Mother Knows Best: Advice, recipes, & Entertaining tips
At Fenimore Lane , we’ve been having conversations about ways to honor the women in our lives in the spirit of Mother’s Day. So we set out on a quest: we contacted a handful of mothers we are inspired by to ask them to share their advice—from entertaining tips and favorite recipes to words to live by—and compiled it all to share with you. The responses are gorgeous, and range from silly to sentimental and everything in between. Sending you and your mothers and mother figures lots of love this Mother’s Day!
What are your favorite entertaining tips you’ve learned from your mom or a mother figure in your life?
Lauren Fornes & her children, photo by Claiborne Swanson Frank
“My Mom always said to take the time and make the effort to make things beautiful and feel special. Entertaining at home is a lovely way to show family and friends that you care. Sitting around my family’s loving table is where so many of our beautiful memories are made.” -Shelley Johnstone, Shelley Johnstone Design
“Put potato chips in pretty bowls. Salt makes people thirsty. Thirsty people make parties interesting. (*William Poll makes the best. They also deliver nationwide.)” -Lauren Fornes, author of Magic Eyes
Louise Roe & her children
“Back in my mum’s day, a dinner party meant cooking all afternoon and serving at least three homemade courses. I’m relieved things have changed (not least because I’m a terrible cook!) but my Mum always stressed the importance of having fabulous cocktails at the ready, as soon as guests arrive. Fresh flowers on the table, cut low enough so as not to obscure the person opposite, and also- my Mum is a big fan of seating plans. Orchestrating the romance or new friendships in the room is fun.” -Louise Roe, Sharland England
“Don’t wait for the “perfect” day or time to invite people into your home. People feel comfortable when you welcome them and genuinely want to see them… and having a clean house or perfect setup for a gathering is not why people want to be in your home. Just invite! A happy hostess who is genuinely interested in serving her guests is the secret ingredient for every gathering.” -Hillary Taylor, Hillary Taylor Interiors
“An ice bucket should always be within arm's length, fresh flowers are essential, and always make it all feel effortless. As a guest, one really ought to phone the next day to say thank you! “ -Annabelle Moehlmann, Land of Bébé.
“There are few things better than live music at a party. Splurge for a little live music.” - Molly Fienning, Red Clay Hot Sauce & Babiators
What is your favorite recipe you’ve learned from this person? Can you share the recipe?
Bradley Agather & her family
“My mother never cooked. I’ve never seen her turn on an oven or even boil a pot of water. She isn’t a good cook and she never pretended to be. The ”mom” lesson I learned from this is not to waste time trying to “do it all.” (Nobody is good at everything. Not even moms.) Instead, figure out where your skills lie and go all in on those. For what its worth, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches were her specialty. To this day, I have yet to taste a better one than hers.” -Bradley Agather
“A favorite recipe is our flourless chocolate cake. It was shown to us while we were all together vacationing in Capri, Italy. It is easy, delicious and brings back memories of a very special time together in one of our favorite places.” -Shelley Johnstone
“My mother spent time living in Iran and fell in love with Mast-o-Khiar, a Persian yogurt and cucumber dip. It pairs beautifully with chicken and meat dishes (particularly stews) and is so simple to make. Combine plain yogurt, raisins, diced cucumbers, and fresh dill, it's so refreshing!” -Annabelle Moehlmann
Hillary Taylor & her family
“My favorite recipe are Swedish Pancakes which is the Ultimate Comfort Food! My mom made these anytime we were sick, sad, bullied, feeling dejected as a 6th grader or teenager… and they taste like heaven to me. I call them Grandpa Johnson’s Swedish Pancakes because he was Swedish… but really, whoever thought of swedish pancakes as the antidote to a hard day was a genius. I pretty much think my Mom is a genius.” -Hillary Taylor
Grandpa Johnson’s Swedish Pancakes
1 c flour
1 t salt
1 T sugar
3 eggs, well beaten
2 c milk
1 T melted butter
Add sifted dry ingredients to eggs and milk. Beat together well and add butter. Drop tablespoon butter into hot pan. Bake until bubbly and brown. Turn and brown. Makes 10-12 large pancakes.
For Swedish filling:
Combine 1/4 c softened butter and 1/2 c lingonberry jam. (inexpensive one at IKEA!) Spread over each pancake and roll up!
What is one piece of advice You Can Give?
“Ask your children open-ended questions. Listen carefully, then ask more. ” -Lauren Fornes
How do you balance it all?
“I wouldn't say that I do balance it all but after several years of owning my own business and being the go-to for answers from clients 24/7, I have a few takeaways:
Sarah Lederman & her children
Setting boundaries is key. I used to answer texts at all hours / on weekends. I've now put my business hours into my contract so that expectations are set clearly from the get-go. This allows me to be more present with my family in the evening and during the limited free time we have together. I also no longer feel like I have to do it all. I outsource tasks where I can and prioritize the important moments. Send a caretaker or grandparent on the field trip guilt-free if you can't swing it! I'm lucky that my business has grown and I'm no longer in it alone. Hire great employees who you trust to act on your behalf when family time takes precedent.” -Sarah Lederman, Sarah Lederman Interiors
Natalie Steen & her family
“This is a trick question because the struggle of working mom life is learning how to survive feeling off-balance. There are days where Mom-ing takes up more hours than working and vice versa. No matter how you order your priorities (children, partner, work, friends, family, you), the time you can devote to each of these seems to fluctuate daily. So (for me at least) it’s not about balance, but rather growing so accustomed to feeling imbalanced that it becomes your normal. I have found that when you have a lot of pots boiling over at unexpected times, it doesn’t really help to work yourself up over it (although that’s of course expected and warranted - especially in a scenario where you can’t stand the heat but have no choice but to stay in the kitchen). I try to engage in the mental exercise of being thankful I have so many pots in the first place - a full plate is better than an empty one (am I overkilling this analogy yet?). And when all else fails, call in your sous chef.” -Natalie Steen, The Nat Note
Annabelle Moehlmann & her daughter
“I have started to accept balance is fleeting, so not to worry so much about attaining it. Just as long as I’ve had enough time with my daughters each day, then I feel like everything’s going to be ok. I do get up at 5am most days to squeeze work in before the house wakes up, and I find that very productive. I also go to bed very early to counterbalance! “ - Louise Roe
“Don't attempt to achieve balance on a daily basis, it's nearly impossible. There are some days where I am completely focused on work, and others when I leave my phone at home and devote all of my attention to my daughter. Know that in the end, it all evens out and it's better to be fully present in whatever you are doing at any given moment.” -Annabelle Moehlmann
Molly Fienning & her sons
“There's no such thing as balance; there is only presence. The greatest gift we can give whatever or whomever is in front of us--whether that be our babies, our partner, our colleagues/work or our girlfriends is the gift of our 100% focus, attention and love in the present moment. It is all we will ever have. You can only place one pearl on the strand of a necklace at a time.” -Molly Fienning
Did you receive any “first time mom” tips that you pass on to other new moms now?
Shelley Johnstone & her mom
“Treasure every moment!!!! Being a mom is the greatest gift and time flies by way too quickly.” Shelley Johnstone
“Keep it simple- clothing, baby accoutrements, etc. There are so many baby accessory choices and so few are really necessary! Bring this baby into YOUR life… not the other way around. Do your best to shower that baby with all the tradition and love that has accumulated for generations of women. Regularly call on mentors, God, strong women and strong men to support you in the mothering journey.” -Hillary Taylor