Mother's Day Dinner

Preparation began early, though only the bread and dessert, both baked, take a long time.  And both completed at midday, creating a respite of about five hours before the remaining dishes get cooked and an attractive platter assembled.

I drove along the main route of my community, a path along a single road of mostly retail.  One dying mall to the north with a thriving supermarket across the street.  Familiar names on the storefronts.  Big Box stores, the last regional department store, places to eat that advertise their franchises on TV, a few independents.  Lunch gets traffic on Mother's Day.  One center dedicated to five restaurants had its parking lot filled.  Three national chains, one regional one, and one splashy popular diner.  All teeming with grateful children treating their moms.  True for all other places along my route that offer fare that not only requires cooking but also utensils to eat what the waitress delivers.  All except the IHOP, which from limited recent experience may not merit having diners, particularly for a special lunch of appreciation.  Many of these national chains get into my news feed of places that Gen Z diners won't patronize, with predictions of bankruptcy or at least widespread location closures imminent.  But today, grateful sons and daughters treat the local mothers.

Food preparation being one of my sources of personal fulfillment, and as empty nesters, I take responsibility for my children's mother having a memorable dinner.  Planned weeks in advance.  Multiple courses, all cooked and assembled in my own kitchen by her appreciative husband, who makes a decent surrogate for our kids.  Bread needs mixing, rising, punching, forming, a second rise, then baking.  No one part takes a long time but significant time gaps between steps.  Making a cake takes time, even with a stand mixer.  This being a flourless torte, I needed to separate eggs, grind the almonds, beat the whites, mix the yolks, blend sugar, add the extracts, add the ground almonds, fold in the whipped whites, prepare a springform, pour the batter and bake in a preheated oven in two stages.  Then cool, then release from springform and finally make the surface visually attractive.  These two steps took all morning, but done.  Only one more baking project, one that takes about a half hour after some mixing of ingredients.  One salad, takes minutes.  Two stovetop dishes, neither taking very long.  And then an elegant table.  Wash pots, pans, measuring devices, and appliances as I go.  Then elegant table.  Sign card.  A gratifying effort.