Mother’s Day Brunch: Ham & Asparagus Strata & Pampering Gift Ideas

Mothers help to create a relaxing atmosphere for us to live in daily, so let’s create one for her. For this Mother’s Day give your mom her very own Mother’s Day Retreat. Why not make her a delicious Ham and Asparagus Strata and then treat her to a relaxing day?

Mother’s Day Brunch: Ham & Asparagus Strata Recipe

Breakfast casserole – Egg, asparagus and cheese strata

Image and recipe via BHG

Ingredients

8 ounces asparagus spears, trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces
5 cups French bread cubes
2 cups shredded Gruyere or white cheddar cheese, (8 oz.)
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup chopped chives or green onions
8 ounces cooked ham, diced
10 eggs
1 1/2 cups milk

Directions

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to boiling. Add asparagus; cook 5 minutes or until bright green.

2. In a greased 3-quart baking dish spread half the bread cubes. Top with cheese, onion, chives and half the ham and asparagus. Top with remaining bread.

3. In a bowl whisk together four of the eggs and the milk. Evenly pour over layers in dish. Press down bread pieces into the egg milk mixture with the back of a spoon. Top with remaining ham and asparagus. Cover; refrigerate until ready to bake.

4. Bake, uncovered, in a 325 degrees F oven 30 minutes. With the back of a wooden spoon, press 6 indentations in top of strata. Pour a whole egg into each indentation. Bake 20 to 25 minutes more or until an instant-read thermometer inserted in center of strata registers 170 degrees F and eggs are set. Let stand 15 minutes.

Cut into squares to serve. If desired, drizzle lightly with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and cracked black pepper. Makes 6 to 8 servings.

Mother’s Day Recipes

Throughout the night have an array of healthy and sweet snacks for your mom to munch on throughout her retreat time. Give her selections like different cheeses, fresh-cut veggies, mini-cupcakes, sliced fruits, fruit dipped in chocolate, nuts etc. Serve the food with water, juice, wine or champagne. Find a list of Mother’s Day Recipes here.

Make Mother’s Day complete with a celebration just for her!

Image via: Pinterest

Mother’s Day Pampering Gift Ideas

Give your mother the day off that she may desperately need. She doesn’t have to go to a costly spa yet have one created right in her very own home and here’s how.

Set the Atmosphere

For mother’s day retreat you want to create a serene and soothing area that will calm the senses. Start with the music, you can download or find tranquil sounds like smooth jazz, waves crashing, soft classical tones, or rain falling. Then setup the aromatherapy with oils that carry the scents of jasmine, sandalwood, chamomile, freesia, cinnamon and/ or vanilla. These scents are purposely created to loosen up and wind down. Also dim the lighting, this will help to tell the body to slow down and lay down.

Pamper your Mother!

Spa Like Treatments

Image via:  Preston Wynne

Give your mother a facial, with a relaxing bath, manicure and pedicure to follow. You can make simple facial treatments with ingredients like yogurt, avocado, bananas etc. For the soothing bath; set a bath pillow in the bath tub, fill the tub with warm/hot water and scented bath oils and salts. After your mother is done with her bath then give her a fresh manicure and pedicure. Allow for her feet to soak, then take a towel and pat dry, clip her nails, apply lotion, and paint the nails.

Dress for the Occasion

Dress for the Occasion

Image via:  Push Little Baby

Set out a soft comfy thick terry cloth robe and slippers to match. And if she has a favorite outfit that she enjoys wearing around the house like a velour sweat suite or yoga pant and a tee shirt then get those for her too. Also give your mom her favorite indulgences like good books, favorite magazines, or just amazing movies after she has just had her bath and manicure and pedicure!

Make this Mother’s Day the best for her!