Celebrate Mom with beautiful brunch
By Carey Stites
Moms can influence our lives on many different levels; not only our physical appearance, but also our personalities.
Many times the activities we loved doing with our moms can be passed down for our own children to enjoy. For me, both my mom and grandmother played a role in my love for food (cooking) and for fitness.
My first memory of cooking was because of my mom. She bought a “kiddie” cookbook and let me try to cook scrambled eggs on my own by following the recipe — she actually let me experiment and learn on my own while supervising. Years later I remember her allowing me to scan through her Better Homes & Gardens cookbook and select recipes I wanted to try. Every night during the summer I experimented and cooked everything from egg rolls to pies with her help. Christmas was memorable for me as we would cook many different and unique types of cookies for hours while watching “Gone with the Wind.”
My grandmother really enforced physical activity. I remember when she would visit; she would come in my room and tell me it was time to exercise. We did toe touch stretches, arm circles-low impact activities she and I could do together. I can picture her “working out” with me and advising me on how to eat small portions; she suggested I always leave a little food on my plate as a “lady” never cleans her plate.
When I would visit her in Wyoming, my grandmother insisted my brother and I play outside (pretty much all day) and go to the playground across the street. I vividly remember her watching us through the second story window while she cooked. Every night we would walk around her neighborhood and she would stress how important it was to be healthy; she was a very matter-of-fact woman who did not hold back her thoughts, but I knew she meant well with her advice.
Fast forward many years later, I am now the mom of two young girls. Food and fitness is definitely an avenue for us to spend quality time together, not only on Mother’s Day, but many days throughout the year. One of our favorite activities to do as a family is to explore the outdoors-we love the water and surrounding trails and scenery of Central Texas. The best part is we get our blood pumping while talking and taking in the beautiful surroundings-without cellphones.
Gardening is another family tradition perfect for Mother’s Day. My daughters help me dig and pot the different plants and this becomes an opportunity for activity and education. Gardening can be hard work; however, team work makes the task more enjoyable. I let my daughters choose which fruits and vegetables to plant and we talk about the health benefits of each. As the plants sprout and grow, we all pick the “crops” and admire our beautiful flowers as they flourish.
A wonderful start to a Mother’s Day full of activities is to cook up a delicious meal together in the kitchen. Whether the dish is a classic family recipe or a new one to try, working together in the kitchen to prepare a Mother’s Day meal can be a wonderful way to enjoy each other’s company, no matter the age.
Celebrate the Mom in your life by surprising her with a delicious brunch. Serve up this tasty quiche along with fresh fruit and a morning mimosa; you can even include lovely Mother’s Day flowers by adding edible flowers, such as Nasturtiums, to the quiche. Happy Mother’s Day!
No Crust Spinach Quiche
Cooking spray
1 yellow onion, chopped
1 (10 ounce) package frozen, chopped spinach, thawed and drained
5 eggs, beaten
3 cups shredded Muenster cheese
¼ teaspoon salt
Small loaf pan
Hand full of Nasturtium flowers
Optional: Turkey bacon, turkey sausage links or turkey breakfast sausage
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease pan.
Heat spray in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions and cook until onions are soft. Stir in spinach and cook until excess moisture has evaporated.
In a large bowl, combine eggs, cheese and salt. Add spinach mixture and stir to blend. Add meat if using in recipe. Scoop into prepared pan.
Bake in preheated oven until eggs have set, about 30 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes before serving.
Decorate quiche with flowers and serve with a bowl of fresh fruit and an optional morning mimosa.
CAREY STITES, MS, RD, LD, CPT is a registered and licensed dietitian working for Wellstone Health Partners in Harker Heights. Carey has been a practicing dietitian since 2001, with experience in both outpatient and inpatient medical nutrition therapy and sports nutrition. Carey also is an AFAA certified group fitness instructor and personal trainer. She has promoted health and wellness through presentations, classes, writing and cooking demonstrations all across Texas.
