If there are two things Italians absolutely adore, they're food and their mothers. Incidentally, they often go hand-in-hand too. Since Italians are mostly traditional, you can expect the
madres and
nonnas to always cook the meals. The kitchen is their domain and it's there where they can prepare some of the most delicious dishes in the world. So if you're in Italy come Mother's Day, why not help your mom cook the meal? It's a great way to bond and express your love to them. You can have fun preparing dishes like beef lasagna, torta di rigatoni, tiramisu, and many more that have made Italian cuisine one of the best in the world!
Beef Lasagna
Beef Lasagna is as classic as it can get! In fact, it's become such a famous dish all around the world that, if not for its name, many would've probably forgotten that it came from Italy. Though a lasagna itself looks complicated, it's a fairly easy dish to prepare. Thus, if you're a complete novice in the kitchen, making beef lasagna is a good dish to start with. You'll barely get in your mom's way as you both prepare the Mother's Day feast. All you have to do is to listen to her and you'll better appreciate all the work that she's done to feed you all these years.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Risotto Alla Milanese
Now, Risotto Alla Milanese is a bit more complicated than beef lasagna. At least, with the latter, you'll only have to deal with popular ingredients like beef and cheese. But with Risotto Alla Milanese, you'll need short-grain Rice, dry white wine, saffron threads, chicken broth, and more! They all sound too advanced, don't they? And if your mother is used to making this dish, you can easily mistake her for a chef in a
Michelin-starred restaurant in Milan. However, the recipe itself is pretty simple. Actually, making risotto is generally simpler than preparing many other Italian dishes out there. So don't worry and trust in your
madre!
Source: Wikimedia Commons/ Thomas Strosse
Torta di Rigatoni
Rigatoni is a popular pasta variety that you ought to serve on Mother's Day. Surely, your mom will enjoy preparing rigatoni dishes too. Unlike the other
kinds of pasta out there, dealing with rigatoni is fairly simpler and easier. Take Torta di Rigatoni, for instance. What is basically a '
pasta cake' made with beef and mozzarella cheese, it's practically no different than preparing beef lasagna all over again! And you'll enjoy it just the same too! Not to mention, since you'll have to bake it, your mother would certainly find it easy to do!
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Chicken Involtini
You're now venturing off to more complex Italian dishes. First up: Chicken Involtini! Made with chicken cutlets, tomatoes, cheese, and more, this is the sort of Italian cuisine staple where your mom will really need assistance. It's not that she can't handle it on her own, it's just that on Mother's Day, her special day, you'd do well to make things easier for her. You can grill the chicken, add the cheese, sprinkle in the spices, and more. All to make the process of preparing the meal more convenient for her. Who knows? You can even show off whatever culinary chops you have in front of her!
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Escalopes
Based on its name, '
Escalopes,' you can easily mistake it for scallops, a seafood delicacy that's popular in various parts of Italy like
Puglia,
Sardinia, and more. However, '
Escalopes' are not scallops! Instead, they're boneless pieces of meat. Also, you usually thin these pieces out with a mallet or rolling pin, ensuring that they end up as flat and as tender as ever. Of course, that's your part of this culinary process! Don't leave all the heavy-lifting to your
madre! It's Mother's Day, for goodness sake! You should do this much to make things easier for her in the kitchen.
Source: Wikimedia Commons/ mekfouldji abdelkrim
Non Posso Piu Salad
You can't have an Italian feast without salad! Especially when you want to serve it on Mother's Day! Remember that your mom is probably at an age where Italy's richer and heartier cuisine might be too much for her. It's better to include a health option where she can still enjoy all the delicious flavors of the country without risking her health. So why not make Non-Posso Piu Salad instead? All you need are fresh vegetables, soft boiled egg, some cheese, and the like. A few varieties would even include fish too! Surely, you can do this dish on your own, right?
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Crème Caramel
Now, let's move on to dessert! Now, instead of helping your mom prepare this part of the meal, why not make this on your own instead? You can consider it as another Mother's Day gift that she will surely love and appreciate! But what
Italian dessert should you make? Consider crème caramel as an option! It's light, creamy, and perfect for your mom if she's reached a certain age. If your
madre has even become old enough to need dentures, this is the perfect dessert to enjoy without needing any teeth! After a few spoonfuls, she'll feel like she's in sweet heaven!
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Tiramisu
Arguably the most famous Italian dessert out there—
apart from gelato, of course—is the tiramisu. It's a rich and creamy treat with multiple layers of mascarpone cheese, cocoa, and more. It's perfect for Mother's Day too because its taste is more palatable for adults. If your mom doesn't have that big of a sweet tooth and prefers richer desserts, this is the best sweet you can serve here. You can even enjoy it with her with a glass of dessert wine or a hot cup of coffee too! What's not to love?
Source: Wikimedia Commons
A great way to celebrate Mother's Day, especially if you're in Italy, is to prepare the holiday feast with your mom! Bond with your
madre by helping her cook delicious Italian dishes that you can both enjoy.
