We celebrated my sweet mother’s birthday yesterday–and Lucy went to her first fancy restaurant (she slept the entire two hour meal, Praise God!) We dined on delicately prepared sea bass and trout as we passed around the bread basket and shared stories of the past few weeks. I sat beside my mother and watched the way she held her fork in her hand. I looked at her fingers and realized I knew them almost as well as my own. And then I thought back to my earliest memories of childhood and how her presence, then almost larger than life, infused those memories with a soft sweetness.
Having a daughter has made me appreciate the bond I have with my mother even more. The moment after I welcomed Lucille into the world, I told my doula to bring my mom into the delivery room. As I held my daughter in my arms for the first time, I finally realized how much my mother had loved me. There was nothing in the world that could change or diminish my love for Lucy, and I recognized that I’d been allowed to grow in that same unconditional love my entire life. The tears I cried that day were full of joy and gratitude. To be allowed to participate in this generational mothering is one of the greatest blessings I’ve ever received.
A mother’s love is the foundation of a human being’s life. I know many people, my older sisters foremost in my mind, who lost their mothers far too young. And so even as I celebrate this multi-generational bond, I realize that for many people, the transition into parenthood can be rife with pain. Ryan lost his father several years ago, and I can see occasional glimmers of that loss permeating the joy he has when he holds Lucy. He misses him, and my heart aches for him, and yet I see our little girl offering more healing to that wound than anyone has been able to thus far.
And so I’m sitting here, thankful that my mom has been my constant support and companion over these last 26 years. Happy Birthday, precious Mother. I’m sitting here, in the knowledge that new life can bring so much joy while also digging up buried pain. I’m sitting here, with Lucy in my arms, and I’m praying that our bond will grow and flourish over the next ten, twenty, thirty, forty years…and that she too will one day join me in the occupation of MOTHER. There has been no greater role in my life.
I made this lemon puff pastry tart for my mom. She loves lemon meringue pie, and while I didn’t have enough time to whip egg whites into those delicate white peaks, Lucy did grant me an hour so I could make this simple yet elegant tart. Pre-made puff pastry makes this tart an easy dessert while a homemade lemon curd makes it bright and flavorful. I hope you enjoy it as much as we did. And if you’re mother is around, tell her how much you love her today. I love you, Mom.
Lemon Puff Pastry Tart
*Lemon Curd Recipe from Barefoot Contessa
1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed (1/2 of 17.3 ounce package)
2 lemons
3/4 cups sugar
4 tablespoons butter
2 eggs
1/4 cup lemon juice (from above mentioned lemons)
Dash of Salt
Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Place puff pastry on parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Cut 4 (3/4-inch) strips evenly around the puff pastry with a small knife. Place strips on the edges of the square to form a frame. Prick inside of pastry all over with fork.
Bake for 15 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on wire rack.
Using a carrot peeler, remove the zest of 2 lemons, being careful to avoid the white pith. Put the zest in a food processor fitted with the steel blade. Add the sugar and pulse until the zest is very finely minced into the sugar. Cream the butter and beat in the sugar and lemon mixture. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, and then add the lemon juice and salt. Mix until combined.
Pour the mixture into a 2 quart saucepan and cook over low heat until thickened (about 10 minutes), stirring constantly. The lemon curd will thicken at about 170 degrees F, or just below simmer. Remove from the heat and cool in refrigerator for one hour. Using a knife or a spatula, spread cooled lemon curd on cooled puff pastry. Serve immediately.
🙂
I felt the same thing when I first held my son in my arms 2 months ago. There is nothing in the world like being a mother. Your tart looks so vibrant and tempting! A great gift for your mom! Love that last picture! They look so lovely together!
Awwwww! Happy birthday to your mom! I’m sure it was such a gift to her to have her granddaughter there with her to celebrate her special day.
Happy birthday to your mom! Out of all the photos of Lucy’s birth it is the one with your mom that brings the biggest lump to my throat. That is a bond like I have not known. There’s work to be done within my family. I hope that one day my daughter will look at me as you do your mom. Your mom has great taste-lemon meringue and lemon curd desserts are some of the best!
Dear Monet,
What a beautiful post you wrote for my birthdate, I am honored! It has been my life’s joy being a mother and I am overjoyed that you are experiencing that now as a Mom too. Watching you mother Lucy brings so many memories of when you were a newborn and the different stages of childhood development. You will have that special bond with her that I have had with you and Noelle. It will be the hardest job you will ever have and the most rewarding one too. I love you beyond words and I am honored to be your Mom. Love you, dear daughter.
Happy Birthday to your mother! May you all have many more years together watching Lucy grow! The tart looks delicious!
Too beautiful to even come up with what to say…. loved the photo of your Mom with Lucy.
WHat a wonderful Birthday celebration this must have been!
Monet,
You are so lucky to have a daughter to celebrate generational Motherhood. The picture of your Mom and Lucy generates so much love. The lemon tart is a perfect complement to the birthday celebration.
She slept the entire way through dinner?! Way to go, Lucy! I adore these photos, Monet. The one of you and your mom in the hospital brought tears to my eyes. And girl, is that a photo of your mom holding Lucy? Your mom looks amazing! She could easily pass for your older sister. This lemon tart looks amazing too – my husband would be all over this. Again – I’m blown away that you can still write such thoughtful posts AND bake amazing treats while taking care of a newborn!
A beautiful family & a beautiful tart. 🙂 That homemade lemon curd sounds amazing!
Awww! moms are the best and I love your perspective on how your bond with your daughter affects your bond with your mother, loove <3 And it's so wonderful and sweet how you were able to celebrate with her and make her this beautiful tart!
Happy birthday to your mum! That is such beautiful sharing not to mention a lovely lemon tart.
Your mother is so lovely Monet, just as you are and now your babygirl…Happy Birthday to her and may you celebrate many more years with her:)
Your post made me tear up, it was so sweet! My mom and I are really close and I feel so fortunate to have her empowerment and love in my life. Happy bday to your momma and I hope you enjoyed that delicious lemon pastry!
Happy birthday to your mom, Monet! That picture of the three of you in the delivery room made me tear up and smile at the same time 🙂 And the picture of your mom holding little Lucy is precious! While I can yet only imagine it, holding your child in your arms must be one of the greatest pleasures in the world. Many blessing to three generations of beautiful women!
This tart looks perfect! what a beautiful way to celebrate you Mother’s birthday and three generations of women in your family.
What a lovely way to celebrate your mom’s birthday…a gorgeous tart, a peaceful lunch and time spent with her sweet daughter and granddaughter! Perfect.
That first picture of you, your mom, and Lucy brought tears to my eyes– so beautiful! You’re so right about finally really *understanding* once you have a child of your own– I look at my own parents now and think, “Wow– you love me THAT much?!?” 🙂
Happy Birthday to your mom! What a terrific celebration you had. Such a lovely post – so expressive! – and wonderful recipe. Thank you so much.
I think the older we get the more and more we appreciate our moms (at least for me!). And honestly after reading all your posts, I am more and more excited for the day that my husband and I have kids of our own. A very happy birthday to your mom, Monet! This tart is beautiful!
It must be so special for your mom to be able to share these moments with you also!
OMG, my friend would die for that lemon tart! I’ll have to make her one!
Monet, this is such a warm and touching post written for your mother but also for all of us to enjoy – I am in awe of your writing skills, dear friend! And I could no be happier for you – when I read this post, I know all is well! And your marvelous and elegant Lemon Puff Pastry Tart looks just perfect to celebrate the occasion of your mom´s birthday!
This is a beautiful post, very beautiful. It makes me think.
I love this post Monet. I lost my mom way too early and I miss her so. I’m so glad you appreciate your mom and don’t take her for granted. I’m sure Lucy will feel exactly the same way about you when she’s your age. Happy Birthday to your mom!! Lovely tart 🙂
Your photos are amazing, I got teary-eyed with the first pic, that says it all. Really, it’s like full circle, a mother to a mother. That’s very heartwarming! She really deserve that pretty lemon puff pastry. I kept coming back to the part where you ask for your mom to be in the room.
Oh and Lucy is simply adorable!!!
Happy birthday to your mom!! (And seriously, she is gorgeous!!) It’s amazing how much a new life can somehow make up for ones that were lost…or at least help heal the pain a little.
It’s incredible how becoming a mother puts everything about yourself as a child in perspective. I feel so much different about my mom know and have so much more respect for her! This tart sounds so refreshing and what a great way to celebrate your mama’s birthday!
Your mom looks so young!!! Wishing many more birthday =)
It’s a beautiful dish
There is nothing more wonderful than being a mother. Little Lucy is just as beautiful as I’d imagined!
Beautiful post, Monet! Motherhood is the best, but being a grandma is a very close second! Happy Birthday to your mom! Your Lemon Tart looks great!
So glad you found your way to my blog, so that I was able to find yours! You have such a gorgeous little family and I’m so excited to learn more about you and read your yummy recipes. Happy bday to your mom! What a delicious present you baked her 🙂
Aww such a nice post. Lucy is gorgeous and so is this tart! Hope you’re enjoying motherhood!
What a gorgeous post! Like mother like daughter like granddaughter, all beauties!!! Happy belated to your mother. Thanks for imparting such intimate moments with us. J lost his father and I see him stare off sometimes and can only image the joy and light that only a child can bring into the dimmest of corners and pray that it serves as a healing balm for us as well when the time comes.
Best daughter in the world!! I love this post so so much and I’m sure your mom is so proud of you 🙂
Happy Belated Birthday to you mom!
Hi Monet,
Happy Birthday to your mom! Mothers are indeed special!
The lemon tart looks wonderful, your mother must be very happy that you’ve specially made it for her. And Lucy is so adorable, that is a beautiful photo of your lovely mother holding Lucy!
Hope you have a wonderful weekend!
She is stunning Monet. You did an amazing job 🙂 So sweet of her to let you have an hour. It may be the last that you get for a while!
1. Place sugar, lemon zest, and salt in a food processor and pulse until the lemon zest is in tiny pieces, and the sugar is fragrant. Spread half of the sugar on a board and place the puff pastry sheet on top. Cover the pastry with more of the lemon sugar, and use a rolling pin to gently press the sugar in to the dough.
Awww! Such a sweet post, and the tart looks delicious! Many congratulations on your little one – what a cutie pie! 🙂
Such a sweet personal post, thanks for sharing it with us! Ps. That tart looks amazing, I can only imagine how great it smells too! 😉
This is a glorious granny post and I’m 100% positive that if you’d given your mother a saltine cracker and the opportunity to pose with that baby she’d have been over the moon for her birthday.
That said, that tart sounds mighty good.
This looks fabulous! I was raised by a single father and he loves lemon meringue too!
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