Food & Party Planning Guide

Make Mom's Day with Easy, Savory Brunch Tarts

Just because mom typically doesn't have to cook on Mother's Day doesn't mean that the family has to resort to a restaurant brunch for the celebration. Instead, feature one of a trio of savory brunch tarts that can be made as easy as pie.

"You don't have to wait in line at a busy restaurant for a fantastic Mother's Day brunch," said Nancy Siler, consumer affairs director of Wilton Enterprises and a home-entertaining expert. "Taking the time to make a home-cooked meal for Mom can be a very special experience and it doesn't have to be difficult." Siler says that even the most inexperienced cook can prepare a show-stopping Mothers Day brunch by following a few simple steps:

. . . Use the oven for most of your cooking. "Baking is probably the easiest method of cooking," she said. "You don't have to watch the pot or stir as things cook. As long as you choose a straightforward recipe and follow the instructions you should be ok."

. . . Serve simple, but elegant uncooked side dishes. "It's easy to make a exceptional fruit salad," she said. "Choose the ripest berries you can find and toss them with a little shredded coconut and some diced pineapple or mangoes for a tropical-flavored salad. Or, you can make a mixed vegetable salad and dress it with a gourmet bottled salad dressing."

. . . Use a bread machine or purchase bread from a specialty bakery. Baking homemade bread from scratch can be a chore, even for seasoned cooks. You could try some of the refrigerated or frozen dough if you don't have a bread machine.

. . . It's ok to take a few shortcuts. Siler recommends using packaged phyllo dough or pie crusts when making a savory brunch tart. "Purchased crusts are often better than what novice cooks can make at home," she said. "They're certainly more convenient."

. . . Special touches on the table mean a lot. "An arrangement of fresh flowers as a centerpiece not only looks nice, it shows mom that you've put some thought into the celebration."

. . . Work Ahead. Making recipes the day before helps cut down on last-minute confusion and ensures that the meal will progress without a hitch.

Siler suggests serving one of three different breakfast tarts she has developed for Mother's Day. The first, a Spring Green Tart celebrates the freshness of spring by combining a mixture of young greens like spinach and endive with fresh herbs and lemon. Wrapped in phyllo dough, it is a light and delicious change of pace from heavier brunch fare.

A classic Alsatian Onion Tart couldn't be more simple. Onions, leeks, eggs and cream combine to make a velvety and elegant tart that can be served as either an entrée or as an appetizer.

The last "tart," Goat Cheese, Artichoke and Ham Tart, is a crust-less casserole that actually tastes better if it is made the day ahead and re-heated. Because there is no crust, the recipe can be easily doubled if the guest list is large.