Mother's Day only comes around once a year, so you should make it extra special to celebrate everything the moms in your life do on a daily basis. Go all out and whip up a next-level homemade meal — we're here to help you build the ultimate menu, whether you're making brunch or dinner. This collection of recipes spans breakfast to dessert with co*cktails, appetizers, and all sorts of dishes in between, so you have options for a celebration any time of day. Make a batch of Tamarind Millionaire's Shortbread for a sweet treat, have this creamy vegan pasta on deck if you need a meatless dinner, or whip up these Pecan-Plantain Sticky Buns for brunch. Whichever one (or two, or three) you pick, you'll have memorably delicious results. Read on for more ideas to celebrate the moms in your life.
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Pecan-Plantain Sticky Buns
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Pastry chef Paola Velez created these pecan-covered treats as a tribute to her Dominican mom's love of both plantains and sticky buns. The soft, ripe plantain gets cooked down to a smooth filling with a touch of brown sugar and a slew of spices, including not only cinnamon and vanilla but also black pepper, allspice, nutmeg, and ginger for added depth.
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Smashed-Banana Bread
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At Dovecote Café in Baltimore, this banana bread is one of many awesome baked goods that has historically been served on a daily basis. The recipe comes from owner Aisha Pew's mother, Gilda Bain-Pew, and includes super-ripe bananas and a hit of banana liqueur (but it's still quite good without the liqueur).
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Stovetop Asparagus Frittata
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For this single-serving frittata, chef Nancy Silverton cooks the eggs gently, then tops them with asparagus, prosciutto, and crème fraîche. Since the frittata is not warmed in the oven, it's best to have the toppings at room temperature. Also, keep them near the pan so you can work quickly once the eggs are cooked.
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Pasta Primavera
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This Pasta Primavera is buttery and rich but still feels light from the lemon zest and fresh herbs—it's the perfect dish to make after a visit to your local farmers market. The colorful play of spring vegetables makes it as pleasing to the eyes as it is to your palate; if you're lucky enough to find beautiful red or purple carrots, add them after cooking to keep from giving your pasta dish a blushing hue.
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Chicken Freekeh Skillet with Warm Feta-Lemon Relish
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"It's garlicky, a little spicy, herby, and full of surprises," cookbook author and F&W Cooks contributor Ann Taylor Pittman says about the relish in this recipe. "First, it includes firm feta cheese that gently warms to the point that it becomes soft and almost gooey — which is the way I always want feta from now on. The relish also gets a brazen hit of citrus from chopped lemon sections, which offer tart, juicy bursts that are way more forward than lemon juice would be. The effect is an unsubtle finishing touch that balances out the nutty grains and meaty chicken."
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Ruby Red Spritz
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This rosy, bittersweet aperitif is the perfect opener for a Mother's Day dinner. If you want it sweeter, add a dash of simple syrup, or replace the fizzy soda water with a splash of grapefruit soda.
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Sausage and Red Onion Sheet Pan Quiche
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This quiche was inspired by a foot-long quiche chef Cedric Maupillier has historically served at Convivial in Washington, D.C. This version, prepared in a rimmed baking sheet, makes plenty for the whole family.
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Any-Season Caesar Salad
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A robust, creamy dressing and a few minutes on the grill help to tame chicories or sturdy—even bolted—lettuces in this bright salad. Swapping mayonnaise for raw egg means this dressing stays fresh in the fridge all week.
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Victoria Sandwich
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A buttery, vanilla-scented cake, sandwiched with sweet jam (and often whipped cream), is a British teatime classic. In this version, fresh raspberries are added to the filling as well, delivering a tart, juicy contrast to the sweet jam. Be sure to take the time to cream the butter and sugar thoroughly—that essential step provides lift and good structure to the cake.
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Sourdough Buttermilk Waffles
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If you can't find full-fat buttermilk at the market, you're better off substituting a mix of milk and sour cream instead when making these waffles. Collect your sourdough discard in a bowl in the fridge, adding to it until you have enough for the recipe.
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Strawberry-Rhubarb Cornmeal Skillet Cake
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Juicy strawberries and tart rhubarb stud the golden brown top of this simple skillet cake. The mix of all-purpose flour and fine cornmeal gives this dessert a pound-cake-like density, while goat cheese and buttermilk keep the crumb nicely tender and moist. A dollop of rosemary-infused whipped cream ties the sweet and savory flavors together.
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Rosy Hibiscus-Gin Lowball
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On the fence when it comes to gin? Try a sip of this gateway co*cktail. Known as sorrel in parts of Africa, roselle—the type of hibiscus used in most hibiscus teas—complements the floral notes of gin, resulting in a refreshing, balanced beverage. Stir leftover hibiscus tea into lemonade for a refreshing nonalcoholic sipper.
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Lamb Shoulder Chops with Herb and Sunflower Seed Salad
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Lamb shoulder chops cook quickly; they're a very forgiving cut that's perfect for outdoor grilling. Here, Food & Wine's Justin Chapple pairs the grilled lamb with a simple salad of parsley, cilantro, dill, mint, chives, and crunchy sunflower seeds—the tender herbs are a fresh foil for the lamb. Pick up one bunch of chives and two bunches each of parsley, cilantro, dill, and mint for the herb salad.
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Madeira-Braised Swiss Chard with Garam Masala, Sultanas, and Toasted Almonds
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In this recipe from cookbook author and F&W Cooks contributor Andrea Slonecker, Swiss chard cooks down into tender, silky ribbons when braised with fruity Madeira and complex, tangy, earthy garam masala. Be sure to have some bread on-hand to use to sop up the flavorful cooking liquid.
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Sizzling Garlic Salmon with Sheet Pan Potatoes
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For this sheet pan dinner, baby potatoes, red onion, and spring onions get a head start in a hot oven before they are joined by a side of salmon. The salmon is slathered with mustard and drizzled with toasted garlic oil, and then cooked alongside the vegetables for a seamless final presentation.
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Creamy Vegan Pasta with Greens, Peas, and Lemon Zest
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Quickly blanched greens and sizzling scallions and garlic meet in a surprisingly creamy vegan sauce for pasta, with a touch of white miso for added depth. Feel free to top with your favorite grated plant-based cheese, or just enjoy it all on its own.
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Wild Mushroom Toasts
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For his wild mushroom toasts, chef Michael Reed starts with griddled sourdough bread, slathers it with homemade hollandaise sauce, tops it with sautéed mushrooms and spinach, and then crowns it with a mound of rich scrambled eggs. The end result is an impressive dish perfect for brunch. Reed uses a mix of mushrooms such as enoki, morel, and maitake, but you can use a mix of any fresh mushrooms available at the market.
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White Asparagus Soup with Pickled Ramps and Hazelnuts
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Winemaker and restaurateur André Mack's silky white asparagus soup is buttery and creamy with a mild sweetness from the asparagus and a touch of acidity from the pickled ramps that brightens the entire dish. Roasted hazelnuts and hazelnut oil lend a deliciously nutty body to the soup and make a beautiful garnish. If ramps are out of season, spring onions make a good substitute here. Straining the soup thoroughly is key to its final, silken texture.
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Blueberry Almond Yogurt Toast
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Yogurt toast is sometimes called custard toast, which offers a clue to how the simple mixture of yogurt, egg, and syrup baked on top of a piece of toast beautifully mimics the texture and flavor of French toast or even a cheese Danish. It comes together in just a few minutes, making it an option even on busy mornings. Thick Greek-style yogurt works best here to achieve the creamy texture you want in the custard; use a flavored yogurt if you like but taste it before adding the maple syrup and cut down on the amount used if necessary so it isn't too sweet. If you don't have brioche, you can use challah or any other soft bread here; save the sturdy wholegrain sourdough for another use. And feel free to play around with the toppings as well; raspberries, strawberries, cranberries and other berries work nicely here, slice them if they are on the larger side. Or you can use thinly sliced bananas, peaches, pears, or figs, and further dress your yogurt toast with chocolate chips or dollops of peanut butter or chocolate-hazelnut spread.
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Tamarind Millionaire's Shortbread
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The sourness of tamarind breathes new life into the classic Millionaire's Shortbread (also affectionately known as Caramel Slice), a traybake of layered shortbread, caramel, and chocolate that has been a fixture in home cook's kitchens since 1970 when the recipe was first published in the Australian Women's Weekly Magazine. Tamarind concentrate adds a gloriously sharp acidic profile to balance the decadent caramel layer of this version of the afternoon treat, topped with the bitter sweetness of dark chocolate and a coconutty shortbread biscuit base (food writer Rosie Birkett first pioneered this wonderful flavor combination).
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Honey-Ricotta Mousse with Strawberries
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This velvety-smooth, berry-topped mousse requires very little time to make—it comes together in just 15 minutes, and then needs just an hour in the refrigerator to firm up. The mousse is a beautiful canvas for all kinds of toppings. Here, it's garnished with crunchy sliced toasted almonds and juicy fresh strawberries and a final drizzle of honey, but it's adaptable to what's in season or what you like best: you can substitute sweet orange segments or jammy figs for the strawberries, change up the honey drizzle with maple syrup, or try another crunchy topping, like your favorite granola or crushed pistachios, in place of the sliced almonds.
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French Onion Baked Brie
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If that first spoonful of French onion soup — with toasted bread, melted cheese, and savory caramelized onions — is your favorite, then you’ll love this appetizer, which is a decadent mash-up of French onion soup and baked Brie. Smear the cheesy snack on slices of toasted baguette.
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Turmeric-Poached Eggs with Chive Biscuits and Lobster Gravy
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This decadent brunch dish is reminiscent of crawfish étouffée, but with the West Coast vibes found all over the menu at chef Brooke Williamson's beachside restaurant complex, Playa Provisions. Lobster lends the gravy rich flavor, while the turmeric eggs add a sunny pop of color. Make the lobster gravy the day beforehand and reheat it gently to make brunch an easier lift.
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The Best Cucumber Sandwich
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The only reason you think cucumber sandwiches are boring is because you haven't had one that is made right, says chef Vishwesh Bhatt. Benedictine, a creamy spread of cucumber and herbs; along with a spicy and herbaceous peanut pesto with serrano chile, cilantro, and citrus; and chaat masala add verve to these sandwiches. And after layering in the crisp cucumbers, spicy chile slices, and juicy tomatoes, take a bite. "Once you serve this one, it's going to become a fixture at your summer parties," Bhatt says.
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Citrus and Avocado Salad with Pickled Onions
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Grapefruit, blood oranges, pickled red onions, avocado, and watercress come together for this gloriously colorful salad from chef Deborah Madison
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Chocolate Granola Pie
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If you’ve got a bag of granola and a chocolate bar, you are already well on your way to making this easy, fast granola chocolate pie. Feel free to use any style of granola — different combinations of nuts, grains, and dried fruit add to the complexity of the pie, but it's also delicious with just oats and coconut. The molasses and eggs form a light custard that balances the sweetness of the chocolate, while the granola and coconut give it crunch throughout. Serve this pie warm or at room temperature, and add a little ice cream on top if you like — vanilla, chocolate, caramel, and butter pecan ice creams work especially well.
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Biscoff Banana Pudding
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The subtle spice of Biscoff cookies helps to balance the sweetness of each decadent layer of creamy custard and fresh bananas in this tall and impressive banana pudding for a crowd. It's inspired by one made by 2019 F&W Best New Chef Kwame Onwuachi's aunt Yolanda, of Beaumont, Texas, which he tasted on a recent trip to connect with his roots in Louisiana and Texas.
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