I could always count on receiving a plant from my mom on Mother's Day. My favorite one would be a beautiful begonia she had started from one of her own plants "brought in" from the previous summer.
As I spoke of in my last post, my mom is no longer here to celebrate this special day---to give me a begonia or for me to buy her a Mother's Day card. In all of my sadness over missing her, I hadn't realized that my family was settling into new Mother's Day traditions. They may not be as sappy over the day as I am, but they recognized the specialness of it and certainly made every effort to make this Mother's Day one of joy and happiness.
My husband masterminded the MOTHER'S DAY BRUNCH 2008. I had NOTHING to do with it, except pull out the dishes I wanted to use and show him where the electric griddle was stored. All matters of brunchness usually fall into my hands (actually, brunch is one meal I love to fix, as I am crazy about breakfast-type food)---but this year, a new tradition was launched, and my job was to lean back and enjoy it.
First, the flowers. He picked out the lovely bouquet of cut beauties. These served as the centerpiece on the kitchen island. My photo does not do justice to their amazing colors.
Then my husband sat the table! In all of the MANY, MANY years we have been married, I believe this is a "table setting first". Overall, a pretty fine job. I'm not sure why he put all of the coffee cups in one spot. He must have gotten side-tracked.
Our daughter, rolled in from working her third twelve hour night shift in a row---and created this beautiful fruit salad. I would have stumbled straight for bed, as she had one more night of work ahead of her, but YOUTH (and her love for her mom) kicked in and she was able to prepare food and participate with the family in our Mother's Day Feast.
Our son (with the recipe from our daughter-in-law) made this wonderful Caramel French Toast Casserole. He is a great cook and so is my DIL. I thought you would enjoy this recipe--- they were happy to pass it on:
1 C brown sugar
6 T butter
1/3 C whipping cream
1 T light corn syrup
-----------------------
3 eggs
1/2 C milk
1 t vanilla
1/4 t salt
8 slices French bread
Butter(or spray) a 13 x 9 glass baking dish. In a 2 quart saucepan, mix the first group of ingredients over medium heat until smooth--do not boil--this makes the caramel. Spread in the glass baking dish. In a shallow bowl, mix the next four ingredients. Dip the bread slices in the egg mixture. Place the slices in the pan over the caramel. Refrigerate 8 hours. Bake at 400 for 20-25 min. (my DIL pointed out that she typically bakes it 30-40 min.) until slightly brown. Turn upside down to serve--or just keep in the baking dish).
Our daughter also prepared the strawberries and pound cake, as shown, and my husband fixed the rest himself: scrambled eggs, hash browns, and turkey bacon. Recalling that I had been whining about not having biscuits and gravy in such a long time---he made a special trip to pick up two orders of that treat for the feast.
This gift came from my DIL, son and grand daughter. My DIL is a representative for Uppercase Living and she made this wonderful patriotic decorative using one of the products from her company. She placed the wording on a glass block, then enhanced it with cute ribbons. I just love it!
My husband was worried about pulling off the brunch with no one being "sick or burned or hungry". The only incident occurred while he was cooking the turkey bacon. He filled the griddle with as much bacon as it would hold, then remembered he wanted to pick up the biscuits and gravy (at the store). While he was gone, I heard a rattling of paper from the kitchen and didn't immediately go and check on the source of the sound. When I did, I saw my daughter's "precious" Izzie dog scamper away from the empty bacon package on the floor. I scolded her and didn't think anything about it until later, when my husband had returned with the bounty of biscuits. He turned on the griddle and asked me, "Where's the rest of the bacon"? My mental picture was: empty wrapper +scampering dog. "How much was in the package"?, I replied. "About half", he said. RATS, I thought. What will be happening to that dog in a few hours?????? "Well, I think I know where the bacon is", I cheerfully responded.
She does look really innocent in that photo, doesn't she? hmmmmm.
All the while the dog was feasting on half a package of turkey bacon, my black cat Frankie and THE STONE RABBIT just looked out the window. They have way too much refinement to behave in such a manner. They both feel Izzie is a pest and she pretty much put the lid on that issue.
So, while we were short on turkey bacon at our MOTHER'S DAY FEAST, we were long on love. The two mom's in our little family gathering were honored and appreciated and fed a gourmet brunch.
Thank you to my great family for such a terrific day. Dana
PS The dog was fine.
WOW!
Dana,
You enjoyed a Queens Day.
What a lovely family you have, and please tell your husband, he's a winner with me!
Sorry about all the explanation points... I can't help it!
Love,
Jill xoo
Posted by: Jill | May 13, 2008 at 12:36 PM
Oh My .... your brunch looks scrumptious! And I laughed out loud about the coffee cups. I don't think my husband has ever set the table but he can cook a mean scrambled egg....way better than me.
Posted by: Lynn @ theVintageNest | May 13, 2008 at 03:46 PM
You had a wonderful Mother's Day, Dana!
I just read your comment at the back porch. I had no idea, Missouri has had so many tornadoes this year! WOW! My son in law travels for his job and was on the lower floor of a hotel in KC, when the tornadoes came through. The roof was blown off the hotel. He had no idea what happened until it was over!
Pat
Posted by: Pat | May 13, 2008 at 04:04 PM
Sounds like you had a wonderful Mothers Day!
The recipe sounds delicious! Going to write it down! Frankie and The Stone Rabbit looks content! As for as that goes I think Izzy looks content too!
Posted by: Bonnie | May 13, 2008 at 07:17 PM