How to Host a Stress-Free Mother’s Day Brunch
By Marci Lutsky
In my normal everyday life, breakfast and lunch are typically eaten standing up or on the go while doing seventeen other things. So on Mother’s Day I like to enjoy a relaxed, leisurely brunch. Sometimes I host brunch and sometimes my mom hosts. My husband always makes dinner on Mother’s Day so I don’t mind getting brunch together. I prefer to skip going to a restaurant for brunch since it’s hard to get a reservation and restaurants are usually very crowded on this day. If you are hosting Mother’s Day brunch, here are some tips to help you prepare a lovely gathering with minimal stress.
Plan your menu in advance. I usually like to make a casserole of some sort as the main dish, either something with eggs like a frittata or a French toast casserole. Since Mother’s Day falls right when spring produce is starting to become available, I like to feature asparagus or fresh greens in my dish. Many casseroles can be assembled the night before and simply popped in the oven about an hour before guests arrive. I like to serve fresh bagels so I usually ask my husband to head to the bagel store that day for an assortment of bagels and spreads. Then I will slice tomatoes and onions and chop lettuce for the bagels. Fresh fruit is a must at my brunch. If you wanted to get a little fancy, you could do make your own strawberry shortcake parfaits. Put out some chopped strawberries, homemade whipped cream and cut up pound cake and let guests make their own parfaits. This is really fun.
Next you need to think about drinks. Fresh brewed coffee is a must at any brunch as is juice (bonus if it’s fresh squeezed but let’s not get carried away). If you want to make a boozy treat, you can’t go wrong with mimosas (orange juice + champagne) or bloody mary’s (tomato juice and vodka based drink).
I like to set a pretty table for brunch with a spring themed tablecloth and fresh flowers. While some people like using disposable plates and silverware for parties, I much prefer using my everyday dishes. It’s more eco-friendly and takes only a few minutes to load in the dishwasher. You can always ask the husband or kids to load the dishwasher since it’s Mother’s Day!
I always get gifts for the moms I invite to brunch. You don’t need to go with elaborate gifts because it’s the thought that counts. Last year I bought succulents in beautiful handmade pots from Pottery Therapy at the Linwood Farmers Market for my mom and mother-in-law. It always makes me smile when I see them displayed at their houses when I visit. Orchids or plants make for great Mother’s Day gifts as do cookbooks. I’m not able to spend Mother’s Day with my sisters since they don’t live locally but I like to send them gifts. This year I’m planning to send them the new cookbook by Nicole Gaffney called The Art of the Smoothie Bowl.
To all the mothers out there, this is your day to relax and enjoy because you work so hard every single day. This will be my eighth Mother’s Day celebrating as a mom. I consider myself so lucky to a mom which is the best job I’ve ever had. I wish all of my fellow moms a wonderful day filled with love and relaxation!
Marci Lutsky is a food blogger at Vegging at the Shore, www.veggingattheshore.com and can be reached at veggingattheshore@gmail.com.
