mother's day ideas

Mother’s Day is a few short weeks away. You could take mom out on her special day, but do you want to spend it with hundreds of other families in a crowded restaurant? One thought is to treat mom to a special meal at home. I know, you don’t cook,  but that doesn’t mean that it’s too late to try. I think any mom would be thrilled if someone cooked for her for a change!

Back in December 2012, Southern Living Magazine had an article entitled “All I Want for Christmas is a Magical Morning.” The magazine took classic southern cake recipes and turned them into layered pancake recipes. The recipes included Hummingbird, Italian Cream, Carrot Cake, Red Velvet, German Chocolate and Caramel Cake pancakes. The only one that I have tried so far is the red velvet and my, oh my, are they decadent! 

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The pancakes are made with buttermilk, unsweetened cocoa, powered sugar and red liquid food coloring. I use instead a product from Lorann Professional Kitchen Red Velvet Bakery Emulsion, which is a professional strength food flavoring. While a red velvet cake has a cream cheese frosting, these pancakes have the same but as a sweet cream-cheese butter. When you spread this butter on just off the griddle pancakes, the cream cheese melts into the hot pancakes. When I have a craving for red velvet cake, I make these pancakes.

The chocolate milk pictured above is from Battenkill Creamery, in Salem, NY and is sold at Dreyer Farms in Cranford, NJ. The chocolate milk is made with whole milk (rich tasting!) and not sweet. It was such a treat to drink something silky and smooth. The breakfast links are from Whole Foods ($6.99/lb) and were a nice accompaniment. A savory contrast to the sweetness of the pancakes.

The same Southern Living issue has a recipe for red velvet Madeleines. Madeleines are like tiny cake cookies, two bites and you're done. Madeleines are great to serve as a light dessert or with a cup of ice cream or gelato. You do need a special Madeleine pan in which to bake these cookies. I purchased two pans which fits this recipe perfectly. The cookies easy to make and are light and delicious. I’ve also made Williams-Somona’s recipe for Lemon Madeleines, that are also wonderful.

So there, some ideas for Mother’s Day.