I am of the firm belief that you should not go out to eat on big restaurant holidays, like Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day. The restaurants are extra crowded, the prices inflated and the wait staff harried. You are much more likely to have a great meal on any random Saturday night or Sunday morning when the dining room has a normal number of patrons and is serving the regular menu. Restaurant critics will tell you the same thing but because they know that most people won’t listen, they will then give you a long list of restaurant recommendations.

So, my consistent advice is to skip the long lines at the brunch buffet this Mother’s Day — I do not wish to be celebrated with rubbery eggs, thank you very much — and make a fabulous brunch for Mom at home instead. But to make this really be a treat for Mom, you have to do it right! That means doing the dishes and cleaning the kitchen afterward, okay? Setting a nice table with some fresh flowers won’t hurt either.

To help you out, I have gathered together several of my recipes that would be perfect for a Mother’s Day brunch.

• Okay, I’m pretty sure that the mom in your house likes “Downton Abbey.” So, go all Mrs. Patmore on her and whip up a batch of scones. Scones come together quite quickly and bake for only about fifteen minutes, so this is a really easy thing to make just before brunch on Sunday morning. This recipe for Strawberry Scones is very seasonal. But I am also partial to this recipe for Cranberry Orange Scones. If you can’t find fresh cranberries right now, which seems likely, feel free to substitute dried.

• But a woman can’t live on scones alone. Mom (and the rest of you) need some protein to keep you satisfied until dinner. (And you’re making dinner too, right?) So definitely pair your quick and easy scones with an egg dish. I’m partial to frittatas, as you know. This Turnip Green and Potato Frittata is packed with dark leafy greens and you know that will impress Mom. If you can’t find turnip greens — I have been seeing them quite regularly myself — feel free to substitute spinach or another dark, leafy green.

• Last year at this time, I suggested making Mom this Smoked Mozzarella Bread Pudding and I stand by that recommendation. This dish has a lot of virtues. Besides being delicious, it’s easy enough for a beginner cook to master and it can be prepared in advance. You can use the bread pudding’s 45-minute baking time to clean up the dishes, set a nice table, and even whip up a fruit salad. Whew! 
• If your Mom is the kind that tells you to eat your beets, then you can make her Red Flannel Hash topped with poached eggs for brunch.

• Does your mom have a sweet tooth? (This one does.) If the scones don’t do it for you and you want to have a special dessert for your Mother’s Day brunch, I suggest Strawberry Shortcake. It’s strawberry season right now and this recipe makes a beautiful, not-too-sweet strawberry shortcake that would not be at all out of place at brunch. Another idea along this line would be Meyer Lemon Sour Cream Poundcake. You may not be able to find Meyer lemons right now, so feel free to substitute regular lemons, limes — although have you read about this crazy lime shortage? — or your favorite citrus.

• Don’t forget the drinks! Again, it’s strawberry season, so it is the perfect time to make this Strawberry Mint Lemonade. The whole family will love this festive treat. If you want to make more of an adult beverage for just Mom and Dad to enjoy, this White Sangria would be perfect. I created it about this time last year for a bridal shower and it emphasizes the fruits that are in season now.

As my readers surely know, cooking for my family is one of my favorite ways to nurture them and to show them how much I love them. I think any mother who is the recipient of a home-cooked meal this Mother’s Day will feel very nurtured and loved — again, as long as she doesn’t have to do the dishes afterward. I hope that some of you will try cooking for the mothers in your lives this Sunday and maybe some other times of year as well.

Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers out there, especially my own mother and my mother-in-law.