Ode to Mother's Day

                                                     

I am cooking this year for Mother's Day.  I can't stand the crowds, the lines, and the so so food that is offered in restaurants any more.  The prices for a dish of pasta makes me gag.  It's a big change.  I always wanted to go out for special occasions or no occasion at all, and now I don't.  Now when we travel to Florida in January, I don't mind breakfast at Cracker Barrel, but I do want a nice restaurant for dinner and I don't mean McDonald's dollar menu.  I don't often eat out, so I want something decent in the evenings while on a trip or at the beach house. It is only fair after cooking all year and even cooking on vacation.  I don't mind it, I actually like it, but I don't want to fight to get to go out some times while away from home.

So Sunday is prime rib day with a leek and potato gratin.  Andy has some nice lettuce growing already and a bit of broccoli, the start of a cauliflower head, some green onions and the herbs are growing wild this year.  The kale has popped up much to many family member's delight, so kale it is for the salad.  I am on a cake baking jag and just finished a Margarita cake that is delicious.  You'll want this recipe.  Brooks, the 4.0 cadet and Alyssa the 4.0  lass who took a year off and is back now focused and ready to take on her last year at Tulane will be here.  We are proud of the job Beth has done with these two and she  did it alone and should be celebrated on Sunday as a special mother. Mothers are rarely properly thanked through out the year so they should be really celebrated on Sunday. I must admit I was not always present on Mother's Day for my mother and I regret it.  I never thanked her properly or often enough for all of her sacrifices, kindnesses and love until the end, but she would have appreciated it more when she was healthy.  True, it's a regret one cannot fix now. But I miss her every day. So to all you mothers near and far, much happiness to you starting Sunday and lasting for a life time.  It is a difficult job and we don't always do it well.

           
 To Elizabeth Anderson with love and respect.