When it comes to my Mom’s birthday, I tend to go all out. I don’t even put much effort in to mine, but I like to fill her special day with all kinds of treats and activities. Anything she wants, she gets. I mentioned before how close we are and discussed some of the pro’s and cons of our relationship but when it comes to her birthday, all the cons go out the window.

My mom is a simple person by nature. She doesn’t require much attention on her birthday, and I think she’d prefer to lay low. Her idea of a good time is to grab some food, and just hang out, preferably with some presents scattered in between. But I like to celebrate her birthday with all of her favorite things, just to show how much I care.

It’s become a tradition for me to make this cheesy omelet for my mom on her birthday mornings. Whenever I ask her what she wants, its always this omelet. I protest, saying you only want an omelet?! When you could have pancakes/French toast/eggs Benedict?! But she just shakes her head, and says clearly, only this cheesy omelet.

It’s loaded with cheese and red pepper flakes, which is right up her alley as she likes all things spicy. I toss in ricotta cheese in the egg mixture to give it a nice texture and then place some sharp cheddar cheese after the eggs are on the pan, mainly because I like how the cheese melts. I use grapeseed oil to fry this up but you could easily use olive oil or butter. The ricotta cheese gives the omelet a velvety finish, and the sharp cheddar adds a nice punch. You can make this an open faced omelet and add anything else that strikes your fancy, but like I said, my mom likes it quick and simple.

We normally spend the morning gabbing about the day’s activities and sip our coffee as we dive in to this warm breakfast. It lasts us till mid afternoon too, giving us enough lasting power till we dive in to the main course and decadent special dessert I make for her too. Both of which will make their appearance here rather soon so I better get back to my day. I’ve got Patrick Dempsey waiting for me at the movie theater!

Mom’s Cheesy Omelet

Ingredients:
4 large eggs
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil (I used grapeseed oil)
1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 cup part skim ricotta cheese
Pinch of Salt
Pinch of pepper
Pinch of red pepper flakes
2 Ounces of sharp cheddar cheese

Directions:
In a bowl, beat eggs with pepper, red pepper flakes, and salt. Add ricotta cheese, whisking it until the clumps of ricotta cheese disappear.

Heat oil up in a nonstick skillet up and add the garlic. Keep an eye on the garlic and try not to burn it, or else your omelet will taste slightly bitter.

Pour egg mixture over garlic. Cook, lifting edges to let uncooked egg run underneath and shaking skillet occasionally to loosen omelet, until until halfway set. Arrange cheddar cheese one one half of the omelet, allowing it to melt slowly. Carefully lift up one side of the omelet and flip it over, folding the omelet in half. Let omelet for just a minute or two, letting the eggs brown up nicely but not to the point of being burned. Slide out onto a large plate.