mom’s favorite meals.  To add to the dinner, continue making a quick stir fry, chow mein, or Mongolian Beef.  Or switch up the Nationality and have a Chinese appetizer with another of her favorite foods from another country.  Obviously, it’s up to you, and your Mom and family’s tastes.  And, it’s OK to get a bit lazy and buy Mom her much-loved dessert at her chosen bakery.  Afterall, you will need to clean up from dinner, so make it easy on yourself with someone else’s dessert in tow.