Let’s get one thing straight: I’d never try to guilt you into planning a stunning spread for your mom this Mother’s Day. That’s simply not me.

Having said that, she was the one who screamed through 26 hours of labor to bring you into the world. And she was the one who cooked, cleaned, made your bed and school lunch, and came to your defense every time the neighborhood bully beat you up. And she even shouted down the bully’s mother, Stella, who happened to have been her one-time best friend, when Stella tried to blame you for her kid’s torn earlobe. (Too oddly specific?)

But, like I said, no guilt here. Just a lot of mom-approved, mom-adored recipes that fairly scream, “I love you.”

Happy Mother’s Day to the real-world heroes of our lives.

David Leite's handwritten signature of 'David.'
A white oval casserole filled with asparagus, egg and cheese strata--bread, Fontina cheese, eggs, prosciutto, and asparagus
Sara Remington
1 of 12

Asparagus, Egg, and Cheese Strata

This asparagus, egg, and cheese strata, made with Fontina, asparagus, and prosciutto, can be put together ahead of time or last minute. A great breakfast or simple dinner.

I have made this recipe several times for our private very rich school in Ohio. It was served for parents and board members for meetings every time. They always requested it and I would make it several ways. I’m a retired chef and they loved the bacon, ham, or veggie one to say the least. I would have to end up making 10 of these because the members wanted to take some homes. They are simple to make and a real crowd pleaser and not one person left hungry after their meeting.

Lori
Pain perdu-French toast with raspberries piled on a plate dusted with icing sugar, a dollop of whipping cream, and raspberries.
Jonathan Lovekin
2 of 12

Pain Perdu 〜 French Toast with Raspberries

This pain perdu with raspberries and créme frâiche is good for brunch or a lazy, indulgent Sunday morning. Enjoy a different way to have toasty brioche and fruit for breakfast.
A cherry tomato, asparagus, and herbed ricotta tart on parchment on a baking sheet
Dora Kazmierak
3 of 12

Cherry Tomato, Asparagus, and Herbed Ricotta Tart

The whipped ricotta with herbs, Parmesan and garlic is sensational and should be added to all your vegetable tarts. If you have some delicious homemade pesto (or a good shop-bought one), then drizzle it over the tart for an extra layer of flavor.

A very flavorful tart. Smelled delicious as it was baking and the end product made a tasty lunch. This cherry tomato, asparagus, and herbed ricotta tart could be a lunch, dinner or appetizer!!

The ricotta spread had a nice compliment of flavors with fresh basil, garlic, parsley and lemon zest. I really enjoyed the attractive presentation of this recipe with the cherry tomatoes and asparagus. I will definitely make this again!

Gale C.
A bowl of a little gem salad--made up of little gem lettuce, radishes, shallots, walnuts, and walnut vinaigrette
Nicole Franzen
4 of 12

Little Gem Salad

Little Gem salad. Such an appropriate name. Made with Little Gem lettuce, radishes, shallots, walnuts, ricotta salata cheese, and walnut vinaigrette, it’s truly a little gem of a salad.

I was drawn to this salad recipe because I love Little Gem lettuce. This salad came together quickly and was vibrant with fresh herbs, radishes, and lemony dressing. The ricotta salata added a creamy counterpoint to the herbs and dressing, and the toasted walnuts added a nice texture.

betsy b.
Two puffy, golden Parmesan and Gruyere Cheese Souffles in white bowls on a towel.
Peter Cassidy
5 of 12

Parmesan and Gruyère Cheese Soufflé

These Parmesan and Gruyère soufflés are ethereally light and airy. Perfect for a showstopping brunch.

Fantastic recipe! Don’t let a souffle intimidate you, this is easy!

I would suggest you cook it till you get a nice dark golden top; otherwise, it’s still a bit gooey in the middle and not as well-risen as it can be. It froze well and baked up in ramekins in just 25 mins from frozen.

helen b.
A copper saucepan filled with mussels in a creamy white wine garlic sauce with lemons.
Clair Irwin
6 of 12

Mussels in a Creamy White Wine Garlic Sauce

Mussels in a creamy white wine garlic sauce is such a quick dish, you almost won't believe that something so devastatingly delish is faster than takeout. Mussels, white wine, cream, lemon, and garlic are just about all it takes.

Wow! Thank you for the simple steps, as this creamy mussels dish made me feel fancy without the hassle of constantly checking the directions to make sure I remembered each tip.

Bottom line is that my husband now likes mussels, so I’ll call it a win and plan to make it again.

Andrea Brochu
A white plate with a piece of pan-seared Moroccan salmon on a bed of orange slices, red onion, and greens with three black olives on the side.
Quentin Bacon
7 of 12

Pan-Seared Moroccan Salmon

This pan-seared Moroccan salmon is gently but perfectly spiced, comes together in minutes, is perfect for crazy weeknights yet impressive enough for entertaining, and healthy enough to remind you how good it can taste to take care of yourself.

This pan-seared salmon was so delicious! I made it for a dinner I made for my in-laws, and they loved it! Another bonus of this great dish is its presentation.

paulina
A whole roast chicken on a platter with a bowl.
David Leite
8 of 12

French Roast Chicken ~ Poulet Rôti

Poulet rôti, or French roast chicken, is a classic of the Franco culinary empire. And it's so simple: just season a chicken with herbs, place it on top of root vegetables, and, for extra flavor, baste it with plenty of butter. C'est incroyable, non?

This roast chicken was amazing. So easy to make, and the vegetables in the juices were out of this world. We may never go back to grocery store roast chicken again.

Karen W.
Two short glasses of blueberry prosecco spritz on coasters with thyme sprigs for garnish.
Eric Medsker
9 of 12

Blueberry Prosecco Spritz

This simple recipe for a low-alcohol cocktail is made with muddled blueberries, fresh thyme, lemon juice, simple syrup, sparkling wine, and tonic or soda water. It's simple, refreshing, and perfect for a hot summer day.

Wow, just amazing. I loved this blueberry Prosecco spritz recipe. I think this drink is a perfect solution for the summer season.

Helen K.
2 hands, each holding a wine glass 3 quarters full of a bubbly orange cocktail with ice and an orange slice.
David Leite
10 of 12

Aperol Spritz

An Aperol spritz is a quintessential summer cocktail. Popular in Italy, Aperol is a lower alcohol content digestif but the addition of orange hard seltzer and prosecco make up for it in this iteration. Cin cin!
Moist lemon drizzle cake squares stacked on a white plate with a sugar crust, next to a cup of coffee and a bowl of lemons.
David Leite
11 of 12

Lemon Drizzle Cake

Lemon drizzle cake is a perennial favorite for snacking, dessert, or even breakfast, if you’re so inclined. Tangy lemon and a crackly sweet icing make it perfect anytime.

This lemon drizzle cake recipe was quick and easy, and I would definitely make it again. The ingredients are easy to access, and it makes a perfect dessert or sweet breakfast. If you like lemon, this is the perfect option for you. It is very flavourful, light, and citrusy; overall a great recipe.

dylan
A flourless chocolate cloud cake topped with billows of whipped cream on a metal platter.
David Leite
12 of 12

Flourless Chocolate Cloud Cake

This flourless chocolate cloud cake is a wickedly elegant dessert that’s deceptively easy to make. Just four ingredients–chocolate, eggs, butter, and sugar–come together for a crunchy-on-the-outside, airy-on-the-inside cake.

We literally couldn’t stop eating this, it was SO good. The cake was so light and chocolatey with hints of orange. Followed the recipe exactly except we only had Cointreau so we used 1 tbsp of that since we figured it might be a bit stronger.

Karishma
Can you suggest some easy Mother’s Day brunch ideas?

Some easy Mother’s Day brunch ideas include avocado toast, homemade pancakes or waffles, deep-dish French toast casserole, and yogurt parfaits. These can be personalized with toppings like fresh fruit, nuts, and syrup. If you’d like to get a little fancier, try our classic eggs Benedict.

What recipes can kids make for Mother’s Day?

If you’ve got little hands that want to help make Mom’s Day special, enlist their help to make simple scrambled eggs, old-fashioned coconut layer cake, or this easy condensed-milk icebox cake.

When is Mother’s Day?

Good question! In the US and Canada, as well as much of the world, Mother’s Day is celebrated on the second Sunday in May. In the UK, it is celebrated in March and is often referred to as “Mothering Sunday.” Make sure to set a reminder!

Still looking for more food ideas for Mother’s Day? I got you! Check out our entire collection of Mother’s Day recipes. Let us know your Mom’s favorite meal in a comment below.




About David Leite

I count myself lucky to have received three James Beard Awards for my writing as well as for Leiteโ€™s Culinaria. I’m the author of The New Portuguese Table and Notes on a Banana. For more than 25 years, I’ve been developing and testing recipes for my site, my books, and publications. My work has also appeared in the New York Times, Martha Stewart Living, Saveur, Bon Appรฉtit, Gourmet, Food & Wine, Yankee, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, Washington Post, and more. I’m also a cooking teacher, memoirist, and inveterate cat lady.


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2 Comments

  1. My grandmother was Stella Rose! I’m taking Mother’s Day dinner to my niece & her kids since I’m not a mother. Being an aunt is the best job in the world – you get to spoil the kids & then take them home.

    Happy Mother’s Day to Mama Leite.
    xo

    1. Dottie, if your grandma was Stella Rose, does your uncle have a ripped earlobe?!!! Happy Auntie Day to you. And I’ll pass on your best wish to Mama Leite.