Mother’s Day Recipes: Breakfast, Lunch, Beverages & Desserts

Treat your mum or wife to breakfast in bed or cocktails on the back porch this Mother’s Day. Here are some recipes to get you started in planning the day.

I always knew I was going to have boys. In fact, a needle on a thread told me so when I was seventeen. Come on, some of you have played that game at a baby shower or during a high school sleepover, right? Needle prophecies aside, I always had a deep-seated feeling that I was going to spend my time engaged in Nerf gun wars rather than cutting out paper dolls, and memorizing lines from Star Wars (“Luke, I am your father.”) rather than acting out scenes from Disney princess movies.

There are some days when I feel like I should be wearing a black and white striped shirt and wielding a whistle to keep control of the wrestling bouts that spontaneously break out in various rooms of our home. What the heck is that all about anyways? Is it not possible to play with another person without experiencing the need to sit on top of them while twisting their arm around their back? For 7- and 10-year old boys, the answer is clearly a resounding “No!”

One of the endearing things about boys is that they can turn from wild banshees to cuddly teddy bears within mere minutes. Even as they grow older, they still humor me when I ask them to snuggle in beside me on the couch or to give me a big hug before heading off to school. I’ll take hours of chaos just to be able to capture those moments of tenderness. As tall as they may grow, as deep as their voices may become, they will always be my little boys. I am truly blessed.

Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers. And, especially, Happy Mother’s Day to my mum and mother-in-law (see my tribute to them).

Breakfast:
Whether you take your mum/wife breakfast in bed or set a pretty table (hint: a few flowers always do the trick), these breakfast ideas are a wonderful way to kick off her day.

Clockwise from top left:
Make-Ahead Eggs with Bacon, Mushrooms & Sage
Glazed Pink Grapefruit Quick Bread
Whole Wheat Waffles with Blueberry Maple Syrup
Southwestern Eggs Benedict with Black Bean Spread, Avocado & Salsa

Beverages:
Any of these drinks can be served at brunch or later in the day. What mother doesn’t enjoy a special drink, with alcohol or not, brought to her while she lounges under a shady tree in the backyard?

Left to right:
The Caesar Cocktail (a.k.a. The Canadian Bloody Mary)
Mocha Brandy Frappe (recipe from Smith Bites)
Green Tea, Berry & Yogurt Smoothie

Lunch:
Whip up a flavorful pasta salad or sandwich wrap, pack it all in a picnic basket and head to the park. Make sure to pack a blanket so that your mum/wife can spread it out on the grass for a little nap while everyone else plays.

Clockwise from top left:
Whole Wheat Pasta Salad with Salmon, Tomatoes & Herb Dressing
Salad Cups with Quinoa, Shrimp & Lemon Dressing
Healthy Shrimp Wrap with Curry Yogurt & Spinach
Creamy Asparagus Soup with Lemon & Thyme

Desserts:
As much as we are all trying to eat healthfully, I think most mums would agree that Mother’s Day is the perfect time to splurge on a little treat.

Clockwise from top left:
Lime Squares with Gingersnap Crust
Chewy Nutella & Oatmeal Bars
Lemonade Layer Cake
Peach Crumb Bars with Hazelnut Streusel

Happy Mother’s Day to all of the mums out there.