FoodNetwork.com Staffers' Mother's Day Recipe Picks

What should you make this year to truly spoil Mom? Get some inspiration from FoodNetwork.com staffers and our varied Mother’s Day traditions.

If you’re lucky enough to spend Mother’s Day with your mom, or if you are a mom and get to spend it with your kids, a special meal is in order. Decadent brunches, picnics, teas and cookouts will abound across the country this Sunday. What should you make this year to truly spoil Mom? Get some inspiration from FoodNetwork.com staffers and our varied Mother’s Day traditions.

Melissa-dArabian-Kettle-Corn

Photo by: Tara Donne ©FOOD NETWORK : 2012, Television Food Network, G.P.

Tara Donne, FOOD NETWORK : 2012, Television Food Network, G.P.

“Celebrating with my mom means setting the alarm clock early. Every year we head two hours north of my hometown at 6 a.m. to visit an epic flea market. Though it pains me to get up at dawn on a Sunday, the promise of kettle corn is enough to keep my eyes open. We always get a giant bag of it to eat while strolling the aisles looking for bargain Depression glass and retro plates. This year, since I’ll be away on Mother’s Day weekend, I need to make a batch of kettle corn from scratch. Even though we won’t be tearing through the bins of antiques, we’ll still be able to share that deliciously sweet and salty snack together.”

– Cameron Curtis, Senior Editor

111212_FNM_CREPES_030.tif

Photo by: Kat Teutsch

Kat Teutsch

“Growing up, my family had six kids, so every meal was a bit of an assembly line. On special weekends my mom would have three cast-iron pans’ worth of crepe batter going, and we’d all queue up for them, slathering each crepe with butter and dousing it with maple syrup. Now I make crepes for my sons and they put all kinds of ingredients on them and in them — they especially love Nutella and strawberries. PB&J isn’t a combo we’ve tried — it’s overdue! For Mother’s Day, I’ll pull out the cast iron and use Giada’s recipe — but this time the kids will be in charge of cooking.”

– Deb Puchalla, Vice President, Original Programming & Content Marketing

Melissa-dArabian-Asparagus

Photo by: Tara Donne ©FOOD NETWORK : 2012, Television Food Network, G.P.

Tara Donne, FOOD NETWORK : 2012, Television Food Network, G.P.

“Before she passed a few years ago, my husband’s grandma was the relative who lived closest to our house. We used to go visit her every Mother’s Day and bring along a spring supper to enjoy with her. While I’d mix up the menu each year, she wouldn’t let us through the door unless we had prepared some asparagus with lemon. She loved the bright green flavor of spring and went gaga for anything with lemon on it. Since visits with her tended to span over more than a few hours, this dish was perfect, as it’s delicious warm, room-temperature or chilled. Even though she’s gone now, we make this each Mother’s Day to remember her.”

– Patrick Decker, Digital Content Manager

Stack of Apple Pancakes with Syrup on a White Plate

Apple Pancakes

Stack of Apple Pancakes with Syrup on a White Plate

“Most mornings in our house are all about packing lunches, finding matching shoes, making sure the dog is fed and getting out the door. So I really like making my family breakfast on the weekends, and Mother’s Day is no exception. My husband always goes out of his way to let me cook uninterrupted on holidays (and my birthday!). It might not sound like a gift, but it truly is when you have 2-year-old triplets! I really look forward to cooking a family favorite of ours for Mother’s Day breakfast: Ellie Krieger’s Whole-Wheat Apple Pancakes. Filled with apple chunks and topped with real maple syrup, they’re healthy, easy to make and delicious — and perfect with a warm cup of coffee enjoyed not in a travel mug.”

– Meghan Cole, Editorial Producer

“My mother makes the most-delicious Chocolate Pie ever, but when I ran across this Trisha Yearwood and Ree Drummond collaboration, I came up with the idea to surprise Mom with it on her special day. There's a fun twist with this recipe, a graham cracker crust. This one will be special, because Trisha and Ree are my mother's favorite Food Network stars. Be sure to watch the video to experience the joy both Trisha and Ree bring to this classic recipe.”

– Don Berry, Editorial Producer

“My mom doesn’t have a sweet tooth — sometimes I wonder if she’s really related to me — but she has a serious weakness for french fries. She once confessed that the opportunity to pick uneaten fries off our kids'-menu plates was a major perk of having children! So I know she’ll love these baked Parmesan fries alongside the burgers we grill up on our family lake trip this weekend. Generally a healthy eater, Mom will appreciate that they’re lightened up but still have all the crispy, salty goodness she craves in a fry. She can help herself to a full, guilt-free portion and won’t have to steal from anyone’s plate.”

– Sara Levine, Senior Editor

“Like me, my mom doesn’t have a huge arsenal of back-pocket recipes for every occasion (we’re more the "pick up a cake and bring the booze" kind of partygoers), but one things she does right is breakfast. She’s been a pro on the waffle iron for as long as I can remember — whipping up waffles for dinner on a semi-regular basis and green waffles to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day every year — so I’d love to treat her to a batch of fluffy buttermilk waffles with a homemade strawberry sauce, and a big bouquet of her favorite flowers to celebrate the holiday.”

– Jessica Remitz, Programming Manager

“Here’s the thing: When my mom likes something, she gets it time and time again. She has her go-to ice cream flavor, soda and pair of shoes, and you can trust her never to sway from her favorites. Even when she’s faced with a brunch menu, I know what my mom’s ordering if it’s on the menu: a Dutch baby pancake (sometimes called a German pancake) that’s baked in the oven instead of a skillet. If I was home for Mother’s Day, I would be making her this German Pancake recipe, complete with a glazed apple and pear compote. Baked until puffed and golden brown, it’s the special brunch treat my mama deserves on Mother’s Day. And I know she wouldn’t have it any other way!”

– Allison Milam, Associate Editor

“My mom and I are both total cookie monsters — we’ll take a good old-fashioned cookie over a fancy pastry any day. She’s also one of the best bakers I know. So if she says Anne’s oatmeal chocolate chip recipe is a keeper (and she has), you know it’s good.”

– Lauren Miyashiro, Magazine Coordinator

Check out all of Food Network’s best Mother’s Day recipes.

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