This Mother’s Day, pamper Mom with breakfast in bed or brunch at a beautifully set table. Here’s how:
The Recipes
Preparing a special meal for Mom doesn’t need to mean getting up extra-early in the morning to do so. Choose between savoury Country Breakfast Casserole or, on the sweeter side, Overnight French Toast -- both are ideal for assembling the night before then baking in the morning for a fresh-from-the-oven meal Mom will love.
As a refreshing, nourishing way to get Mom’s day started on the right foot, this ambrosial tropical fruit Turmeric Mango Orange Smoothie Bowl really hits the spot. It’s dairy-free, gluten-free and chockfull of good-for-you ingredients, including chia seeds, hemp hearts, honey and almonds.
Separately, banana bread and pancakes are already wonderful. Combined, they are elevated to a whole new level of deliciousness in Maple Banana Bread Pancakes thanks to a few tasty, aromatic add-ins.
Mini Ham and Egg Quiche cups are both cute and compact as can be. Best of all, these crust-less mini quiches are baked in deli-sliced ham ‘cups’ for an intriguing twist that also means easier clean-up.
Herbed Vegetable Pancakes with Yogurt Goat Cheese Sauce are great as appetizers yet also exceptional topped with poached eggs and prepared Hollandaise sauce for a savoury meatless brunch dish that’s sure to please Mom and everyone else at the table.
Both Crunchy Honey Yogurt Breakfast Parfait and Sunburst Yogurt Parfait are made with just a handful of ingredients you likely already have in your refrigerator and cupboard. They look super-pretty layered in glasses and each requires less time to assemble than it takes to say, “Breakfast is served, Mom!”
Whisk, waffle and whip up a batch of these extraordinary Raspberry Waffles with White Chocolate Sauce. Raspberries and white chocolate truly is a flavour match made in heaven. Same flavour duo, different spin: White Chocolate and Raspberry Muffins, are simple to make, can be taken along on any Mother’s Day strolls and, while baking, will fill your home with sweet aromas. This recipe also includes tips for turning these into even sweeter treats – it’s the icing on the (cup)cake!
Setting the Scene
For breakfast in bed: Choosing a sturdy breakfast tray (or laptop tray) is a must. The consequences of skipping this vital step are too messy to imagine. Along these lines, avoid tipping hazards by using sturdy stemless glassware that’s both low and wide versus tall and slender. Same goes for the vase you choose for Mom’s flowers (the presence of at least one flower or plant is pretty much mandatory for Mom on her special day).
At the table: Set the scene with special touches tailor-suited to Mom. Choose napkins, flowers and flameless candles in her favourite colours; use your best china and glassware; create a ‘throne’ for Mom, complete with tiara to wear (if she’s into that sort of thing); have Mom’s favourite music playing in the background. If the weather cooperates and space allows, set the table outdoors in the backyard, or pack a picnic spread to take to a nearby park (another reason to bake a batch of White Chocolate and Raspberry Muffins).
Whichever the meal location for Mom, be sure to put some thought into the drink selection, too. Consider including Mom’s usual breakfast beverage of choice, whether it be coffee or tea, along with something else a little unexpected to mark this special day. Fresh-squeezed juices or smoothies are excellent options. A mimosa can be special, so long as Mom doesn’t have to drive anywhere, or make a mocktail by mixing half-and-half white grape juice and sparkling water in a champagne flute garnished with a fresh berry or two.
Round out the meal with assorted fresh fruit, either kept whole such as red and green grape clusters, oranges and apples (bonus: arrange in a bowl and use as a centrepiece for your table) or a bowl of fresh berries. As a sweet ending, chocolate-dipped strawberries add a special touch.
Two final thoughts:
- Clean-up duties are a part of the package – this shouldn’t be left for Mom to concern herself with.
- Eager as you may be to have Mom taste your homemade creation, resist the urge to wake her up as this is one day Mom should be allowed to sleep in and set her own schedule.
