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Left to their own devices, kids can come up with some pretty unique Mother’s Day brunch menus. One of my favorites was getting miso soup with a doughnut and a Coke. While I can say that my son knows me well enough to include things I love on the menu, he doesn’t always hit the mark with what would be a complementary menu.
We’ve compiled some Mother’s Day brunch ideas to help make the day perfect for mom this year.
The origins of Mother’s Day and the traditional brunch menu
Mother’s Day is the second Sunday in May and is often celebrated with a family brunch. But where does that come from? There was a big lobby on the part of Anna Jarvis, daughter of an activist from West Virginia, to have the work of mothers recognized. Jarvis had already worked hard with “mothers’ day work clubs” to have improved sanitary conditions and she sought for there to be an appreciation for what mothers everywhere did for people in the community such as wounded soldiers. In 1914 Woodrow Wilson made Mother's Day official.
While Jarvis eventually grew weary of the commercialism of the new holiday, mothers everywhere loved the idea. The concept of the brunch was introduced to lighten the work women had to do in a day by reducing the number of meals from three to two. Today, this is a way to give mom a break from having to prepare a large meal for the day.
The traditional Mother’s Day brunch is a hearty meal that is satisfying and filling. During Prohibition, the Mother’s Day brunch consisted of egg dishes and pastries with leisurely cocktails — specifically illegal whisky mixed with enough fruit juice so it is easily consumed.
Today’s brunches are much the same with various eggs, pancakes, sausages, and pastries filling plates everywhere. Of course, the drink of choice for moms is any version of a mimosa to aid in relaxation.
How to plan a brunch menu: Examples of easy dishes for spouses and kids
If you follow the path of my son, pretty much anything goes for a Mother’s Day menu. While not traditional, I certainly appreciated my son’s efforts in keeping me out of the kitchen. But if you really want things that will wow the mom in your life, here’s a list of some of our favorite recipes.
Go beyond scrambled eggs with some of these easy show stoppers:
- Tomato and watermelon salad: A light and fresh salad that is the perfect Spring brunch meal. Basil and feta give this salad a lovely balance of flavors.
- Cream cheese celery boats: Easy enough for the kids to make. These cream cheese boats are flavored with "everything but the bagel" seasoning which is one of our favorites.
- No-bake lemon tarts: Make sure there are plenty of sweets at brunch with these tangy treats that will have everyone thinking you spent a ton of time on them.
- Avocado Toast with Smoked Salmon: Quick and easy for the kids to make and savory delicious for mom to enjoy. This makes a good protein dish when cooking abilities are limited.
- Strawberry mimosa: Let dad put this one together but as recommended by Crystle Smith, the Baking Beauty, “Forget orange juice! Use in-season strawberries to make Mom a delicious mimosa.”
“Is it wrong that I love that mimosas are a standard part of Mother’s Day?” mom JoAnn Chen — who has three kids under the age of five — queried Mom.com. “If I’m being honest, you could just give me a pitcher of mimosas with a bowl of fruit and I’d probably be happy.”
Customize it: How you can adapt if for your own tastes or dietary needs
Of course, not every brunch menu can be the same. If you’re like me, you may have certain dietary restrictions and personal preferences that come into play. For example, my son knows that above anything else, there is no need to pour me a glass of milk – even if it’s spiked with Kahlua. My stomach won’t have it, nope, none of it and that’s the bottom line!
You want Mother’s Day brunch to be something that everyone can eat, after all. For simplicity sake, it’s best to make sure the menu is filled with things that the whole family will love. Maybe not everything on the menu is for everyone, but the kids will get filled by the end of the meal with it.
If there are certain dietary restrictions, do be mindful of that when creating a list of brunch ingredients. While my lactose intolerance will make me miserable for the afternoon, it isn’t likely to cause me serious harm. If anyone has allergies or is on a serious diet for medical reasons, make sure to adapt the menu to accommodate that. This might mean replacing peanut butter with almond butter. You might want to avoid desserts that are deep fried for someone dealing with cholesterol problems.
Even with restrictions, you can come up with a wide variety of options that mom will love and everyone in the family can eat. Remember that the goal is to give mom a day off, so whatever you do should include cleaning the kitchen after.
