While we don’t have scientific proof of this, we feel pretty confident making this statement: The most popular day of the year for brunch is Mother’s Day.
Brunch: breakfast + lunch = one of our favorite meals. It’s savory, it’s sweet, it’s incredibly filling because you’re eating for TWO meals…it’s the best. And if you can also celebrate the mothers in your life while consuming alarming amounts of bacon, pastries, and perhaps a cocktail (or two)? Even better!
One of the great things about brunch is how accessible it is. You can go as simple or as extravagant as you want with the menu and it’s pretty much guaranteed to be amazing either way. And since, as non-scientifically stated, Mother’s Day is the most happenin’ brunch day of the year, your best bet may be to stay home and serve Mom a delicious, homemade meal rather than make a reservation six months in advance to get a table in at a place that’s so packed and loud you can barely hear yourselves talk (can you tell we’ve been burned by Mother’s Day brunch before?!). So we may be biased, but it’s homemade brunch all the way for us! And we’ve got suggestions to assist with your very own Mother’s Day brunch planning.
The Food
Ham: We can’t say it enough: Ham is a host’s best friend. It can be served hot or cold and is as perfect for breakfast as it is for dinner. Try a delicious slice of our spiral sliced, honey glazed ham alongside your waffles, in a ham and cheese quiche, or as the anchor of a make-ahead breakfast casserole.
Sausage: We love how versatile sausage is. It’s delicious on its own. And it’s equally delicious in a brunch recipe. We’ve got classic mild breakfast sausage to accompany your eggs (free range, brown, and with yolks that rival your orange juice for color). And we’ve also got andouille sausage that’ll liven up any breakfast casserole. Andouille sausage is a smoked pork sausage originally dreamed up in France and now common in Creole and other Louisiana cuisine. Try this Spicy Breakfast Casserole with Andouille Sausage to get Mom’s taste buds hopping (or substitute one of our milder sausages if Mom’s taste buds prefer a gentle shimmy over a hop).
Pastries: One of our favorite things about brunch is that it combines sweet and savory throughout the menu. Hearty waffles topped with berries and fresh whipped cream alongside a rasher of bacon? A perfect combination of sweet and salty. Don’t forget to add a selection of pastries—or even a more traditional dessert (it’s prime rhubarb season right now—hello, strawberry rhubarb everything!) to provide the perfect capstone to the meal.
BACON: No breakfast is complete without bacon. Mom is guaranteed to love Torm’s Secret Recipe Brown Sugar Cured Bacon. Thick sliced and amazing, you’ll have a hard time sharing. Try to remind yourself that it IS Mother’s Day, after all, and maybe let Mom have a slice or two.
The Drinks
Mimosas: This champagne and orange juice cocktail combines the wholesome citrus notes of breakfast with the celebratory effervescence of the afternoon. A perfect companion for your brunch menu! There are approximately eighty billion variations on mimosas (again, not scientifically verified, but we’re pretty sure we’re right) on the internet so there’s a mimosa recipe out there to complement every menu. Here’s a base recipe with a few suggested variations to get you started.
Bloody Marys: This drink has gotten so elaborate in recent years that it’s now practically its own side dish! Garnishes can include shrimp, bacon, jumbo olives, celery, pickled green beans, dill pickles…and that’s before we even get to the more standard lemon/lime wedges! There’s even a recipe for one with a cheeseburger garnish! Things are getting out of hand. But they’re so delicious, they’re hard to resist! Nutritious, too! (Well, except for the vodka, but since even that is made from potatoes, this is basically a glass of veggies.) Tomato juice is rich in Vitamins B and C and full of antioxidants, such as lycopene, which may reduce inflammation and increase heart health. You can find a Classic Bloody Mary recipe here (we like to go a little heavy on the horseradish!).
A Little Pizzazz: If you’re looking for something extra special, this Rosé Sangria Float is perfect for Mother’s Day. A base of raspberry sorbet soaked with vodka and a bubbly rosé and topped with fresh berries really brings the “Wow!” factor.
The Special Touches
The linens: A tablecloth is an easy way to make any meal seem a little more special. So, too, are cloth napkins. If you don’t have them or don’t want to buy them, dish towels can serve as a cute alternative. (Even cuter if you tie them with baker’s twine or a ribbon!)
The foliage: You can never go wrong with flowers, but we’re here to tell you there’s a way you can go EVEN MORE RIGHT. Have you heard of the language of flowers? Each flower has its own meaning and message to convey to the recipient. Give Mom a bouquet or arrangement of yellow tulips and you’re telling her that there’s sunshine in her smile. And what Mom isn’t going to absolutely melt over that?! Some pointers on what to include in your bouquet or table arrangement can be found here and a massive list of flowers with their meanings can be found here. (Now if only there was a website with suggestions for more subtle conversational segues than, “LOOK HOW THOUGHTFUL I AM WITH THESE FLOWERS, MOM!”)
YOU: We’re pretty sure 99% of moms out there would agree with us (again with the unverified statistics! We’re really on a roll today!) when we say that the most special part of any Mother’s Day brunch is going to be you—your presence, your laughter, your time…Mother’s Day is a day to celebrate the bond between you and the mothers in your life, whether they’re mothers or grandmothers, biological or of the heart, aunties or friends. Take a moment in between mixing mimosas and relax in the knowledge that Mother’s Day is really just a celebration of love.
With bacon. Bacon is an A+ way to celebrate love.
