Mother, Mother, Mother  Marvin Gaye


Well the heat is on to buy for Mom.  Another carefully organized Hallmark Holiday designed to pay homage to good old Mom, part us from some of our money, and ring the coffers of restaurants, card companies and florists. Whoops! Sounds too mean-spirited to be me. But really, do they need to rev up the Mother's Day engines so early. 

Which buying opportunity fits your Mom? REI's bicycle helmet, kayak, or running shoes; Target's toaster, fluffy towels, or wand blender; Home Depot's lawn mower, electric drill, or Turf Builder? Or is she more of a spa-girl.

The concept for a specific day honoring mothers was inspired by England's Mothering Day. Imported to the United States after the Civil War, Mother's Day was originally intended as a call to unite women against war and to affirm peace and disarmament. In 1914, Woodrow Wilson declared the first official Mother's Day to be held on the second Sunday in May to honor women whose sons had died in war.

Capitalism has substantially tweaked that premise. Florists count on Mother's Day sales to bolster bottom lines and The National Restaurant Association marks Mother's Day as the most popular day of the year to eat out. Anyone who has ever cooked, waited tables, or managed in a restaurant carries emotional and physical scars from infamous hours spent "in the weeds" on Mother's Day. 

Here's a vote from one Mom to bypass the gift and the crowded restaurant brunch. Instead, think peaceful thoughts about the future, say a prayer for someone whose son died in war, and make Mom breakfast at home. Just in case you do, here's a few muffin recipes. The first is an old Sound Food favorite, the other is one from my sweet daughter, Bridget.


Orange Date Muffins

1 orange
½ c. orange juice
½ c. chopped dates
¼ c. softened butter
1 egg
1 ½ c. flour
¾ c. sugar
1 t. baking soda
1 t. baking powder
1 t. salt

Either remove rind from orange and chop finely or grate orange-only part of peel. Add coarsely chopped orange, dates, soft butter and egg—combine well.

Sift together dry ingredients and add to orange/butter/egg mix until it is just combined. Don’t over mix. Bake 15-20 minutes at 400 degrees.

Raisin Bran Muffins

• 5 c. flour
• 2 c. sugar or Splenda
• 20 oz. box Raisin Bran
• 1 ½ tsp. cinnamon
• 1 T. grated orange peel
• 5 tsp. baking soda
• 2 tsp. salt
• 1 qt. buttermilk (or 4 T. vinegar and enough milk to make 1 qt.)
• 1 c. oil
• 4 eggs
• Chopped nuts

Sift together flour, sugar, cinnamon, orange peel, baking soda, and salt. Add buttermilk, oil, and eggs. Fold in Raisin Bran and nuts.

Bake at 400˚ for 8-12 minutes depending on how full the muffins tins are. Batter will keep in the refrigerator for up to six weeks.