I would like to have an appreciation dinner for a few people who have been there and supported me through my time as a single mother..What can I do? I have 5 people to show appreciation too, and working on little ends..Any siggestions? I can barely cook.. I am currently living in my mother's basement. Let me know what you think I can do for them.. Something creative, something they will remmeber.. A way to tell them THANK YOU AND I could nto have done it without them...
what a wonderful thing to do for the folks you want to thank! i LOVE this idea!
i also think you've had a lot of great ideas here. nothing is quite as special, especially in this age of email and texting, as a hand-written letter. the picnic idea is very sweet, and even an almost-non-cooker could probably come up with some pasta and sauce and a salad!
good luck, and good for you.
:) khairete
S.
I'm sure they will know you appreciate them just by a thank you note...but if you would like to have them over any way, you can always do lasagna - super easy - pre-heat the oven to 375 degrees and start layering your lasagana...put some sauce in the bottom of the pan so the noodles don't get stuck, then put some no-boil lasagna noodles down, spread some ricotta on them, then add some Prego and whatever else you want in there (mushrooms, cooked ground meat, garlic, spinach leaves, etc...whatever you like), and top with Mozzarella cheese - then add more noodles and start all over with another layer the same as before...cover with aluminum foil, bake for 45 minutes, then remove foil and bake another 15. You can top with parmesan cheese, get 2 family-sized bags of Italian salad and serve on the side (you can also buy a bunch of asparagus, trim the ends and sprinkles with Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Sea Salt and broil for 5 minutes - this is a simple way of going gourmet and tastes great. I always make lasagna when I have a bigger than family size group and everyone loves it. You can even make two at the same time (one box of lasagna noodles will make two lasagnas easily). You can make 2-3 layers with the noodles and still have leftovers. You can buy a red checkered table cloth from the dollar store and put some bread on the table and make an Italian night - put some candles from around the house on there, and maybe some canned goods for decorations and it's a cheap way to entertain. :) Also - Wal-mart has very cheap red wine - that will go great with the food as well. :) Have fun - keep us posted.
When I got married I had about 4 folks I wanted to give my soul. :-) They helped me through so much and I knew that I would never have been ready for that day, had it not been for their love and friendship. So, I hand-delivered each of them roses and a heartfelt letter thanking them for how they each specifically contributed to my life. I did this at separate times for each person, but you could do it separately or have them all together. You could also read it to them yourself, or simply give them the note and ask them to read it when they're alone.
when i had to feed people at my daughter's b-day party i just did a stouffers lasagne. super easy! people just like to be thought of. the letters are a very good idea as well.
I agree with that writing a letter telling them each how important they have been to you is a great idea. If you want to do something as a get-together, you could do an afternoon tea...just have tea and coffee and then make or buy some muffins and scones (check a website like allrecipes.com for easy recipes or buy a mix and make that) and have some fresh fruit.
Whatever you do, I'm sure you will make them happy to know that they have been a great help to you :)
My coworker brought in some italian meatballs that she picked up in the freezer section and poured ragu on and heated up in crockpot - i think u can even just microwave them - and some tri-colored cheese-filled tortellini u should be able to get at the regular grocery store in the fresh pasta section, just boil that up. That was great and really easy. She brought grocery baked crossaints & if u get a package salad of spinach lettuce w carrots in it -- i think it's the spring blend or smthg, put some cucumbers, tomoatoes, maybe dried cranberry & croutons in that, u've got a cute pleasing plate that's not hard to make. Hope this helps!
Good Morning T.,
I think it is wonderful that you have had so many people help you as a single mom. I am sure that there are others who would love to be able to say that.
As for the dinner, spaghetti is pretty easy and relatively inexpensive. Then maybe you could make some garlic bread to go along with it. Just buy a box and heat up the bread.
I think whatever you do for you five friends will be greatly appreciated.
As someone who has been on the receiving end of a heartfelt letter, I vote for that. Maybe you can invite them to a beautiful spot, like a nature park or a botanical garden (free) and have a small picnic outside and hand them your letters? You can bring lemonade in a thermos, and some nice cookies or something simple, and hand them your letters, after telling them that you really appreciate all they've done. They'll remember the gesture and the stunning scenery!
T.:
hello and good day!
It's sooo great that you want to honor and say thank you to those who have supported you.
Other than a dinner - my thought would be do a "memory book" for each of them - special photos, poems, etc. with notes specific to each person.
Easy dinners to cook is spaghetti - it's cheap and easy - two pots - one for the pasta and one for the sauce. If you have the money - garlic bread and a salad would be great and you can give them their memory books at the dinner.
CONGRATULATIONS on getting your life together and acknowledging the people who have helped you!
God Bless!
Cheryl
You say that you can barely cook, but that means that you can do a little so what ever you are good at cooking cook it, don't try to be real big just something small. Go to Michael's art supply store they have all kinds of things you can do, get vases paint the out side put flowers and marbels inside and they ahve something no one else does, they have wooden art that you can decorate for them, they have scrap books that you can put together to show each one the progress of how they have helped you. Some dollar stores have figures that are so pretty that you are suprsied tehy come from the dollar store. Find someone that can cook and ask them to cook for you and you buy the food find out each ones favorite and attempt to have them fixed.
Hope this helps and keep up the good work
How Kind of you. I was in the same boat as you even down to the incarcerated part.
My parents were the ones I wanted to thank, and my sister, for their help and support. Like you, I wanted to do something really special for them as well and could never think of anything, sadly. I ended up writing them a nice letter about how I appreciate all that they have done and that meant alot to them.
I am now happily married to a wonderful man who has adopted my daughter and we have added 2 to our family. So I wish the best for you as well.
You could always do pizza and salad and then when they are on their way out, hand them a letter or note for them to read when they are alone. I know I could never read it to them - I cry at kleenex commercials... But, a hand written note says a lot - sometimes it's easier to write it than to say it.
YMMV
LBC
as a gift you could give each of the 5 people an empty photo album and then as an ongoing gift you can send/give them photos of your child growing up! so they can be reminded daily of the wonderful thing they are doing by helping you out!
keep it up!
Since you are on a tight budget, I believe a hand written letter of thanks will be much appreciated. They know your status, and they will understand that you cannot give something, but the letter from your heart is priceless. Your daughter can draw a picture for them.
Be encouraged, being a married mom is hard enough. You certainly have your work cut out, but it is worth every minute of it to see your little one prosper because of you. I wish you well in the future.
You could do a "tea" and/or coffee w/light hor de voures and some desserts. That way you don't have to do much and there are many places that have them ready to go or you can do them during the week. You could do little candy baskets (made from paper or napkins) and get the candy from one of the dollar stores around. This way you have something nice, homemade and not so stressful. You can also get your daughter to help with some of the things so she feels a part of the event. Hope this helps.
R.
