Recipe for a Perfect Mother's Day

Ingredient #1: Let mom sleep in. This means being quiet on Mother's Day morning. No loud TV or loud music before mom decides to get out of bed. No loud complaining of "Mom, I can't find my shirt, pants [or any other article of clothing which mom is somehow magically supposed to, and surprisingly often does, know where it is]." Surely you can find something semi-clean to wear. :-) Better yet, just give mom some earplugs the night before so she can simply sleep through anything.

Ingredient #2: Let mom have breakfast in bed. In order to make sure this can actually happen, make sure you know where all of the ingredients, bowls, utensils, and other items you'll need are in the kitchen. Make a list of everything you'll need and make sure you know where all of it is the night before. I have included an easy breakfast recipe at the end of these "ingredients." It has just 6 ingredients and all you need is an electric mixer, bowl, and two bread pans. Under no circumstances should you wake mom up in order to find out where something is. Improvise. If it doesn't turn out, a nicely arranged bowl of cereal that she didn't have to make is still a nice Mother's Day breakfast.

Ingredient #3: Let mom have the day off. This means no cooking, cleaning, laundry, or running errands. Chances are pretty good that she does one or more of these things the other 364 days of the year. Let her have Mother's Day off. If she starts doing one of those things, pleasantly surprise her and offer to do it yourself. And for you kids, I am going to invoke the right of all mothers, she endured X hours of labor in order to bring you into the world, certainly she deserves one day a year off.

Ingredient #4: Tell her "I love you" at least once on Mother's Day. You know she loves to hear that sappy kind of stuff so indulge her. Telling mom you love her does not make you less cool, less of a rebel, less of a man, or any of the other things you might be worried about. Yes, I realize I have just dated myself but I am hoping that you still get my point. Mom loves you. Admitting that you love her too is okay. You can still be yourself and love your mom.

Ingredient #5: Give mom the gift of your day. Give her your attention for the day. Perhaps even have a meaningful talk about something important going on in your life. Moms love that kind of stuff. Let her choose what the family will do on Mother's Day. In a world where we never seem to have enough time for each other anymore, let her have you all to herself that day. Who knows, you might even enjoy having that special time with her.

Here's the easy breakfast recipe I promised.

Poppy Seed Bread

1 package yellow cake mix
1 package instant coconut cream pudding
1 cup hot water
1/2 cup oil
4 eggs
1/4 cup poppy seed

Put all of the above ingredients in a large bowl. Mix all of the ingredients together with an electric mixer on low speed for 4 minutes. Pour the mixture evenly into two bread pans and bake at 350 degrees for about 40 minutes. (A toothpick inserted in the center should come out clean.) Allow the bread to cool for about 30 minutes (it should be just slightly warm to the touch) and then carefully take a table knife and run it around the edge of the pan. Using the table knife or your fingers, gently loosen the bread from the bottom of the pan. Turn the pan upside down over a plate. The bread should slide out. If it doesn't, gently tap the bottom of the pan to loosen it. Turn the bread right side up, slice it up and you are ready to serve it to mom.

Happy Baking and Happy Mother's Day!

Indian Shrimp Curry Recipe - Simple, Delicious, and Perfect

If you love curry as much as I do, then you must know that there are few meals that can satisfy your palate as an Indian shrimp curry recipe. This recipe boasts of rich flavors and aroma that is equally matched by the rich colors of its ingredients - the greens and yellows of the curry, the bright red peppers, drenching the pure white rice and the pink shrimps. Shrimps are succulent yet firm in texture and invitingly sweet in flavor. It definitely adds a soothing element to the hotness of the curry. If you are a bit hesitant to try curry because you prefer your less spicy meals, then I have great news for you: curry is not naturally spicy; it is not even because of its own spice.

Indian shrimp curry recipe, and all other curry dishes for that matter, makes use of a spice blend referred to as masala powder. Garam masala is a generic name for the fusion of spices which typically includes red pepper, turmeric and cumin. Curry, as we all know, holds a special place as one of the world's most-loved dish. Its hotness is largely dependent on the amount of red pepper, and other hot additives like chilies. In many restaurants, and definitely in your own home, you are free to add and take off whatever spice you want, depending on your preference. This is the beauty of a curry dish; you can make your own special version of it! The variation of curry is introduced when you blend all the ingredients together.

All you need to make this scrumptiously appetizing dish are:

1. Shrimps

2. Curry powder (it's best if you make your own)

3. Sea salt (in powder form)

4. Coconut milk

5. Red onion, chopped

6. 1 garlic clove

7. 1 cup of green beans

8. Tofu

9. 2 cups of cauliflower

10. 1/3 cup roasted cashews

An Indian shrimp curry recipe is as simple as it is delicious. Don't be scared to try shrimp with curry. It's an entirely different way to put some pizzazz and variety on your next family dinner. You can serve it with basmati, white or brown rice and garnish it with a pinch of cilantro! Let your creative juices flow, and with some experimentation, you can whiz up a scrumptious curry dish in no time. You can easily cook and enjoy many mouthwatering curry recipes in my ebook. I have complied a great selection of great tasting curry recipes and will let you in some culinary secrets every food lover must know. Enjoy!

Grilled Pineapple - The Perfect End to Your Barbecue

Grilled pineapple is a perfect dessert for your barbecue. It is tasty, easy to do, great looking, and your guests will love it. Grilling brings out an intense flavor that is delicious.

Make sure to get a ripe pineapple. Look for one that has a nice smell and has crisp green leaves. Prepare the pineapple by cutting off the top and outer skin and coring. Cut into ¾ inch rings or slice into quarters lengthwise (top to bottom) and slice each quarter into four pieces to create wedges.

Make a glaze to be used on the pineapple. You can put it on prior to cooking or use it as a glaze after cooking. If using prior to cooking, brush each side of each pineapple piece with the glaze (you can also marinate overnight in a zip-lock bag). Here are some suggestions for glazes:

3 tablespoons honey, 1 tablespoon lemon or lime juice

1 tablespoon melted butter, 1 tablespoon brown sugar, 1/8 teaspoon ginger

2 tablespoons vegetable oil, ½ cup honey, 2 tablespoons lime juice, 2 teaspoons fresh ginger, 1 teaspoon soy sauce.

4 tablespoons molasses, 4 tablespoons melted butter, 2 tablespoon lime juice

½ cup brown sugar, 1 tablespoon lime juice, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, ¼ teaspoon cinnamon

1 can coconut milk, 1 ½ cups sugar, 2 teaspoons cinnamon

A variation on the glaze method is to dip the pineapple rings in a mixture of melted butter and lime juice and then into a mixture of brown sugar and cinnamon. Shake off the excess sugar and they are ready to go on the grill.

Spray the grill with non-stick cooking spray. Put the pineapple on the grill and cook for about 4 minutes on each side. Cook only until the outside starts to turn brown and grill marks appear. Don't overcook or it will turn mushy. Remove from the grill and brush with glaze one last time. Serve as is or with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or fruit sorbet. It doesn't get much better than this!