Study shares that Mums don’t want gifts & flowers for Mother’s Day, they want you to do the cooking
A new study conducted by premium appliances brand AEG has revealed that this year mums would prefer that their family show their love through an ‘act of service’ rather than a material gift with more than one in four (27%) wanting a home-cooked meal and almost one in five (18%) looking forward to breakfast in bed¹.
According to TikTok creator search insights searches for ‘mother’s day brunch ideas’ have increased by 160%, ‘how to cook steak tutorial’ have increased by 220% and ‘simple roast dinner ideas’ have increased by a whopping 1000%, as people look to brush up on their cooking skills ahead of the big day.
With being cooked for high up on the wishlist this Mother’s Day, fathers and kids will need to dust off their chef’s hats but one in five (21%) dads have admitted they don’t feel confident cooking for their partner or helping their children cook a meal for their mum.
To help families impress this Mother’s Day, AEG has teamed up with professional chefs Rizwan Asad and Sanjay Aggarwal to provide useful tips on how to make even the simplest of meals special, as well as sharing foolproof recipes that can be nailed by anyone.
Chef Rizwan Asad has provided 3 dishes that, although easy, still have the wow factor and are perfect for beginners or for those cooking with children.
Breakfast:
Cooking for someone is one of the best ways to show you care. It doesn’t have to be complicated, just thoughtful. So if you’re aiming for something special but simple, Rizwan suggests starting with breakfast.
“A fancy but low-effort option is croissants with smoked salmon. Get two good-quality croissants, slice them open, and warm them slightly in the oven at 160°C (320°F) for about 5 minutes, just enough to bring out that buttery flakiness.
“Spread 2 tablespoons of crème fraîche inside, layer on 100g of smoked salmon, and finish with a squeeze of lemon and some fresh dill.
“If you want to add an egg, soft scramble it on the hob at a low heat, constantly stirring, and a touch of butter (about 10g) will keep it silky.”
Dinner:
For dinner, Rizwan says when done right, steak is an easy win, but when asked what they feel most confident cooking only one in five dads said they feel confident cooking a steak. TikTok has also seen a surge in searches for ‘how to cook the perfect steak’ which has increased by 141% and ‘how to cook steak tutorial’ which has increased by 220%.
Rizwan advises,
“Take a 250g ribeye or sirloin steak out of the fridge 30 minutes before cooking. Heat a pan on high until it’s almost smoking, then add a drizzle of olive oil.
“Season the steak generously with salt and pepper, then sear for about 2 minutes on each side without touching it too much.
“Lower the heat, add 20g butter, a crushed garlic clove, and a sprig of rosemary or thyme. Tilt the pan and spoon the melted butter over the steak for about 30 seconds.
“Let it rest for at least 5 minutes before slicing so the juices stay in.”
When it comes to the extras, keep things simple and easy by heating some mashed potatoes in your microwave oven. If you want to add vegetables, steam carrots, broccoli or green beans either in a steam oven or in a saucepan on the hob to go alongside your steak and serve with salted butter and seasoning.
Dessert:
To finish off Rizwan suggests an easy but impressive dessert that’ll do the trick is a quick chocolate mousse that can be whipped up on the hob.
“Melt 100g dark chocolate (70% cocoa is best) and let it cool slightly.
“In a separate bowl, whip 250ml heavy cream with 1 tablespoon of sugar and ½ teaspoon vanilla extract until soft peaks form.
“Gently fold in the melted chocolate, making sure not to deflate the mixture. Chill for at least 2 hours before serving.”
For those who aren’t the most confident in the kitchen, chef Sanjay Aggarwal has provided the following tips to make a meal feel special:
- Presentation – “Even the simplest meal feels special when served on a nice plate with a garnish (fresh herbs, seasoning, a drizzle of olive oil, or even a sprinkle of spice)”
- Don’t overcomplicate it – “Stick to one main dish and keep sides simple. A platter-style meal (e.g., roast chicken, salad, and bread) makes serving easy.”
- Prep – “Chopping veg or mixing spices the night before takes the stress out of cooking on the day.”
- Drinks – “A homemade hot chocolate or fresh fruit mocktail adds an extra thoughtful touch.”
- Enjoy – “Cooking for someone is about love, not perfection—if something goes slightly wrong, laugh it off and enjoy the moment.”
For more Mother’s Day cooking inspiration, or to shop appliances visit the AEG website