simplerecipes:

INGREDIENTS

• 1/4 cup white-wine vinegar
• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 teaspoon honey
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
• 3 medium stalks celery, diced (1/4-inch)
• 2 medium carrots, diced (1/4-inch)
• 1 large red bell pepper, diced (1/4-inch)
• 1 medium apple, peeled and diced (1/4-inch)
• 1/2 large cucumber, peeled, seeded and diced (1/4-inch)
• 1 cup sliced Treviso (see Tips) or radicchio
• 1 cup sliced arugula, any tough stems removed
• 1 cup thinly sliced napa, Savoy or other soft cabbage
• 1 cup crumbled goat cheese
• 1/2 cup toasted slivered almonds (see Tips)

• PREPARATION

  1. Whisk vinegar, oil, honey, salt and pepper in a large salad bowl until well combined.
  2. Add celery, carrots and bell pepper to the vinaigrette. Let marinate for at least 10 minutes and up to 1 hour.
  3. Add apple, cucumber, Treviso (or radicchio), arugula and cabbage to the bowl; toss to coat. Add goat cheese and almonds and toss to combine.

When I was in kindergarten I had gone on my first school trip to the science center, I was very scared and did not want to go without my family. We had got a baby 15 days ago, so it was not possible for my mom to come so I was very sad, my mom asked me why I was sad and I told her that I would miss her if I went all by myself and I really wanted her to come with me for it. My mom encouraged me to go as my friends mom would be there for me. The next day I went to the field trip and all the way I was wishing my mom would be there with me and I was crying too. When it was time to get off the bus. I saw my mom waiting there with open arms. I was so touched & ran to give her a huge hug and a kiss. My mom was in pain from the C-section but the love for me had brought her there. I love you mom you are the best. Love you lots. 

My sister Valerie was filling me in on what to expect in first grade at Ellis Brett Elementary School in Brockton, MA. A year older sister than me she knew everything, or so I thought at the time.

She explained each day we would walk the mile to the school in the morning and return home for lunch and then walk back for the afternoon session.

Mother would leave a sandwich covered with a saucer and a glass of milk on the kitchen table for lunch. We had strict instructions to eat and be on our way back to school.

“No dilly-dallying!”

Mother worked as an operator at the Local Telephone Company and would return home later in the afternoon to be there when we arrived home after school.

As the days went by and the routine became familiar Valerie decided one day she would rather stay at school with her friends instead of going home for lunch.

 I really didn’t want to eat alone. I walked home reluctantly, kicking the fall leaves as I

slowly scuffed my way to our house on Belmont Avenue.

 I passed our neighbor’s house and the smell of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies permeated the fall air. A plan began to formulate in my childish brain. I took a deep breath and bravely walked up the back steps of the house and knocked. When the door opened I said, “ Mrs. Purf, I can’t go into my kitchen because there’s a big brown bear sitting at the kitchen table and he’s eating my lunch!”

She immediately invited me in, fed me a hot lunch and then sent me on my way back to school with a bag of cookies still warm from the oven. Life was good!

Skipping back to school the thought crossed my mind that when Mother returned from work there would be a discussion of my behavior but I’d deal with that later.

Right now the bag of cookies I had clutched in my hand was all that mattered.

Mother arrived home at 3 O’clock and was puzzled to see our uneaten lunch still on the kitchen table. She had just begun to worry that something had happened when the phone rang. It was Mrs. Purf and she said “ Muriel! did you get the big brown bear out of the kitchen yet?”

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This is a submission for our Mother’s Day series. Submit your favorite stories about Mom here!

My mother and I went to our favorite Mexican restaurant for lunch one day. As she was reading the menu, she had a puzzled look on her face. I asked her what she was looking at, and she replied, “They have three beef tacos on here… How is that even possible? There’s only one type of beef!” I laughed as i explained to her there were three tacos that were all beef. We both couldn’t stop laughing afterwords. 

My older brother got a job as a camp counselor over the summer. He had to wake up really early in the morning, and wanted my mom to make breakfast for him. She was definitely not a morning person! She made him cinnamon toast that morning, left it on the table and went back to bed. All of a sudden I heard a loud shriek in the house, and then sink was rushing on.I ran to the kitchen and saw my brother’s head under the faucet trying to rinse his mouth. Turns out my mom accidentally put cayenne pepper instead of cinnamon on the toast! I had a small doubt that it was her revenge to him for him making her wake up so early… I love my mom! 

My mother has always supported me in my decisions and choices. I remember on my sophomore year I wanted to study abroad to Italy. I thought I was going to get financial aid but unfortunately I didn’t. I was so sad because I was so close to going. My mother who has struggled for so many years to give us whatever we wanted, she puts everyone before her and never complains nor hesitates. Without her having it she found a way to pay for whatever amount was left for my studies. She is always there for me and I want to give her the world. When she paid for my trip she made my dream possible and I will always strive to make her dreams possible to. Thank you mom mom.

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This is a submission for our Mother’s Day story series. Submit your favorite stories about Mom here!