Celebrate a person who has been a mentor, who has offered guidance, who has been a source of comfort. It doesn't have to be your mother.
Easy Recipes to Make Ahead
A Mother’s Day brunch is probably the most relaxed meal there is. Brunch combines the best of breakfast and lunch, and if wine or drinks are wanted, they aren’t out of place. My favorite brunch recipes are the ones that can be made or prepped the day before. Just like any party, there should be food and beverages for everyone as soon as they walk through the door. Hot food can be finished in the oven, and a sweet served as a finale.
Make Someone Happy
Mother’s Day is a concept not to be taken too literally. Celebrate a person who has been a mentor, who has offered guidance, who has been a source of comfort. It doesn’t have to be your mother. Here are some of my favorite recipes for a relaxed meal that will let you be a guest at your own party.
Citrus Cured Gravlax with Toasted Fennel Seeds and Citrus Creme Fraiche with Tarragon
I tested this recipe for the New York Times in 2009, where it was adapted by Joan Nathan from Chef Todd Gray at Equinox Restaurant in Washington, DC. While I love traditional gravlax, which requires several days of curing, this unusual citrus-cured gravlax requires only overnight refrigeration. That makes it easy for last-minute planning, and the flavor is excellent, especially accompanied by citrus crème fraîche.
Nut n’ Curry Hummus
I’m of the opinion that any party should have at least one vegetarian option for each course. If if you’re not vegetarian, you never know when there may be an unexpected vegetarian guest. I had this Nut n’ Curry Hummus at a party many years ago, but unfortunately when the recipe was shared with me I neglected to keep the name of the cook. I like this hummus because it is made with canned chickpeas (garbanzos) and has a twist of added almond butter and curry powder. Serve it with raw or blanched vegetables and crackers.
Fruit Salad with Coconut Rum
Since there is rum on this fruit salad, you’ll need an alcohol-free version for kids. But if that’s not a consideration, this fruit salad with coconut rum may be an eye-opener for you. I concocted this simple recipe in an effort to keep berries fresh for longer. You can make it a day ahead of time and it will only get better. I brought some to a friend the other day and she texted me later: The berries were delish! What kind of witches juice did you drown them in??? Now you know the secret.
Bobby Flay’s Caramelized Onion, Spinach and Gruyere Cheese Strata with Sautéed Cherry Tomatoes
If you prep this onion, spinach, and gruyere cheese strata the night before the brunch (toast and cube the bread, caramelize the onions, thaw the spinach) you can throw everything together the next day in minutes. It makes enough for 8 servings. Easy, and utterly delicious.
Dorie Greenspan’s Soft and Spicy Fresh Plum Cake
You can bake this soft and spicy fresh plum cake a day ahead of time, but I like it warm from the oven. Slicing the plums and mixing them with sugar the night before you bake the cake will let you put it together in no time, and the golden crust will have a hint of crispness to it. Ice cream or lightly sweetened whipped cream will complement the luscious tartness of the plums. 
