Planning special occasions can be a bit tricky, but finding a way to keep it simple yet meaningful is even more challenging. These Mother's Day recipes are not only delicious but also simple enough for anyone to cook. Plan ahead with love, and let her relax—you’ve got this!
My plan is in place, starting with Baked Blueberry Pancakes and some Oven Baked Sausage or Convection Oven Bacon. The day's main attraction will be Oven Baked Filet Mignon with oven roasted red potatoes. I need to choose a dessert soon.
😊Small Breakfast Recipes
Start the day right with a great breakfast. We start with blueberry pancakes and a side of breakfast meat. Pop them in the oven while you do something else.
How To Cook Sausage in the Oven
The best and easiest way to cook crispy and juicy breakfast sausage patties or links is in the oven. We always bake breakfast sausage patties or links, Italian sausages, or other full-size sausages for perfect sausages every time without the mess.
How to Bake Breakfast Sausage
How to Cook Bacon in a Convection Oven
The easiest way to cook crispy bacon is in a convection oven on aluminum foil for easy cleanup of the bacon grease. Use standard or thick-cut bacon to make great crispy baked bacon for breakfast or other uses.
Convection Oven Bacon
Baked Blueberry Pancakes
Delicious and fluffy oven-baked blueberry pancakes make a great breakfast. Super easy to make with no standing there flipping all morning—mix and bake.
Baked Blueberry Pancake Recipe
Small French Toast Casserole
French Toast Casserole is a classic, easy, make-ahead recipe for holiday breakfast or brunch. It's a simple small-batch recipe for overnight French toast casserole for two or a crowd. I assemble it the night before in an 8X8 pan, then on Christmas morning, I top it with melted butter and cinnamon sugar and bake.
Small French Toast Casserole
Small Cinnamon Coffee Cake
With the great taste of Cinnabon cinnamon rolls, this quick and easy Cinnamon Coffee Cake recipe has it all, from buttery and tender cinnamon-swirled cake with caramelized streusel topping and a sweet glaze. An 8X8 small batch recipe that is simple to make smaller or bigger.
Recipe for Cinnamon Coffee Cake
🐄Steak Recipes
Next up is the featured meal of the day. In this household, it is steak, so I will start there, but there are other options also.
How to Grill Filet Mignon
Grilling filet mignon to perfection on a gas grill is easy with this foolproof method. Learn how to select, season, and grill filet mignon using just a few simple steps. Juicy, tender, and full of flavor—no steakhouse required.
Grilling Filet Mignon
How to Cook Filet Mignon (Sear & Oven Method)
Juicy, tender filet mignon made easy. This pan-seared, oven-finished method is fast, reliable, and perfect for beginners or special occasions.
Oven Filet Mignon
Grilled Ribeye Steak on a Gas Grill (Juicy Every Time)
Grill juicy, tender ribeye steaks with this beginner-friendly gas grill method. No marinade—just salt, heat, and a few smart steps.
Grilled Ribeye
Pan Seared New York Strip Steak (Oven Finished)
Learn how to cook a perfect New York strip steak by searing in a hot skillet and finishing in the oven. Juicy, tender, and beginner-friendly.
Baked Strip Steaks
Grilled Porterhouse Steak (Gas or Charcoal Grill)
Grill a Porterhouse (or T-bone) steak to juicy, tender perfection. This easy method works on gas or charcoal and needs just salt, heat, and a few smart tips.
Grilled T-Bones
Add some steak enhancements to make it memorable.
Easy Steak Marinade
This Easy Steak Marinade recipe is quick to make and use. Perfectly balanced acid and savory flavors make this the best homemade steak marinade. While we use it mainly for New York Strip steaks, it is excellent with any beef steak cooked on the grill or stove.
Easy Steak Marinade
Steak Butter with Blue Cheese and Garlic
Steak Butter with Blue Cheese and Garlic is the perfect enhancement for NY strips, t-bones, rib-eyes, filets, or porterhouse steaks. Try it on burgers and vegetables for extraordinary flavor. Add a special layer of creamy flavor to your meal with this fast and easy compound butter recipe.
Blue Cheese Compound Butter
🐓Chicken and Pork Recipes
How to Grill Chicken Breasts on a Gas Grill
Are you tired of dry, rubbery grilled chicken breasts? Learn to grill juicy and flavorful chicken breasts with this never-fail recipe, including pro tips on preparation, grilling temperature, timing, and seasoning. Just follow these simple step-by-step instructions.
Grilling Chicken Breasts on a Gas Grill
Baked Mayonnaise Chicken with Parmesan and Crunchy Breadcrumbs
This easy baked mayonnaise chicken is juicy and flavorful with a sprinkle of breadcrumbs for just the right crunch. A no-fuss weeknight dinner ready in under an hour.
Mayo Parmesan Chicken
How to Grill Pork Tenderloin on a Gas Grill
This easy method shows you how to grill pork tenderloin with juicy, tender results—no marinade or zone grilling needed.
Grilled Pork Tenderloin
👍Side Dishes Recipes for Mom
Man (or mothers) cannot live by steak alone—it's time to pick their favorite side dishes.
Oven Roasted Red Potatoes
Oven-roasted red potatoes have crispy outsides and soft and tender insides. This simple recipe has four ingredients: trim baby red potatoes, toss with olive oil, garlic, and salt, and bake on a rimmed pan. These baked red potatoes are the perfect side dish for almost any meal.
Oven Roasted Red Potatoes
Roasted Asparagus with Garlic and Parmesan
If unsure, aim for an internal temperature of 135° with an instant-read thermometer in the thickest part of the spear.
How to Bake Asparagus
Microwave Corn on the Cob in the Husk (Easy, No Shucking Needed)
Microwave corn on the cob in the husk for a fast, mess-free way to enjoy summer sweet corn. No peeling, no boiling—just juicy, fresh corn in minutes.
How to Microwave Corn on the Cob
Baked Green Beans with Bacon
Baked Green Beans with Bacon are the perfect side dish with any meal—an easy green bean recipe with brown sugar, garlic, bacon, and tender green beans.
Baked Green Beans with Bacon
Parmesan Baked Potatoes
Quick and easy Parmesan Baked Potatoes halves have a creamy center and a crispy Parmesan cheese crust with butter and garlic.
Parmesan Baked Potatoes Halves
😊Smaller Dessert Recipes
Great meals deserve great endings, and you made it yourself.
Berry Crisp for Two or More
An irresistible Berry Crisp for Two that's easy to adjust up or down to fit your needs. Use fresh or frozen berries in a sweet filling topped with a crispy oat streusel topping.
Berry Crisp for Two
Easy Cheesecake Bars
These Easy Cheesecake Bars are creamy and delicious with a Graham cracker crust and lemon—the quick small-batch recipe you need with great tasting cheesecake bars.
Lemon Bar Recipe
Apple Berry Crumble
A fast, old-fashioned Apple Berry Crumble that combines apples and berries with a buttery streusel crumb topping. Use fresh berries and apples, or make it "semi-homemade" with frozen berries and a can of apple pie filling. So easy, so good.
Semi-Homemade Apple Berry Crumble
Lemon Squares
Easy lemon bars are delicious and simple to make in under an hour. These homemade lemon squares are a perfect dessert treat with a crispy, buttery shortbread crust and tangy and sweet lemon filling—a small batch 8X8 recipe you can scale to your needs.
Lemon Bar Recipe
Have a great holiday.
From Wifo, Molly, Lilly, and DrDan
Editors note: This is a yearly recurring post. This version was created on May 8, 2019, and will be updated yearly before republishing.
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Kathy Franklin says
I am so thankful that this is your hobby!
I enjoy your site and all the DETAILS you give and have had great success with your recipes! We can’t believe how great the steak seared, and then finished in the oven is. Great alternative when weather doesn’t work to grill outside.
Frances Robinson says
I saw your recipe for Oven Baked Blueberry Pancakes and Oven Baked Sausage about a week ago. Got the ingredients and made both today. This breakfast was really a treat and both my husband and I enjoyed it. Both recipes are keepers! I'm a new subscriber and look forward to trying more of your recipes.
Linda Mcclellan says
I wish you had a book
Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan says
Hi Linda,
Welcome to the blog.
You are the second one today with that. But, this is just a hobby that grown. I do get publishing offers (mostly spammy ones). But I'm retired and totally enjoy doing this but a book is like real work. Also, the frequently suggest restaurant is so not what I ever want to do.
So thanks for the comment but it will not happen.
Have a great Mother's Day and stay safe.
Dan