An International Mother's Day

 Tomorrow Mom will probably be greeted with the usual homemade brunch. There may be eggs and bacon. Toast will be there.Maybe it'll be capped off with a mimosa. Yet why not give the lady of the day something extraordinary? Take her on a culinary tour of the world!

Instead of the usual breakfast, look to France and crepes. Think about a simple folded one with some butter and sugar. Some may see this as a chic little pancake, but it's much more. It's a delicate batter made up of eggs,melted  butter whole milk, water and flour. The batter is put into the fridge for an hour or two. This ensures a lighter , crisper crepe. It's then pouring the batter into a lightly oiled pan and cooking for two minutes. It can be served with brandy butter or just lemon juice and granulated sugar. For a savory start to the day look south of the border to Mexico. Huevos rancheros are a hearty way to begin a fun filled day.It's basically a sunny side up egg served on a  warmed tortilla and topped with beans and warmed salsa.  Serve with a big margarita mocktail. Shakshouka, a spicy egg dish from the Middle East and North Africa is another interesting breakfast option. This is poached eggs simmering in a tomato and onion based sauce. Various spices such as paprika, cumin and chili powder are added.Garlic and green peppers also give this flavor. Serve with warmed pita wedges for a truly unique Mother's Day brunch.

Lunch and dinner can also be just as special and just as international. Choley , an Indian chickpea curry that also goes by the name chana masala is an excellent meal choice. One of the best recipes for it comes from the famed Brass sisters, Marilynn and Sheila from their Heirloom Cooking With The Brass Sisters. : Recipes You Remember and Love. Chickpeas, whole tomatoes, chopped onions and potatoes are cooked in a tantalizing sauce of garam masala cumin seeds, curry and chili powder, You can add spinach too if you want and sub in another kind of bean for the potatoes. It's an easy cook that takes less than half an hour. Ethiopian  cooking has given us some savory and memorable dishes. Try the country's vegan lentil stew redolent with berbere spice.It's too late to order this from Amazon but you can easily make it at home. It's blending paprika, cayenne, ground ginger, and fenugreek , along with nutmeg, ginger and ground cloves. The lentils are cooked in spiced butter or oil ( you can use the berbere spice for it) along with tomato paste, chopped onions and a mix of freshly minced ginger and garlic. Cilantro is also added for flavor and color. Once cooked you can serve it with naan or pita. You could also make teff bread,a kind of crepe made with teff flour , to serve with it as the Ethiopians do.

Get away from the traditional Mother's Day fare. Try something other than the typical American dishes. Go to France or India.Visit Mexico, the Middle East or Ethiopia. Make Mom's day a truly international one,

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.