Happy Mother's Day!!!

Did you know that only one holiday actually keeps florists busier than Valentine's Day? And unless you've been stuck in a remote island a la Tom Hanks in Cast Away, you'd know that I'm talking about Mother's Day. And yes, it's THIS Sunday, Peeps. (Remember, Mother's Day is on the 2nd Sunday of May and Father's Day is on the 3rd Sunday of June...ALWAYS.)

So what do you give a woman who has everything? 1. I know your first instinct will be to pick-up the phone and order some flowers. Of course she'll love them, I truly believe ALL women love receiving flowers no matter what they say. (Mabolo) 2. If you know Mother Darling's favorite scents, which you really should know by now, you can pick up a bottle of perfume, beauty products or candles. 3. Or you can go the hobby route - book lover (Check out The NY Times Best Sellers), entertainment junkie (CDs and movies), or domestic diva (kitchen gadgets or gardening tools). 4. Then again, a pampering session at a spa (The Spa) will always be appreciated. 


But what if you want to try something different this year? A Mother's Day Brunch could be just 2 notches harder than ordering take-out. Who knows, this may inspire you to bring out your inner Giada or Ina.

Grocery List: (Most of the things here you probably already have in your kitchen)

1. FOJ (That's how we now call fresh orange juice according to my slow-cooking amiga, you know who you are...)
2. champagne or other sparkling wine
3. coffee or hot chocolate
4. pancake mix
5. Sprite
6. eggs
7. bread (preferably of the loaf variety)
8. fancy cheese
9. fruits

Let this be your inspiration: Once again, we call on Martha...Recipe: Martha's Mother's Day Breakfast
What to do with the heart-shaped bread? Fancy grilled cheese! Lay out thin slices of your preferred cheese (make sure you don't fill it up all the way to the sides as the cheese will melt and spread) on the bread and cover it up with another slice to make a sandwich. Heat it in a pan on low heat and flip once golden brown, around 3 to 4 minutes per side. Need filling ideas? A combo of emmental and cambozola, mozzarella and basil, or gruyere and your fave jam. (Photo from marthastewart.com)

So yes, it can be a surprise breakfast in bed or a mini family reunion, you pick. Just make sure there's enough food for everybody. You can even do a potluck with the rest of the family.

Have chilled and sliced fresh fruits in a bowl. Hot chocolate and coffee in a tray. Ice-cold FOJ in a pitcher. If you have sparkling wine, instant mimosa!!! (1 part FOJ + 1 part sparkly = easy peasy!)

Kids coming over? Treat them to pancakes! Instant pancake mix takes on a whole new level of fluffiness if you just switch the milk with Sprite. (I actually haven't tried this yet, but my friend, Monsieur Stone, swears by this...so let's blame it on him if you're not happy with the results.) Have some fun by adding chocolate chips to the batter and serve it with peanut butter and Nutella, alongside the butter and syrup, of course. 

It's all so simple. Give it a try, you may be surprised at how much fun you'll have. Most of all, your Mom will feel extra special. And doesn't she deserve that? So to Mommies everywhere, Happy Mother's Day! I'm proud to be a Mama's Girl. I ♥ ♥ ♥ My Mumsy!!! - KAB