Growing up, my family was one that had dinner together at the table with the TV turned off, usually at the same time each night without fail. On Sundays, we had a big lunch at the table instead of dinners. I’m sure we went out to dinner, ordered pizza, or picked up sandwiches from time to time, but we were still almost always there together at the table, eating together.

I think we all know that Mom is the one to thank for this routine. I have no idea if we showed her gratitude at every meal, and this is reality, so I’m going to guess we didn’t. I do know that I treasure this family mealtime around our table in memory and retrospect.

We always took Mom out for a nice sit-down restaurant meal on Mother’s Day.

That’s not happening this year. Not for my mom and probably not for yours. That’s OK, though. Trust me. I’m sure of just how OK it is because it hasn’t happened for my mom with our whole family present on Mother’s Day in at least seven years or more, and for my mother-in-law, I know it’s been even longer.

I would love to celebrate my mom and my mother-in-law at a big family meal around a family table, more than you know, especially on Mother’s Day. As a second-choice opportunity to honor them, I’m sharing some make-them-because-of-mom food ideas. I hope Mom and Mom—AKA Kim, know I always think of them whenever I think of these delicious foods I shared with them.

With Thanks to Mom (Mary)

Sauce and Meatballs

I think the first thing you taught me to make was sauce. At least that’s my memory of it. You told me that you did something a little extra, that Grandma (let’s thank her for sauce too!) never did. Your special secret addition was, of course, sugar.

Meatballs, well, I’m sorry I probably never wanted to eat them as a kid—and that I was such a picky eater. They’re delicious, and something else I’ll always be glad for the recipe you passed on to me.

Sausage and Peppers

If sauce always smells like home, sausage and peppers are my absolute favorite kitchen smell. (Hint: If you aren’t oven-cooking things in red wine, you’re doing it wrong.) Of course, this is another treat I am sure I never ate when you made them while I was growing up. Actually, I don’t know if I have ever eaten them

when you’ve made them, but you told me how, and man, does my sense of smell thank you.

Cake

Thank you for all of the birthday cakes you made for all of us over the years, Mom. You are the only person (to my memory) that has ever made me a birthday cake.

Gnocchi

I hope everyone reading this has their own family-tradition-from-scratch food to love and enjoy on really special occasions. I also hope it’s as delicious as gnocchi, because to me there is nothing better.

I’ll always remember trying to eat more of them than Dad and the hours we spent making them together around the table.

Thanksgiving Bread Stuffing

Yeah, I know. Wrong holiday. But mmm. Thank you, to you and Betty Crocker, for this. Thank you also for the hilarious memory of you asking me if I was going to keep your cookbook, which is marked with handwritten notes by this recipe, when you die. I told you that was such a morbid thing to say, and it is, but of course I will keep that cookbook if you die.

Please don’t die, Mom. Like, ever.

With Thanks to Mom (Kim)

Zucchini Bread

You taught me how to make this the first time you came to stay with us after our first PCS. I’m so glad we got to spend time with you then, and so glad for every time we get to see each other, however few and far between.

Grape Leaves

These are special to me on the same level as gnocchi. Having a family-tradition food from his side of the family is so important. I remember grocery shopping together to get all of the ingredients, and you knew each one and the whole process by heart—never having to check with anyone else or look for directions written down. I know these came from Yiayia, and are such a special family food to treasure.

Soup!

This one gets an exclamation point, because that’s how he says it—your son, my husband—always excited for this comfort food. Thank you so much for explaining to me how to make your after-Thanksgiving turkey soup. It’s the only food he has ever specifically asked me to make for him and that speaks volumes to how delicious of a treat soup can be.

If I Could, with Thanks

Chocolate Chip Pancakes

I started making these for him—my husband,—but these are something I know that I have made for both of you, Mom and Mom (AKA Kim).

Mom, each time I say we had pancakes for dinner, or that I made them for the first time in a new place after a PCS, you remind me that you love “my pancakes” and that “sounds good.”

Mom (AKA Kim), I remember you saying they “tasted like a cookie” and that I must “love my kitchen.”

I would make them for you, and for him, on Mother’s Day if we were all together. My treat for you three, because I am so thankful for my two amazing moms and my husband who gave me my second one.

I hope you both have a wonderful and beautiful Mother’s Day. I hope you have some delicious food to eat (and that you don’t have to make it yourself) on this special day.

For all moms and children who love their moms and miss their cooking, Happy Mother’s Day with love and thanks!