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It's Mother’s Day and you’re too busy to think, let alone spend time at a store trying to figure out what the woman responsible for why you're here might like. So remember the essential gift-giving rule: homemade always wins. While Mom probably doesn't want another finger-painted card (those were the days), she'll definitely appreciate something delicious you made just for her. Here are effortless yet impressive meals to make for her on her big day—which, let's be honest, is everyday.
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Pasta with Spring Vegetables, Bathed in Cream
A rich pasta perfect for showcasing all your spring vegetables—that's still dressed with plenty of incredible cheese. Get the recipe at Food52.
Pork Chops with Rosemary-Roasted Grapes
The roasted grapes fill the dish with a warm, jam-like comfort, yet the grapes themselves retain some of their crisp texture with the short cooking time they need to char and warm through in roasting. Let Mom smell your wonderful meal all throughout the house when preparing this plate. Get the recipe at Food52.
Grilled Rack of Lamb Asian Salad
The acid and heat of the chili and lime dressing cut through the richness of the lamb, already sweet and a little spicy because of the marinade, which caramelizes as the lamb sits on the grill. Get the recipe at Food52.
Steak with Green Peppercorns and Roasted Asparagus
Instead of a steakhouse dinner, make this. Browned quickly in a pan, then transferred to the oven to roast alongside asparagus, this steak gives you plenty of time to work the magic of a green peppercorn sauce. Get the recipe at Food52.
Grilled Steak Salad with Italian Salsa Verde
This salsa verde is like a mouthful of summer. The herbs, garlic, and anchovies create a wonderfully full taste that perfectly complemented the steak salad. Toss everything together and voilà, dinner made! Get the recipe at Food52.
Salmon in Sorrel Sauce
Don't know what to serve at brunch or dinner? This salmon is flexible enough to serve at either; the unexpected beauty being that this dish can be executed from start to finish in under 30 minutes. Get the recipe at Food52.
Don't Hold The Anything Breakfast Bread Pudding
You'll never have to worry about picking sweet or savory at breakfast again. This bread pudding combines the best of both worlds into a delicious, easy-to-make breakfast. It's a balance of sweet and savory wrapped into one delicious, rich package. Get the recipe at Food52.
Soft Scrambled Eggs
These creamy soft scrambled eggs are full of nothing but comfort and love. Important to note: good, free-range eggs are paramount to this recipe, for both taste and safety reasons, and they require very little embellishment. Get the recipe at Food52.
Best Banana Pancakes
Derived from a banana doughnut recipe, these pancakes spill out all the flavors of a doughnut with the advantage of a pancake's fluffy, warm goodness. Get the recipe at Food52.
Yogurt with Toasted Quinoa, Dates, and Almonds
This ordinary breakfast becomes exceptional with the simple addition of crisp quinoa, dates, and almonds. Additionally, a little digging in the pantry for a flaky sea salt in lieu of olive salt will work just fine. Get the recipe at Food52.