Family Favorites for Mother’s Day
Epicurious editors choose recipes to honor their moms
Some of the old clichés really are true.
That's what we learned when we asked the Epi editors to choose recipes for Mother's Day that reminded them of their moms. The list was heavily weighted toward baked goods and comfort foods, accompanied by misty memories of childhood baking projects and Mom's incomparable pies. There's a reason we became food editors-for many of us, love equals a delicious meal.
But that's not to say that our choices are all the same. We're an eclectic group, and our moms are, too-from a hot-sauce loving Louisianan to a noodle-soup fanatic in Hong Kong . Below are our ten picks.
Joanne Camas, Copy Editor
Camas, who grew up in Scotland , cites this as one of her favorite mom recipes. The traditional Scottish snacks resemble American pancakes rather than typical scones. "They're quite simple," says Camas, "but they taste amazing: soft, chewy, sweet, and salty from the lashing of butter you have to apply. They're also great topped with jam or berries and nuts."
Lauren Salkeld, Associate Editor
"My mom loves, loves, loves soft-shelled crabs," says Salkeld. "They're just coming into season now, and she'd really enjoy this simple preparation, in which they're lightly dusted with flour, sautéed, and served with a lemon-brown butter sauce."
Warm Rhubarb Compote with Walnut-Coconut Crunch
Carolina Santos-Neves, Editorial Assistant
Santos-Neves and her mother share a favorite dessert: rhubarb pie. So when she saw this recipe, she knew she had to make it for the two of them. "It's a pretty, fresh way to use one of spring's best ingredients," she says, "and the walnut-coconut crunch is incredibly addictive. In fact, you might want to make extra-it'll disappear quickly!"
Inside-Out Carrot Cake Cookies
Esther Sung, Assistant Editor
"I used to love baking cookies with my mom," says Sung. "When I think back to my childhood, I remember spending lots of time in the kitchen with cookie cutters and dough. Mom is a big fan of carrot cake, so this recipe ties everything together in one delicious sweet."
Tanya Wenman Steel, Editor-in-Chief
"My mother grew up in Kenya in a very English household," says Steel. "One of the dishes she ate from the 'old country' was Welsh rabbit-not rabbit at all, but a wonderfully comforting dish of spiced melted cheese on toast. When I was growing up in New York City , I would make it for her on Mother's Day, to remind her of her childhood. Now, it reminds me of my youth, and I'm teaching my sons to make it for me!"
Siobhan Adcock, Managing Editor
"Now that all the kids are out of the house, my mom is more apt to use her oven for shoe storage than for meal prep," says Adcock. "Her favorite drink is a Cosmo, so this cosmopolitan sorbet is Mama Adcock all over." The colorful concoction marries cranberries, lime juice, vodka, and orange liqueur in a light, frozen treat.
Sarah Kagan, Food Editor
Growing up, Kagan looked forward to her mom's crêpes for weekend brunches. "A few years ago, I put the recipe on Epicurious, and it's gotten amazing reviews," she says. "My mom called me the other day to tell me that one of her friends had been looking for a recipe online and had come upon it! I'm so glad to be able to share this simple yet fantastic dish with others." The brandy-laced crêpes are delicious sprinkled with sugar or spread with jam.
Asian Turkey-Noodle Soup with Ginger and Chiles
Heather Tyree, Contributor
When Tyree was a teenager, her family lived in Hong Kong for a number of years. "My mom loved the noodle soups there," she says. "They were substantial enough to make a hearty meal out of, but still light enough for a hot and humid night. This broth has the perfect combination of sweet ginger, salty fish sauce, sour lime, and spicy chiles. To add texture, I like to include fresh vegetables such as cabbage, mushrooms, and bok choy."
Lemon Crème Brûlée with Fresh Berries
James Oliver Cury, Executive Editor
"My mom loves crème brûlée," says Cury. "Every year, my wife makes her a new version. I think we'll try this one next. It's pretty basic, but I think the addition of lemon peel would add a delicate twist. And the topping of berries macerated in Chambord sounds terrific."
Megan O. Steintrager, Senior Editor
"My mom grew up in Louisiana and is a great fan of rich seafood dishes," says Steintrager. "One year for her birthday, my siblings and I went crabbing and boiled and picked fresh blue crabs to make crab cakes for her. It was a lot of work, but totally worth it-she was thrilled. I think she'll love this recipe, which has a classic Louisiana spicy kick. (Mom puts a little dash of Tabasco in just about everything.)"
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