Rising to the Occasion:
Tips for Seasoning Your Meals with Soul
with Karen Mitchell-Wilcher

Make Mom’s Day Easy

We’ve celebrated Mother’s Day since President Woodrow Wilson declared the second Sunday in May a national holiday in 1914. However all mothers know that everyday is a Mother’s Day to work .

In recognizing the big day, if you don’t have the luxury of relaxing and enjoying your favorite treats all day, a little pre-planning to help your family jump-start the celebration can go a long way towards helping Mom stay cool, calm and collected. If your family dines out, call ahead to make a reservation. However if you decide to have brunch or dinner at home where you can control the pace of the day the following tips will aid in your tranquility.

1. Plan a menu around easy recipes and your favorite foods. If you’re the designated cook, make sure they’re dishes that can be started a day or two early to minimize cooking on M-day. Try serving Garlic and Thyme Grilled Pork Chops, Stewed Okra and Southern Corn Muffins.
2. Pick-up or order your favorite flowers for the Friday before, so you can enjoy them throughout the week-end. (if your spouse needs “subtle” hints remind him to order them early for the same reason)
3. Put together a prep list for each recipe that you can share with your husband and children to get them involved in getting the meal on the table. One helper can marinate the chops, one helper can make the muffins and someone can make the okra. Don’t forget to include a list of tasks for them to make sure everything is cleaned up after the meal too.
4. Set the table on Saturday and cover it with a lightweight plastic drop cloth or clean sheet.
5. Plan time on M-Day week-end for your favorite relaxing activity---long-bath, good book or a nap just guarantee that this is on the schedule.

These tips for at-home Mother’s Day activities may start a new tradition—with your input and the gentle hand of a Mother’s love guiding the program, your loved ones may surprise you and step up with their own plans next year!