Mother's Day Spa Lunch

Creating a Special Day for the Mom (Or Moms) In Your Life.
Mother's Day is just a few days away. If you've yet to plan a celebration for the mom or moms in your life, you'll definitely want to stick with this article. It may be too late to make reservations at a restaurant, but it's not too late to put together an incredible lunch that you can serve right in your own home.

Our moms play such an important role in all our lives, so it's only fitting that we create a special celebration on the day that honors them. Before we get into the subject of the food, let's talk a little about the day as a whole.

In addition to giving us life, moms do a whole lot for us. They are an example to their daughters of how to be a strong woman, as well as to their sons of the caliber of woman they should strive to have in their lives. They push us to do better as individuals, while at the same time provide comfort when we are vulnerable. Moms are the ultimate multi-taskers, oftentimes juggling careers with household and family responsibilities. In general, moms have very few moments to themselves. The reason – their job is 24/7, 365!

Today is mom's day to relax…completely. One duty she need not take on is planning her own Mother's Day celebration. That's going to be your job and I am going to help you do it. Don't worry. It's going to be fun. What do you say we get started?

Pampering
Considering the amount of pampering our moms do for us, it's only fair we return the favor on her big day. This may sound like a big job, but I'm going to simplify it for you by giving you two words to remember – spa day.

You'd be hard-pressed to find a mom that would not enjoy having a day of beauty. I'm serious when I say you really can't go wrong with this. Send her to the spa for a massage or a facial, or the salon to get her hair done. Even the nail salon for a manicure and pedicure, or a yoga class would work. The key is to find something she enjoys and that fits into your budget. Make her a mid-morning appointment on Mother's Day and get her out of the house for a few hours. This will give her a chance to decompress, and you a chance to put the finishing touches on a great spa-like meal.

Food
It's not uncommon for a spa day to include a healthy yet satisfying lunch, as there is nothing like eating great food after a massage and a sauna. The difference on Mother's Day is that instead of mom eating that lunch at a restaurant, she'll be able to do it in the comfort of her own home…without having to do any of the work.

Try a Mother's Day Shrimp Salad,    My favorite is butter lettuce, shrimp, grapefruit slices, avocado slices.  Arrange on plate and top with thousand island dressing or your favorite dressing.
For dessert: Try Delicious Balsamic Berries with Vanilla Gelato (serves two)

2 C fresh strawberries, green stems removed and sliced
1 C fresh blueberries or raspberries or a mixture of all three.
1.5 Tbsp balsamic vinegar (good quality)
3 Tsp sugar
Vanilla gelato
Freshly ground black pepper (optional)

In a bowl, combine strawberries, blueberries, vinegar, and sugar. Mix well and allow the berries to sit at room temperature for 15 minutes.  Spoon vanilla gelato into bowls and top it with the desired amount of berries and the accumulated sauce. For an interesting finish, top the berries with a little coarsely ground black pepper. I know it sounds weird but trust me it's delicious.

For a beverage, Spa Water (makes 1 gallon).  Very refreshing.

1 lemon, sliced crosswise very thinly, 1/2 English or hothouse cucumber, sliced crosswise thinly, 1 gallon purified water

Place the lemon and cucumber slices in a gallon-sized pitcher and add water. Refrigerate for 3 hours before serving.