Dads: Celebrate moms with a Mother’s Day meal crafted by you

Mother’s Day is a celebration of the love and sacrifice of the remarkable women in your life. It’s a day for both new moms and practiced moms, alike, to feel cherished and appreciated. This Mother’s Day, why not create lasting memories with your family through the magic of cooking?

This year, it’s time for all dads to become head chefs. More than giving moms a break from their regular duties, food can transcend its ordinary role as mere sustenance. Food is a canvas for memories that remain well after the last bite and a medium for expressing heartfelt emotions. Every pancake flipped, egg scrambled and coffee brewed, is an opportunity for dads to make the day special.

So, dads, put down your phones, pick up those pans and make this Mother’s Day unforgettable. Your kitchen is the stage, your meals are love letters — it’s time to cook up memories that will last a lifetime.

Set the stage by awakening to affection

The morning’s meal should be seen as the opening act to the day’s celebrations. Dads have the golden opportunity to weave elements of surprise and delight together, to make a meal that is more than just food.

On Mother’s Day, breakfast isn’t just another quick fix, scarfed down before rushing the kids to school. It is a thoughtful celebration of mom’s unique tastes that should be approached with intentionality. Start by choosing recipes that speak to what she loves. Whether a comforting classic or an adventurous delight, consider mom’s recent cravings or favorite ingredients to make the meal feel personalized and heartfelt.

For a unique twist on a breakfast-time classic that is always a hit, try a croissant french toast bake. With its buttery, flaking layers and sweet custard soaked interior, this dish is the perfect metaphor for warmth and love. If the idea of cooking something elaborate sounds daunting, consider prepping some components the day before.

This way, you can focus on any finishing touches in the morning. Incorporating elements like a beautifully set table or fresh flowers from your local farmers market can elevate this simple experience, helping to set this day apart from others. With this gentle opening to the day’s festivities, let the aroma of fresh coffee and warm pastries create an ambience for connection and affection.

Craft moments together

As the spring sun reaches its peak, the afternoon unfolds into the perfect opportunity for culinary adventures and outdoor exploration. Make the midday meal a journey of flavors and a bonding experience for the whole family.

Introduce a new and bold dish that may not be a household staple, like the vibrant and flavorful North African shakshuka. Shakshuka, typically served in a hot skillet, features a spicy, simmering tomato sauce, cradling poached eggs in fragrant spices. This delicious dish can be effortlessly made by even the most novice chefs and is a great way to add a dash of exploration and discovery to your day.

Pair the meal with activities that foster connection, learning and fun for the whole family. Get the kids involved with the preparation, from cracking eggs to sprinkling herbs. Meanwhile, treat mom to a refreshing cocktail or a freshly squeezed juice, giving her the perfect view to enjoy her happy helpers bustling in the kitchen.

Remember that flexibility and spontaneity can make the day even more memorable. Sometimes the best moments happen without a plan. If the weather is inviting, why not take your feast outside and enjoy a lovely picnic in the sun?

Trying new dishes together can mirror your family’s journey together, embracing the unexpected and cherishing the unique moments of parenthood. The collaboration in the kitchen, the anticipation of new flavors and the vibrant colors and spices of this new dish reflect the excitement and variety of life together.

End with an unforgettable dinner and dessert

As evening sets in, it's time to pull out all the stops for a dinnertime masterpiece that celebrates your relationship. This meal is a chance to express your love and reminisce over shared memories.

Consider creating an experience that revisits your pre-parenting days to celebrate the history that brought you here. A meal that is reminiscent of a memorable date or a special vacation adds an atmosphere of loving nostalgia and connection. Beyond food, setting the table with care or curating a playlist to set the mood can effortlessly enhance the mood.

Don't forget to cap the evening with a sweet finale. Strawberry shortcake cookies are a delicious treat for baking enthusiasts and beginners alike, leaving a taste as sweet as the day's memories.

As the evening winds down, take a moment to reflect on the day and on each other. Acknowledge everything your partner contributes to your life and your family. It is important to savor these moments, be fully present and cherish one another.

Leave a lasting taste of love

Mother’s Day can set the tone for how future celebrations can unfold, where food can continue to serve as a canvas for expressing love, gratitude and the excitement of family life. Each meal and shared moment in the kitchen contributes to your family’s story, highlighting that the essence of celebration is in the love and care put into every action.

Remember to document this day, whether through photos or a journal, to honor these special moments and culinary adventures. This establishes a tradition of love, care and shared joy in the kitchen, encouraging dads to view cooking as a meaningful way to celebrate and create lasting memories with their partners. This invites the whole family to start and nurture their own traditions with each recipe and meal shared.

• Shruthi Baskaran-Makanju is a food and travel writer and a global food systems expert based in Seattle. She has lived in or traveled extensively to more than 60 countries, and shares stories and recipes inspired by those travels on Urban Farmie.

Croissant French Toast Bake

1 tablespoon unsalted butter, for greasing baking dish

12 croissants, medium sized, ideally 1-day old

8 eggs, large

1 cup heavy cream

1 cup milk, whole preferred but 2% works

2 tablespoons brown sugar

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

½ teaspoon cinnamon

½ teaspoon nutmeg

¼ teaspoon kosher salt

Grease a 9x13 casserole or baking dish with 1 tablespoon of unsalted butter.

Cut croissants into half lengthwise (like you’d do for a sandwich). Place croissant halves in a single layer, evenly spaced until you cover the base of the baking dish. Set aside the remaining croissant halves while making the custard.

In a medium-sized bowl: whisk 8 large eggs along with 3 tablespoons of brown sugar, 1 tablespoon of vanilla extract, ½ teaspoons of cinnamon, nutmeg, and ¼ teaspoon of kosher salt until they are well combined. Then, whisk in 1 cup each of heavy cream and milk until it’s a smooth custardy mixture.

Pour half this custard mixture evenly over the croissant halves in the baking dish. Use a flat spatula to push the croissant into the custard so it soaks it up. Then, place the remaining croissant halves on another even layer on top. Pour the remaining custard on top. Cover with aluminum foil. Ideally, you want the croissant to soak up the custard for at least 30 minutes in the fridge, but I often make this the night before and leave it in the fridge overnight. If you leave it overnight, take it out 30 minutes before you’ll bake it.

Set the oven rack to the center position and preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

Bake in the oven for about 45-50 minutes. If it starts to brown too quickly, you can make a loose tent with aluminum foil.

Cool for a few minutes and top with maple syrup, powdered sugar, berries, nuts or toppings of choice before serving.

Notes: This is great when made ahead of time and chilling it overnight really elevates the dish to a whole new level! Once cooked though, it can be reheated in an oven, air fryer or microwave oven, but I don't recommend freezing it.

If you want a nice crumble topping: in a small bowl, combine ½ cup of all-purpose flour, ½ cup of brown sugar, and ½ cup of unsalted butter along with ½ teaspoon cinnamon and ¼ teaspoon kosher salt. Use a fork to mash up the butter so it's all evenly mixed. You can also use a hand mixer if you're feeling adventurous. Sprinkle this on the croissants right before you bake. Delicious!

Serves 8

Nutrition Calories: 663 calories| Carbohydrates: 52 g| Protein: 15 g| Fat: 45 g| Saturated Fat: 26 g| Polyunsaturated Fat: 2 g| Monounsaturated Fat: 9 g| Trans Fat: 1 g| Cholesterol: 341 mg| Sodium: 423 mg| Potassium: 180 mg| Fiber: 1 g| Sugar: 19 g| Vitamin A: 1719 IU| Vitamin C: 1 mg| Calcium: 141 mg| Iron: 2 mg

— Shruthi Baskaran-Makanju

Strawberry Shortcake Cookies

Strawberry filling

3 medium strawberries, chopped (½ cup of chopped strawberries)

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

1 tablespoon granulated sugar

For the cookies

2 cups all-purpose flour

½ teaspoon baking powder

¼ teaspoon salt

½ cup butter, softened at room temperature

½ cup granulated sugar

¼ cup brown sugar, lightly packed

1 large egg

1½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Optional cream cheese filling

4 ounces cream cheese

2 tablespoons powdered sugar

Prep the strawberries:

Chop up the strawberries finely and then add the lemon juice and sugar to them and stir well. Cover and soak them for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, strain and set aside

Prep filling (optional)

Note: This is only if you decide to go the filling route but this is totally optional — the main recipe does not include filling.

Cream together about 4 ounces of cream cheese with 2 tablespoons of powdered sugar (and strained strawberry juice). Line a baking sheet or plate (that can fit in your freezer) with some parchment paper. Scoop 1 teaspoon of this filling onto the sheet — repeat so you have 12 tiny cream cheese “balls.” Throw this in the freezer for while you make the dough

Prepare the dough

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Sift the baking powder and salt in with the all-purpose flour. In a mixing bowl, cream the butter with the two sugars — the consistency should be pliable and soft (I typically use the paddle attachment in my stand mixer, but you can also use a hand mixer or cream by hand — see recipe notes for doing this by hand)

Add the egg and vanilla extract to this mixture. Then, slowly add the flour mixture and mix until it's a smooth dough

Strain the strawberries one more time and then add to the dough — fold gently taking care not to mash up the strawberries (if you want an extra fruity taste, you can add up to ¾ cup of berries)

Bake cookies (No filling version)

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicon mat. Just scoop out roughly a 1½ tablespoons of dough and roll into a smooth ball and place them on the baking sheet. Note: Make sure to leave 1-2 inches between each ball to ensure that they have space to spread.

Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes — the cookie will look and feel “soft and fluffy” but it should be done (check the bottom to see if it’s harder and browned as an additional check)

Bake cookies (With filling)

Note: Again, this is an optional step — skip if you’re just making the regular cookies. This will get a tad bit messy (more stuff on your hands, but the end result is totally worth it)

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicon mat

Remove the cream cheese balls from the freezer.

Scoop roughly 1½ tablespoons of dough, roll into a ball, and flatten into a “small pancake” on the palm of your hand. Place a cream cheese ball at the center and crimp the edges so it reforms into a rough ball. Smooth it out into a ball like shape to the best extent possible and place on the baking sheet — repeat with the rest of the dough until you have 12 cookies

Bake at 350 degrees for about 20-22 minutes and check the bottom to see if it's browned and a bit harder (the rest of the cookie will be fluffy) — enjoy the deliciousness.

Notes: This recipe is a bit messier than most cookies because the strawberries are sticky. If you want the basic cookie without filling, use a cookie scoop, and you’re set.

This recipe needs room temperature butter — so try to take the butter out about 30 minutes before you need to use it if possible.

If you’re creaming the sugar and butter by hand, first use a wooden spoon to really break up the room temperature butter and sugar and get them mixed roughly together — then use a fork to really “fluff” them up the same way you fluff rice. This will take 2 to 5 minutes so get ready for action.

Every person's oven is a bit different, so I suggest starting to check around the 18 minute mark to make sure it doesn’t over bake.

Makes 12 cookies

Nutritional information provided for the basic cookie without filling!

Nutrition Calories: 205 calories; Carbohydrates: 30 g; Protein: 3 g| Fat: 8 g| Saturated Fat: 2 g| Trans Fat: 1 g| Cholesterol: 14 mg| Sodium: 162 mg| Potassium: 44 mg| Fiber: 1 g| Sugar: 14 g| Vitamin A: 359 IU| Vitamin C: 2 mg| Calcium: 22 mg| Iron: 1 mg

¬ Shruthi Baskaran-Makanju