Mother’s Day meals: easy lunch ideas from Caple

Like every other landmark date this year so far, Mother’s Day 2021 is likely to be a little different than usual. Some COVID-19 restrictions are unlikely to be lifted by 14^th March, so taking your mum out to lunch probably isn’t an option. But there are still plenty of ways to make the day special. After all, nothing beats home-cooked Mother’s Day meals, prepared and served with lashings of love!

If you’re lucky enough to be in a bubble with your mum, it’s a special meal you can all enjoy together. Another option is to pre-prepare everything, and deliver it to her doorstep as a nice surprise. Whichever option you choose, our national trainer Jo has sourced some delicious recipes for you to experiment with. Best of all, each one is prepared on an induction hob, for faster, safer, energy-efficient cooking.

Spaghetti is one of my go-to meals throughout the year. I simply ring the changes via different sauces according to the season. A classic carbonara is one of my favourites, delivering maximum enjoyment from minimal effort. So this dish is first on my list for Mother’s Day meals! This version is a great option if you’re not a particularly experienced or confident cook. Jamie Oliver’s recipe takes just ten minutes and it’s easy to follow. Everything is cooked on the hob; you basically boil, fry and mix!

Our C990i would be my ideal choice for this meal. Offering intelligent, intuitive cooking, this model incorporates a TFT 7-inch touch screen, plus Caple’s smart pan detection. This means that the hob instantly recognises and adapts to your pan size and position. There’s even an auto-bridge function. This actually links zones together to accommodate larger pans (perfect for prepping substantial amounts of pasta!). There are 21 power levels to choose from, plus lots of clever features, including a ‘keep warm’ setting. And, with its sleek black frameless design and beautiful bevelled edges, this hob looks as good as it cooks!

If you’re looking for a hearty, one-pot dish for a Mother’s Day meal, do take a look at this Cowboy Beans stew recipe, courtesy of the Hairy Bikers. Popular in the south west of the US, it’s reminiscent of a baked-bean casserole, but with a tasty, spicy twist. This particular version takes up to an hour to cook. There is rather a lot of stirring involved, but you’ll be pleased to hear, it’s very simple to prepare.

If you’re after an induction hob with the ‘wow’ factor, our C950i would be ideal. When we launched it, this multi-zone model was the first of its kind in the UK. It features four modular induction zones, which you can place anywhere, and even create a striking semi-circle around a central control zone. This super sleek, frameless design can be fitted inset or flush-mounted. There are 11 different power levels (0-9 plus keep warm and booster). Other handy functions include pause, child safety lock, memory recall and residual heat indicators.

If you’re looking for lighter options for Mother’s Day meals, I recommend Delicious magazine’s fritter recipe for lunch. These little vegetarian beauties are absolutely scrumptious served with a squeeze of lime, a green salad, and some cool, creamy yogurt. The method involves grating, draining, and combining carrots, potatoes, sweet potatoes and onions, which are bound by an egg and cheese coating. You then fry these patties – in a wok or a saucepan – for one–two minutes each side. Keep them warm in a low oven until they’re all cooked and ready to serve.

I love fried foods for a treat. However, I’m not a big fan of the odours they create! Our DD940BK is the perfect solution. This was the UK’s first induction downdraft to feature cutting-edge Plasma technology, which helps to purify the air and eliminate 95% of odours. You can choose this as an option in conjunction with the charcoal filter. And the ultra-quiet motor makes this appliance perfect for open-plan living. It has a maximum extraction rate of 650m3/h, four speed options and a handy auto timer.

There are so many Nigel Slater recipes I could have selected for my Mother’s Day meals round-up, but this is one of my all-time favourites. I adore the fragrant combination of spices, saffron and lemon. Chicken thighs on the bone are economical, and give a deeper, more intense flavour. This dish takes just 30 minutes to cook, and involves little more than browning, boiling and simmering.

My dream appliance for this dish would be our C901i induction hob. It’s absolutely packed with amazing features and functionality! For example, the pan function allows you to remove your ‘pot’ from one zone and place it on another – and your selected settings will move too. Chef mode allows you to divide your hob into three zones, each with different power levels (low, medium and high). So you can simmer your chicken casserole and boil your rice, then slide it over to a lower heat, for example. Other key features include an automatic safety shut-off, child safety lock and residual heat indicators.

If you’ve continued with Veganuary, this chickpea curry recipe from LoveFoodHateWaste is sure to be a winner. This is one of the most tasty Mother’s Day meals I think you’ll love. Using a jar of curry sauce (check the ingredients for vegan suitability), you can keep things easy and speedy. All you need to do is prep your vegetables of choice, add your tinned chickpeas and simmer on the hob.

The only problem with cooking curry, of course, is the odour that lingers afterwards. Step forward our DD780BK induction downdraft. This multi-tasking two-in-one appliance makes short work of nasty niffs, while cooking up a mouth-watering menu. With an A+ energy rating and a powerful extraction rate of 648m3/h, this model offers ten power levels, including booster. What I really like is how simple it is to replace the magnetic charcoal filter, which sits behind an easy-access grille on the plinth. The downdraft parts can be removed for easy hand or dishwasher cleaning, too. So, no need to stress if you splash your curry everywhere while it’s cooking!