Kate's Global Kitchen: Mother's Day

Do Mom a Favor:
Don't Take Her Out

Pasta

My mother's first request at Mother's Day is: Don't take me out—at least not to a restaurant on Mother's Day itself. Any other day is fine, like the weekend before or the weekend after. But on the second Sunday in May, dining out can be ugly. Service is usually lousy, lines are long (even with reservations), tables are jammed together, and the food, as can be expected from an overworked kitchen, may range from mediocre to just plain bad.

So do Mom a favor, and avoid the crowds. My mother's favorite experience is a picnic at the arboretum. Nothing fancy, just fried chicken, roses and azaleas. And her kids and grandkid, of course, to dote on her and fulfill her every whim.

If you prefer to prepare a special meal in-house, attend to it with flowers and the biggest drudgery of all: dish-washing. Don't forget to leave a spotlessly clean kitchen. To make the caring last all week, top off the meal with a dessert mom can savor for the next few days, something to remind her just how sweet life can be.

If you were born after 1990, you may be searching for recipes to make with just a pinch of adult assistance. Look no further. The recipes below are elegant enough to serve to the most important woman in your life, but simple enough for both young chefs and adults to prepare.

Happy Mother's Day!

Breakfast, Sweets and Dessert Recipes

Double Chocolate Pancakes
Peanut Butter Waffles
Black and White Cupcakes
Lemon Squares
Spiced Caramel Oranges
"I Love Desserts" Archives—more recipes

Appetizers

Crisp Toasts and Chargrilled Bruschetta
Baked Brie Stuffed with Strawberry Preserves and Toasted Almonds
Marinated Goat Cheese with Garlic, Basil, and Orange Zest

Salads, Main and Side

Chinese Chicken Salad
Mushroom, Jarlsberg, and Parsley Salad
Spicy Cucumber Salad
Warm Salad of Shrimp, Radicchio, Arugula, and Balsamic Vinegar

Entrees

Aegean Island Souvlaki with Grilled Vegetable Couscous
Apple-Smoked Filet Mignon with Ginger-Snapped String Beans
Roast Rock Cornish Game Hens with Raspberry Flavor
Tagliatelle Pasta with Asparagus and Gorgonzola Sauce

Kate's Global Kitchen for May 2002:
05/03/02     Do Mom a Favor: Don't Take Her Out
05/10/02     Painting a Vanilla Sky: In the Sweet Kitchen
05/17/02     Leaping Lettuces: Off with Their Heads!
05/24/02     Cheeseburgers in Paradise
05/31/02     Haute Hounds & Hot Dogs

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