Wistful recollections of our childhood usually centre around food and baking. Nothing conjures up feelings of nostalgia better than the image of a little child, nose-pressed-to-the-oven door on a cold Sunday afternoon. With nostrils giddy with the scent of melted chocolate and eyes bigger than dinner plates, their delicate hands’ are poised, ready to grab a freshly baked cookie as soon as mom carefully plates them.
Grace Stevens, award-winning TV chef, confectionery connoisseur, and fellow mum, shares some delectable ways to ensure this Mother’s Day is the most special one yet.
Here Are Her Top 3 Tips:
Give the gift of food
Food shared with loved ones always creates memorable moments. There is something wonderfully unforgettable about making and gifting special edible treats for those we love, and more so for our mums, as they do it all the time for us. Mother’s Day is the perfect opportunity to treat mum to treasured cakes and bakes passed down from previous generations, over a steaming pot of fresh tea or coffee.
Bring the family together
It is so special when Moms can be celebrated by spending quality time with their families, catching up, and sharing fond memories. A delightful alternative to taking mum out for a meal is to recreate her favourite restaurant dinner at home, with all the family. We absolutely love making homemade pizza together. It’s a lovely way of getting the whole family involved. From kneading the dough to roasting the tomato paste, grating the cheese, and chopping up toppings to scatter over, there is something every member of the family can do, irrespective of their age.
Make mum the focus
Mother’s Day is all about spending quality time with your mom and making her feel special. Set aside time to just hang out with your mom and do something that she enjoys. Doing a craft class, helping with some gardening, or going on an outing together is a great way to spend precious time together. If you have more than one sibling, divide up the weekend and take your mom on a few different outings. This way she can relax and not be stressed with having to try and catch up with everyone at one time.
Here are Grace’s beloved treats to create for Mum:
Lemon and Blueberry Cake
Nothing beats sitting down to indulge in a delicate slice of cake for afternoon tea. I absolutely love a moist cake with light fluffy sponge layers, a citrus zing, and fresh bursts of fruits. The great thing about cakes is that they are easy to make, they taste even better after a day or two when the flavours have had a chance to mingle, and the little ones can go to town with the decorating.
Click here for the recipe: Blueberry & Lemon Cake - Grace Stevens
Shortbread
Shortbread is notable for its crumbly texture and butter-rich taste. My quick and easy recipe for candied orange peel shortbread packs a punch of flavour and is ideal for this time of year. They make the perfect food gift if you’re popping round to Mum for a cup of tea. Simply wrap them up in brown paper and tie them with a pretty ribbon to take with you.
Click here for the recipe: Candied Orange Peel Shortbread - Grace Stevens
Chocolate Chip Cookies
Who doesn’t love to walk into a house that smells like cookies baking? I adore cookies and perfectly sweet and undeniably delectable chocolate chip ones are my favourite. The perfect cookie is crispy and firm on the outside, soft and chewy on the inside, and tastes scrumptious, served with a large cup of warmed hot chocolate. I love to keep a tin full of these in the house and serve them as an after-dinner treat, or late evening snack. You’ll look like a domestic goddess with minimal effort on your part.
Click here for the recipe: Choc Chip Heart Cookies - Grace Stevens
Mother’s Day is all about taking the time out of our busy schedules to appreciate the selfless sacrifices and limitless compassion of our mum, which actually merits more than just one day of recognition. So, this Mother’s Day, let’s make our moms feel extra special by baking some delicious memories that will last a lifetime.
For more delectable recipes, online tutorials, shop, and live classes visit www.gracestevens.co.za or follow her on Grace_stevenschef or Facebook grace_stevenschef
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