Dear Mom,
Hardly a day goes by when I don’t think of you or wish I could pick up the phone, give you a call and chat. We would talk about everything and nothing. Maybe we’d make a plan to go to a show together or I’d ask you to come over for dinner. I miss the simple stuff.
I have this blog, Mom and I think you might enjoy it. I write restaurant reviews and recipes and share stories about life, past and present. I am quite sure if you were here you would be featured regularly as you were always my biggest cheerleader and game to cook or try new restaurants with me. I actually launched the blog on Mother’s Day two years ago as a tribute to you because you see the writing in particular has really helped me navigate these past few years without you. It has become the anchor that I lost when you left. It’s a little bit of predictable each week and that is good. I don’t know how long I will keep it going, but my guess is at least another year. I wish I could have your advice on that.
Mom, I think the most memorable Mother’s Day we ever had was the year I surprised you by coming home early from my junior year abroad. Do you remember? Grandma and Grandpa picked me up at the airport, harbored me at their house overnight and brought me with them to the restaurant the next day. I remember walking into the room and the look of shock on your face! You kept the letter I wrote to Grandma all those years ago to arrange the surprise and I found it after you left. I have been reading it this week. Boy was I bossy pants, telling Grandma in big caps that the secret could not be let out! You loved your mother as much as I loved you. If my kids love me half as much as that, I am lucky.
There are so many things that remind me of you, Mom. Peonies, music, golf, books, tennis, fashion, pie, cinnamon donuts and of course, ice cream. I’ve been laughing remembering the times we would go out to dinner when I was young. I would order ice cream for dessert while you and Dad stuck with black coffee. Until of course the ice cream arrived and predictably your spoon would make a large dent in the perfectly rounded scoop before I even took a bite!!! It became our little joke. Coffee ice cream was your favorite and you always had a quart of it in your freezer, Haagan Daaz generally and in the old days, Brighams. You introduced it to my girls and to this day, coffee is their hands down favorite flavor as you know.
When I was thinking about what to make for the blog this week, I wanted to make something that made me smile and think of you. So believe it or not, I made two batches of coffee ice cream from scratch. The recipes were really different and I am sharing the one that passed muster with my friends. I wish you could have been one of my taste testers. Maybe I would have given it to you for Mother’s Day this year as a surprise, tee hee!
Well, Mom, I should probably sign off. I miss you every day, just like I told you I would. You are never far from my heart or mind, Mom and on this Mother’s Day I just want to thank you for being my mom for as long as you could. I love you.
xoxo
Hi Kitchen Scout readers. I looked at my blank screen this week and the letter above just kind of flowed out. I hope you don’t mind that I am sharing it today instead of some super upbeat, get ready for Mother’s Day post. In any case, please give this one-step, no-churn coffee ice cream a try. It has been enjoyed by many this past week and it is creamy and luxurious with big, bold coffee flavors. All you need is a whisk or preferably a hand or stand mixture plus the patience to allow the ingredients to firm up in the freezer for 6 hours. I also made this version in an ice cream maker and it was delicious too. More of a traditional ice cream texture, but more work for sure.
Happy Mother’s Day to all of the moms out there and I will see you next week…
Recipe adapted from Nigella Lawson
Ingredients
- 300 millilitres heavy cream (1 1/3 cups)
- 6 ounces sweetened condensed milk
- 2 Tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons instant espresso powder (I suggest Medaglia D'oro)
- 2 Tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons coffee liqueur
Instructions
- Chill a metal bowl and a whisk, or the whisk attachments to your hand or stand mixer. Place all ingredients into the bowl and whisk together until soft peaks form and you have a "gorgeous, caffe-latte-colored" airy mixture. Do not overmix! Fill 2, one pint containers with the mixture and freeze for at least 6 hours or overnight. Serve straight from the freezer.
You did it again…a beautiful tribute to your Mother, your family, and to you on your anniversary. Your post touched me in so many ways…from tears to joy! You are amazing. Congratulations to your daughter on her graduation.
Thank you, CC. xo
What a loving tribute to your Mom, thanks for sharing!
Thank you, Jayne!
After reading a few sentences of your post I realized I would need a tissue. What a beautiful note, Val — so heartfelt. We were blessed with wonderful moms. I am looking forward to making this recipe since coffee ice cream is a favorite here : ) xo
Thank you for sharing this beautiful expression of love and loss. I will be thinking of you tomorrow.
So beautiful Val. She must have been an extraordinary women to create such a lovely daughter, friend and mother. Happy Mother’s Day! Xx
Val, thank you for sharing your beautiful tribute to your mom, it brought tears to my eyes. A mother’s loss is the hardest. I love your blog and your recipes.
Beautiful post Val. I’m going to make this coffee ice cream as a tribute to you and your mom. Happy Mother’s Day:)
I just love how you write, Val and I know your Mother would say to keep this blog going forever!
What a beautiful post! Coffee is my favorite as well. Happy Mother’s Day Val!
Lovely! Happy tears.
What a perfect post for Mother’s Day, Val! It speaks to all of us who have lost our mothers. I hope that all our moms are up in heaven eating ice cream together and congratulating themselves on a parenting job well done!! Have a lovely, lovely Mother’s Day!!
Val, This is a beautiful tribute to your mother. I am sure she is looking down on you with love and pride. I hope you are showered with love on Mother’s Day. xoxo
So touching Val! I lost my Dad last Mother’s Day, so I can relate. I think about him every day and know both of my parents are looking down on me. You are so fortunate to have had such a loving relationship with your Mom. Something to cherish forever! Happy Mother’s Day – you are a great mom! xo
What a beautiful post. Thank you Val.
WWhat a wonderful celebration-a beautiful tribute-a Mothers day gift to us all. Thank Val for sharing your heart….and I can’t wait to try the ice cream.
Val, what a beautiful post. Your mom would have loved The Kitchen Scout. She would have looked forward to your weekly posts, like so many of us do. Have a wonderful Mother’s Day! xx’s
Love your letter Valerie, and I remember your surprise trip home to see your Mom. I also remember that impeccable handwriting….I am sharing your blog with a friend in California who recently lost her Mom. I’m sure she will relate. Thanks so much for sharing!
That was a beautiful post Val – you had a very special Mom and it appears that she had a very special daughter in you.
Wishing you a happy mother’s day and hoping your girls look over you with as much tenderness as you did your mom.
(ps. the ice cream recipe looks amazing)
Val, what a beautiful post. I know how hard it has been and how much you have missed your mom. She would be very proud. I also remember those air mail envelopes and hand written letters home from Junior Year Abroad! I am definitely trying this recipe, as coffee ice cream is my fav as well!
What a wonderful piece, Val! You are a tribute to your Mom. She would have been so proud, I’m sure. Ice cream looks easy and delicious!