This Mother’s Day, show the moms in your life how much you appreciate all they do by serving them a healthy, memorable meal. If you’re a mom yourself, don’t forget to take time for some well-deserved self-care and me-time. When planning a celebratory brunch, keep these tips and tricks in mind:
● If you plan on giving a Mother’s Day gift, consider the gift of an experience based on your mom’s needs and interests. This could be a trip to the spa or a massage, tickets to a concert or book reading, a gift certificate to her favourite restaurant, or even a voucher for top-to-bottom house cleaning services while she’s out enjoying her experience!
● Keep your mom’s needs in mind when planning the size of the get-together. If your mom prefers intimate settings, keep the gathering small and on the quiet side. Likewise, if she enjoys larger crowds and bigger venues, you can expand the scope of the party to include more guests and a more dynamic setting.
● Order flowers ahead of time (or pick your own). To ensure your Mother’s Day flowers are exactly what you had in mind, it’s a good idea to order the bouquet ahead of time (this is especially important if the flowers will be delivered.) If you have a spring garden full of blooms, consider picking and arranging a one-of-a-kind bouquet. Be sure to store the flowers in fresh water to keep them as perky as possible.
Afternoon Tea Mother’s Day Menu
There’s no better time to enjoy an elevated afternoon of afternoon tea than on Mother’s Day. Although the terms are often used interchangeably, afternoon tea and high tea are actually different meals, with the latter being considerably more substantial and similar to what we think of as dinner. Afternoon tea consists of one or many types of tea or tisanes (also known as herbal teas), finger sandwiches, canapes, scones, and small desserts. While champagne cocktails aren’t a traditional component of afternoon tea, they’re frequently offered as part of the experience in restaurants and hotels. We’ve included a recipe for a raspberry champagne cocktail, but an orange juice mimosa is another equally-as-delicious option.
Gluten-Free Mother’s Day Menu
This gluten-free brunch menu is as much a crowd-pleaser as it is a mom-pleaser. The combination of classic breakfast recipes makes it a perfect celebratory beginning to any Mother’s Day. If you have a waffle maker, give our recipe for Denver omelette waffles a try, the crispy edges will have all your guests requesting the recipe (if not, the recipe for a Western omelette with a twist never fails to impress.) Venison is an incredibly lean, flavourful meat and can often be found in the frozen section of well-stocked supermarkets. Don’t worry if you’re unable to find fresh papaya for the salad, cantaloupe or honeydew melon are easily substituted with similar results.
Bistro-Style Vegan Mother’s Day Menu
The items on this menu are inspired by the busy brunches served up on weekends at neighbourhood bistros, with one caveat: all the recipes are plant-based. Savoury salads are often served on bistro-brunch menus, which is why we’ve included a simple recipe for mixed greens with a tangy vinaigrette. Start with the freshest greens you can find by visiting your local farmers market, selecting a complementary variety of lettuces and herbs such as basil, chervil, and parsley. Finish the meal with a serving of decadent vegan chocolate mousse, which makes use of aquafaba (the liquid from canned chickpeas) to achieve its creamy texture.
Pancake Buffet Mother’s Day Brunch
The trick to hosting a successful pancake buffet for Mother’s Day brunch? Either make sheet pan pancakes, which yields one giant pancake which is then cut into squares, or cook pancakes individually and store in a low oven until the meal is ready to begin. In addition to the suggested recipes for pancake toppings, you can also include maple syrup (mix with plain non-fat Greek yogurt for a creamy take on traditional syrup), fresh fruit, turkey bacon, and slices of Canadian bacon.