For Mom with love By Dee Hobsbawn-Smith
Recipes by The Canadian Living Test Kitchen

On Mother's Day take it easy while the kitchen crew — the kids, with Dad as executive chef — prepares a family brunch in your honour.

Photography by Caroline Ryan

Make Mother's Day this year a whole day devoted to Mom. Start the day out by letting her sleep in while the rest of the family works together to make our delicious brunch menu. Then make plans to spend the rest of the day doing activities as a family. Mom is sure to feel special when she sees you've put the whole day aside just for her.

Mother’s Day menu work plan
Assemble the brunch team and assign the duties appropriately. Dad will take care of major knife tasks and work around the oven and stove while supervising the kids slicing berries and whipping cream. Younger children can help measure ingredients, mix batter, spin-dry greens and set the table.
1. Start cooking rice.
2. Make vinaigrette and prepare asparagus and spinach.
3. Measure and mix puff batter and set aside. (A wire whisk works well. You can strain the batter if it looks lumpy.)
4. Make herbed cream cheese.
5. Slice strawberries. (A small, rounded serrated knife, about 3 inches/8 cm long, is safest.)
6. With mixer, whip cream; mix in maple syrup and cinnamon, and refrigerate.
7. Make coffee.
8. Preheat oven; preheat buttered skillet for puff.
9. Pour puff batter into hot skillet and bake.
10. Designate an older child to wake Mom, escort her to the table and pour her first cup of coffee while Dad slices and toasts bagels and helps the younger children mix the drinks.
11. Assemble and serve the asparagus salad along with the drinks, then join Mom at the table.
12. Remove puff from oven and transfer to platter.
13. Fill puff with berries; slice and serve with whipped cream.
14. Top off the meal with kisses.