I sometimes find cooking for my mother, uhm, difficult. She always says, quite convincingly, that she likes what I fix — and usually she does — but sometimes, like last night, I learn that something she said she liked when I served it she really didn't. Then I have to rewind what I thought would please her and integrate this new knowledge of her tastes. Nevertheless, she loves trying new things so every year I try to come up with something new for her birthday and then Mothers' Day.

I first made this dish of crab and asparagus in puff pastry for Mothers' Day three years ago and she asked me for the recipe nine months later. Success! As I think most of the best recipes are: it's simple, easy, delicious, and beautiful. Add a green salad on the side and some strawberries on pound cake with cream for dessert and you have a special meal with almost no labor. Recipe here...