A Very Special Mother's Day

This Mother's Day is going to be different. There's no dress up brunches at fancy buffets. No picnics at the beach or the park. We may have to stay in, yet there's no reason why we can't make it a special day with special meals and treats.

Breakfast is always the most important meal on Mother's Day. It can still be festive. Think French toast, always a treat. You could make the usual way with a batter of milk, egg , cinnamon and vanilla but vary the bread. Use Italian or French bread for a denser slice that's perfect drowning in maple syrup and melted butter. Challah and egg bread are also good too, creating a thicker piece that works well with both syrups and jams. A really lush treat is a plate of French toast croissants. These can be split to be stuffed with almond butter or mom's favorite jelly or jam.A French toast casserole is an easy bake.It's an easy creation that's similar to bread pudding. It would be a great dessert after a few mini omelets. A mini omelet is a fun way to add protein to the meal.. Everyone can enjoy a one egg one with different fillings. You don't have to have meat , Fill them with  chopped tomatoes, peppers, and onions along with broccoli and spinach. Add a dash of hot sauce for a huevos rancheros vibe. You can even turn them into sandwiches by placing them on toasted English muffins. Add slices of cheese such as cheddar and Montery Jack for extra flavor.

Lunch and dinner can be a restaurant worthy too. A tasty dish  mothers are sure to love is risotto Milanese.This is an elegant meal , great served on fancy china and accompanied by a chilled Chardonnay from Piemonte. Everyone thinks that this type of risotto is a fancy and labor intensive dish, but once mastered, is easily made again.It's sweating a chopped onion and adding arborio rice to the pot Wine is then added and for the color saffron soaked veggie or chicken broth. It does require saffron which is a bit pricey and hard to get however it's really the backbone of the recipe. A simple , yet just as elegant dish is pasta aglia e olio, It's usually angel hair or spaghetti topped with a very easy garlic and oil sauce. It's toasting the garlic in olive oil and then tossing in red pepper flakes for excitement and bite.Sprinkle Parmesan  and parsley on it when served. Have the  barbecue ready if the weather is warm. Even if there is a meat or beef shortage think Gardein Burgers or Beyond Burgers, They taste the same as the real thing, You can even layer them with tomato, onions and lettuce. Add homemade guacamole and special sauce (It's just a mix of relish, mayo and ketchup). As for sides, homemade potato salad is an easy make along with macaroni salad. End with an outdoor movie and popcorn.

Mother's Day can still be special with special dishes. They're relatively easy to make and sure to be a new favorite with the moms in your lives. Try them for a tasty and delicious holiday treat.