Mother's Day Brunch

This was an emotional Mother's Day for me- fresh from disappointment of the adoption not working out and then finding out I'm not pregnant (again).  Then seven of our chickens disappeared without a trace Friday evening, leaving the eighth injured.  The birth mom texted me to tell me the baby was born Friday, and is expected to go home with the adoptive family Monday (today).

So it was with a heavy heart that I went into Mother's Day.  I hosted a brunch for my family and was expecting seventeen.  I was very excited about the menu, which came straight from my magazine Cuisine at Home.  Here was our menu:

• Caramelized onion and blue cheese quiche
• Arugula salad with toasted walnuts, shallots, edible flowers, and a lemon honey vinaigrette
• Beet-cured salmon and cream cheese canapes
• Radish & Avocado Toasts with basil butter
• Blueberry Shrub Punch 
• Berry icebox pie and fudge pie for desert

YUM!!!!  I was so excited about making it- especially the salmon.  I've never cured anything before, but it was very simple and SO delicious.  I shredded the beets, combined them with kosher salt, sugar, vodka and orange and lemon zest.  Then I packed that on top of the salmon, covered it with plastic wrap, and weighed it down with a few bricks.  After 24 hours, I drained the liquid, flipped it over and weighed it down again for another 24 hours.  Then I rinsed it, sliced it then, and wrapped each slice around a basil leaf.  I placed that on top of a cucumber with cream cheese mixed with capers, lemon zest and shallots.  It was amazing!

My quiche didn't turn out quite so perfect.  My first two were so hideous that I sent J to get pre-made pie crusts.  Even those turned out terribly ugly.  But they tasted delicious, so I served the 3 best anyway!  (It's just family, right?!)

Pretty appetizers...

UGLY quiche!  But yummy!

It turned out to be my best mother's day.  It was the first mother's day as a Mom that I got to spend with MY Mom and Grandma!  The girls were running and laughing and so precious.  The day was relaxed.  It was just a wonderful day!

FOUR GENERATIONS!!!

My Mom "Grammie" with girls

This is reality.  Gianna nursing with her hand in my mouth.  Abigail asleep on my lap.
Life is good.

I also received an email from Abigail's birth mom and a text from Gianna's birth mom, both wishing me a happy mother's day and expressing love.  Can you imagine?  These women MADE me a mother, and take the time on a difficult day to wish me a happy one.  They are my heroes.

I'm eternally grateful for my two daughters, but never stop thinking of and praying for those who suffer on Mother's Day.  Praying for the longings of our hearts!!!