THE month of May is dear to many of us, as the second Sunday of the month is dedicated to our revered mothers in several countries around the world. Notable exceptions are a few countries like Bulgaria, which celebrates International Women's Day on March 8, Mexico, where the date is May 10; Spain, which celebrates on December 8 to coincide with the Catholic tradition of honouring the Virgin Mary; and the United Kingdom which celebrates on the fourth Sunday of Lent.
Here in Jamaica, we take this very important day to heart and go all out for these special ladies in our lives. If our mothers or grandmothers are no longer alive, they are still remembered in our hearts and their memories are kept alive when we talk about them. In Australia, if someone's mother has died, they wear a white carnation in her honour, or a coloured one if she's alive.
The origins of Mother's Day began in England in the 1600s. At the time, it was called Mothering Sunday. People who worked in servitude for the wealthy class were allowed to take time off during the fourth Sunday of Lent to spend time with their mothers. In 1912, an American feminist by the name of Anna Jarvis trademarked "Mother's Day" to be held on the second Sunday of May, and this American holiday spread to other countries. Today, Mother's Day is a huge commercial holiday with many cards, flowers and chocolates bought as gifts.
There is no stronger emotion than the love and bond shared between mothers and their children. This is why I believe this day evokes such a passionate response. Our first relationship in life is with our mothers and begins in the womb. I'm extremely close to mine, and there is nothing I would not do for her as she has been my rock since birth. Although she is very down-to-earth and not fussy, I love to do something special for her every year.
Start the day off by making your mother breakfast in bed. Our mothers always cook for us, nurse us back to health when we are ill, take care of all our needs and love us unconditionally. Give her a break and let her enjoy a lie-in, or treat her to brunch after Sunday morning church service. If breakfast is not her thing, prepare a wonderful lunch or dinner or take her out. Many restaurants, hotels and other places of entertainment will be offering Mother's Day specials, so there is no excuse not to do something. Remember, the most important thing is to do it from the heart. For fathers with small children, make sure you supervise them in the kitchen when you are preparing home-cooked treats for your wife.
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Wishing all mothers a Happy Mother's Day filled with love, peace and beauty.
Bon Appétit!
JuicyChef's Mother's Day recipe suggestions for Breakfast, Lunch/Dinner, Dessert
Breakfast: French Toast with Tropical Fruit and Cinnamon Cream
Start the day right and treat your mother to breakfast in bed. Serve this with a Mimosa, a breakfast cocktail which is half-chilled orange juice to halfsparkling wine/champagne, tea or coffee.
Ingredients:
4 slices of hard dough bread
2 eggs
70ml/ 1/3 cup milk
Melted butter, to fry slices
125ml/ 1/2 cup heavy cream
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 tbsp icing sugar
Assorted tropical fruits like mangoes, papaya and pineapple
Method:
In a chilled bowl, whisk together cream, cinnamon and icing sugar until soft peaks form and set aside in the refrigerator to keep cool.
Next, whisk together eggs and milk in a bowl.
Heat a frying pan, brush with melted butter and add one slice of bread. Fry
on each side for two minutes or until golden.
Repeat the above step with the remaining bread.
Cut bread slices in half and serve attractively with cream and fruit.
Lunch or dinner: Warm Chicken and Sweet Potato Salad with Pecan and Orange Dressing
This elegant salad features healthy sweet potatoes and local sweet oranges.
Use any mixture of greens you wish and top with crunchy pecans.
Ingredients:
4 chicken breasts, grilled and sliced
2 sweet potatoes, roasted and sliced
Mixed salad greens
2 oranges, peeled and sliced
Two stalks escallion, green parts only chopped
Handful of pecans, toasted
Dressing:
2 tbsp sherry vinegar
1 tbsp Seville orange marmalade
4 tbsps olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste
Method:
Mix together all of the dressing ingredients in a bowl and set aside until ready to use.
Arrange salad greens, roast sweet potato slices, grilled chicken pieces, and mix together.
Scatter over pecan pieces and escallion bits.
Serve with dressing.
Dessert: Frozen Dessert Sandwiches
For this sweet treat, you can use either ice cream or sorbet. Have at least three flavours for variety. This is something simple that kids can do.
Ingredients:
3 assorted flavours of ice cream or sorbet
Ginger cookies or shortbread biscuits
Method:
Place one scoop of ice cream/sorbet each between 2 cookies or biscuits.
Place all on a tray, cover with cling and freeze for at least an hour before serving.
