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Our 2019 Mother’s Day Menus and Entertaining Tips…to help make all the moms out there feel extra loved this year. We’re breaking down our brunch and dinners menus, as well as sharing a few entertaining tips too. Appetizers, brunch dishes, simple dinners, sides, and of course sweet cakes and more! Everything from co*cktails to desserts and even some thoughts on flowers. Basically, it’s going to be a delicious Mother’s Day!
After so many of you asked, I am finally sharing my Mother’s Day menus! Honestly, it shocked me a little that so many of you were asking about a Mother’s Day menu. But after countless messages last week via Instagram, I did a quick poll and 98% of you who follow on IG wanted my Mother’s Day menu. Therefore, very sorry to the 2% of you who could care less about this post. But for the rest of you, the day has come to talk Mother’s Day! I’m thrilled we’re all so excited to spoil our moms this Sunday. And even more thrilled that you all want to cook up something delicious to celebrate the day.
To me, food is the best (and easiest) way to show loved ones you care. Cooking a meal that I know friends and family will love is the number one reason I love to cook. It’s really why I started to cook in the first place. Of course, after many years, I now love cooking for a variety of reasons. But the main reason is still to present the people I care most about with food they will love.
I love making delicious food that looks pretty too, which is perfect when serving mom. We always want to present our moms with only the prettiest.
If you’re still looking for some last-minute gifts, be sure to read this week’s Favorite’s post. I shared a whole bunch of gifts that I know my mom would love. Looking for something homemade and personal? Make her this fun and super cute cookie gift basket.
With all this in mind, let’s jump right in to both my brunch and dinner menus. Yes, I’m sharing both menus because personally, my mom loves brunch and she loves a nice family dinner. Have a great Mother’s Day!
Recipes for A Simple Brunch
Frozen Brunch Punch
A fruity, tropical drink with a mix of Campari and rum, hints of orange, and lots of pineapple. It’s blended together with plenty of ice to make the perfect, refreshing frozen co*cktail for warm spring and summer days.
Ultimate Spring Brunch Board
This is that can’t beatbrunch spread that has something for everyone. Roasted baby potatoes, crispy bacon, smoked salmon, eggs, tomatoes with burrata, bagels, naan, and all the cream cheese and spreads that every brunch needs…and then some.
PS. make sure to read through this post, as I have a ton of tips on how to easily recreate this spread on your own.
Berry and Cream Cheese Croissant French Toast Bake
Not only is this french toast incredibly easy, it’s also better than any other french toast you’ve ever had. Soft, buttery, flaky croissants layered with sweet fruit jam and extra creamy, cream cheese. Then baked in an eggy french toast “batter”. It’s the perfect (make ahead) brunch entrée for both spring and summer, and super pretty when topped with fresh berries.
Crispy Breakfast Potatoes with Chili Garlic Oil and Herbs
Roasted baby potatoes, crispy bacon, and soft-boiled eggs, all served together and topped with a garlic chili oil and plenty of fresh herbs. Bonus? The potatoes and bacon are cooked together on ONE sheet pan, making this a super easy way to serve brunch.
Asparagus and Brie Puff Pastry with Thyme Honey
Buttery puff pastry, creamy brie, roasted asparagus, and sweet honey all come together in this simple, asparagus and brie puff pastry.
Melon Caprese Salad
Sweet cantaloupe, honeydew, and watermelon make up thisuntraditional caprese salad. Tossed with a basil infused lemon vinaigrette and finished off with fresh burrata cheese.
Fresh Fig, Prosciutto, and Arugula Salad with Cherry Tomato Vinaigrette
Summer salads are the BEST, and this one is so simple, yet so good. Fresh figs, arugula, basil, prosciutto, and burrata cheese, tossed with a delicious cherry tomato vinaigrette.
Strawberry Chamomile Olive Oil Cake with Honeyed Ricotta
Extra light and airy, this olive oil cake is moister than any butter cake out there. Hinted throughout with sweet lemon and vanilla. This cake is topped with lemony whipped ricotta plus fresh strawberries tossed in chamomile infused honey. Each and every bite is full of bright springy flavor. Made just sweet enough thanks to a touch of honey…SO GOOD!
Strawberry Bourbon Shortcakes
Bourbon infused strawberries, whipped mascarpone, and homemade buttery biscuits, to create the most perfect spring/summer dessert.
A Garden Inspired Dinner
Strawberry Hibiscus Ginger Margarita
Fresh strawberries, sweet hibiscus tea, spicy ginger, and a good splash of tequila. Super easy, refreshing, a touch sweet, and extra pretty too. The perfect weekend drink to sip on while the sun sets.
Orange Pineapple Moscow Mule
Vodka mixed with fresh lime juice, sweet orange juice, pineapple, and topped off with ginger beer…for a touch of sweetness and a little bit of bubbly! It’s vibrant, light, and so refreshing.
Caprese Burrata Garlic Bread
My go-to super easy appetizer that everyone loves. Sweet tomatoes, fresh basil, burrata cheese, and garlicky french bread. Delicious.
Corn, Tomato, and Avocado Pasta Salad
The perfect quick fix salad that’s almost no cook and comes together in minutes. Grab your favorite pasta, fresh cherry tomatoes, sweet corn, basil, cheddar cheese, and an avocado…toss it all together, and done.
Herby Everything Cheddar Swirl Buns
These rolls are easy, doughy, swirled with cheddar cheese, basil pesto, fresh herbs, and a little everything bagel spice too. Serve at your next family gathering as an easy brunch, appetizer, or even as a side dish. Everyone will love these fun (cheesy) and pretty swirl buns…perfect, springy and DELICIOUS!
Greek Lemon Chicken Bowls with Sizzled Mint Goddess Sauce
Grilled Greek chicken (or roasted), served bowl style with orzo, roasted peppers, avocado, feta cheese, cucumbers, and the most deliciously addicting sizzled mint goddess sauce.
Garlic Butter Creamed Spinach Salmon
All made in one skillet with heart healthy salmon, shallots, garlic, a touch of creamy coconut milk, parmesan cheese, plenty of fresh baby spinach, and spring herbs. Not only is this salmon easy and delicious, but it feels fancy too. Best part? It comes together in less than 30 minutes.
Caprese Pesto Pasta Bake
A fresh and easy spring dinner the entire family will enjoy. Pasta tossed with slowly roasted cherry tomatoes, basil pesto, burrata cheese, and prosciutto. All baked until the cheese is melty and the prosciutto extra crisp.
Greek Orzo Stuffed Red Peppers
Slow roasted red peppers stuffed with greek orzo, feta cheese, and topped with fresh lemony basil tomatoes.
Spring Skillet Roasted Lemon Chicken and Veggies
Chicken, potatoes, asparagus, one skillet, and about an hour or so of time. So easy, so perfect, and it comes out of the oven looking extra pretty too.
Lemon Coconut Naked Cake with Whipped Vanilla Buttercream
The pretty “garden” cake that tastes amazing too. Three soft, perfectly sweet, very moist, extra coconutty, lemon scented cake layers. Each drizzled lightly with a sweet honey lemon syrup, and then generously frosted with the most delicious whipped vanilla buttercream.
Blueberry Chamomile Galette
Bursting with fresh blueberries, sweetened with chamomile infused honey, and made using flakey, buttery, puff pastry. It’s beyond delicious, so incredibly easy, and extra pretty. Bonus? You can swap the blueberries for your favorite berry or use a combo of fresh berries!
Blackberry Lavender Naked Cake with White Chocolate Buttercream
Four layers of light and fluffy vanilla cake with homemade blackberry lavender jam, and white chocolate buttercream. This cake is nothing short of delicious. Every bite is layered with fresh berries, hints of lavender, and sweet vanilla cake. The perfect berry filled cake for any and all occasions.
Coconut Banana Cake with Chocolate Frosting
In truth, the real secret to this banana cake…the roasted bananas. Yes, roasted bananas. If you haven’t tried roasting your bananas yet, today is the day, because it is a game changer.
Peanut Butter Chocolate Chunk Oatmeal Cookies
The incredibly peanutty, chocolatey cookie that you’ve been searching for. They’re super easy, require no chill time, and one bowl. One of my moms favorite cookies.
A Few Entertaining Tips/Tricks…
– When preparing a brunch for any occasion, do your best to pick recipes that can be mostly prepped ahead. Mornings can be rush, rush, so save yourself the stress, and pick simple, make-ahead recipes.
– Always kick things off with a fun co*cktail to create a relaxing and welcoming vibe. No one likes a stiff party, co*cktails are a great way to kick things off. Need drinks with no alcohol? No worries, just omit the alcohol from recipes and add a splash more citrus and sparkling water. In truth, no-one knows the difference!
– Bring the spring flowers inside and really embrace the garden theme. Line the table with fresh-cut flowers and kick the night off with a flora co*cktail . End the night with a flora infused dessert. I have yet to meet a mom who does not love flowers, you know?!
– Lastly, add a personal touch to your table by creating a mini bouquets of flowers with small random photos of mom sticking out of each bouquet. These can act as a place setting for each plate around the table.
Hope this helps you to all have a wonderful Mother’s Day!
