Kate's Global Kitchen: Mother's Day Special

Mother's Day Gift and Menu Guide

My idea of heaven is a great big baked potato and someone to share it with. —Oprah Winfrey

Do Mom a Favor: Don't Take Her Out

by Kate Heyhoe

Mother's Day falls on the second Sunday in May (Sunday, May 8, 2011).

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.

breakfast

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 1995, 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. For more recipes, go to our Search feature and Archives.

And don't forget to check out our Mother's Day Gift Guide in the Global Gourmet Store for special ways to say "Mom, you're the best!"

Happy Mother's Day!