Mother’s Day Dinner Menu | Rhubarb Margaritas, Lobster Mac & Cheese, Raspberry Cream Tart

Last night we hosted our families for Mother’s Day Dinner.  We had a busy day already planned, so I planned around being able to make everything ahead of time.  Our holidays often tend revolve around sort of masculine fare – steaks, burgers, beef tenderloin, grilled brats, chocolate cakes, cheesy potatoes – so I wanted to serve a menu that was girly, complete with pink cocktails, flowers and linens.

I recently went to dinner with some girlfriend at True Foods Kitchen and had the most delicious Rhubarb Strawberry Margarita.  It was so fresh and not too sweet – so yummy.  I made the base without alcohol, so those could added tequila if they wanted.  Emma loved it (without the tequila!), too!  She was excited to sugar/salt everyones rim and garnish with mint and strawberries.    

Emma and I made a Raspberry Cream Tart for our dessert.  We sort of created the recipe by combining a couple of different ideas.  She helped me make the entire thing on Saturday, and we piped and toasted the meringue on Sunday afternoon with my Mom’s help.

I set the table with my favorite feminine floral linens and created a centerpiece out of peony, pink tulips (both from Whole Foods) and some garden roses from our yard.  Coral and Pink is one of my all-time favorite combinations.

Mother’s Day Menu with Make Ahead Tips

Rhubarb & Strawberry Margarita : Make rhubarb and strawberry simple syrup the day before.  Set up make-yourself bar the day of.

Lobster Mac and Cheese* : Make ahead tips below.

Wilted Lettuce : I made the bacon dressing the day before, then just heated it up in the microwave before tossing on the lettuce the day of.

Roasted Asparagus : I had it ready to go into the oven on a baking sheet just before the party.  Easiest vegetable side dish ever.  Drizzled with olive oil, salt and pepper and baked it for 15 minutes.

Sliced Heirloom Tomatoes & Avocados with Lemon Juice, Olive Oil & Flaked Sea Salt : Assembled this just before the party.

Raspberry Cream Meringue Tart (recipe coming soon!) : We made this the day before, save the meringue.

Wilted Lettuce Recipe

Lobster Mac and Cheese Recipe *Lobster Mac and Cheese Make Ahead Tip : I made the cheese sauce, cooked the pasta and cooked and shelled the lobster tails the day before, but waited to assemble everything until just before I cooked it.  My one complaint about homemade Mac and Cheese is that the sauce is absorbed into the noodles so much so that there isn’t remaining creamy sauce.  After assembling, I baked it for 35 minutes at 350 which was just enough to make it hot and bubbly without taking it too far.  I LOVED how this improved the recipe.

Hope you all had a wonderful Mother’s Day 🙂

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