Families around the world celebrate Mother’s Day on different days of the year, taking the day to celebrate mothers, grandmothers, mother-in-laws, and those who are looked up to as a mother. Mother’s Day originated in the 1900s and was coined by Anna Jarvis, daughter of American Civil War-era social activist and community organizer Ann Reeves Jarvis.
As Mother’s Day approaches, here are simple, yet personal, ways you can celebrate Mom with a poolside brunch:
Poolside Decorations
Sitting by the pool instantly creates a relaxing atmosphere for Mom. Elevate the ambience of your pool with floating décor. We promise that even the not-so-crafty person can achieve success!
- Floats: Place whimsical, fun, brightly-colored floats in your pool. You can use donuts, unicorns, llamas, summer fruits, and more.
- Balloons: Pick an assortment of latex balloons that match the color scheme of your pool floats and blow them up to different sizes and allow them to float in the pool. Or, you can inflate the balloons with helium and attach a weighted string and watch them float above the pool.
- DIY Tablecloth Pom-Poms: For an easy but stylish poolside decoration, craft tablecloth pom-poms using one color (or multiple color) plastic tablecloths. This craft is simple enough to invite younger children to join in the fun of making. Choose to float these pom-poms in the pool, or hang them up around the seating area for a beautifully-decorated poolside brunch.
Menu
A classic brunch consists of six main components: eggs, bread, fruit, pastries, meat, and a signature drink. Brunch is a perfect occasion for make-ahead recipes, allowing you to spend more time with your guests, and in this case, Mom.
Lyon Financial’s own Carla Barrera shared a Pancake Breakfast Casserole recipe with us. Carla received this family favorite recipe from her mother-in-law, who guarantees this to be a crowd pleaser. This dish is a great addition to your Mother’s Day Brunch and checks all the boxes in deliciousness!
Pancake Breakfast Casserole
Ingredients:
- 4 tablespoons of butter
- 1 cup of flour
- 1 teaspoon of baking soda
- 6 tablespoons of sugar
- 3/4 teaspoon of salt
- 1 ½ cups of buttermilk
- 7 eggs
- 2 cups of half-and-half
- 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract
- Maple syrup for serving
- Blueberries for serving
Instructions:
Put 3 tablespoons of butter in the microwave to melt and set aside a 13″ x 9″ baking dish.
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, 3 tablespoons of sugar, and ½ teaspoon of salt.
In another bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, 2 eggs, and melted butter.
Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir until combined.
Make the pancakes: Heat a large pan over medium heat. Melt the rest of the butter. For each pancake, scoop ¼ cup of batter into the pan. Flip after 2 minutes. Transfer the pancake into the pan when finished. Try to make at least 10-12 pancakes.
(You can use frozen pancakes for the “mom on the go” – just make sure they are thawed)
Whisk together the half-and-half, vanilla extract, the remaining 5 eggs, 3 tablespoons of sugar, and ¼ tablespoon of salt in a large bowl.
Arrange the pancakes in the baking dish in rows, overlapping slightly. Pour the egg mixture over the pancakes. Cover the dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 8 hours (or overnight) to allow the pancakes to soak up the egg mixture.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and bake casserole until firm, approximately 50-60 minutes.
Serve warm with syrup and blueberries.
Signature Drink
Mimosas are synonymous with brunch. Customize your drink by serving Mom a “Mom-osa,” made by mixing fresh orange juice and Mom’s favorite champagne. Simply substitute sparkling grape juice and mix with the orange juice for a child-friendly non-alcoholic “Kid-osa” mocktail.
Entertainment
Games are a great way to socialize during Mother’s Day Brunch. Add a little friendly competition with guests by playing Mother’s Day Family Feud (available for digital download on Etsy for a small fee). Split into two teams and take turns guessing the most popular answers to questions about mothers (Steve Harvey not included).
Happy Mother’s Day from all of us at Lyon Financial!
Providing pool and home improvement loan solutions since 1979, Lyon Financial loves everything that enhances the outdoor experience. We also love the difference we can make for your family by providing something that puts years of memories within reach. Call 877-754-5966 for more information about creating your ideal backyard oasis.
