MOTHER'S
DAY BREAKFAST IN BED
What a terrific treat for Mom on her special day! Making
breakfast for Mom to enjoy in bed is a great project for
siblings--or for kids and dads. We suggest serving fresh
berries, because they don't need to be peeled or cut up,
but any fresh fruit would be fine.
Follow
the Easy Plan below, add some fresh flowers and don't
forget to clean up the kitchen for a Mother's Day morning
that says to Mom, I Love You!
~~~~~~
MENU:
SHAKE-'EM-UP SCRAMBLED EGGS
CRUMB-TOPPED BREAKFAST CAKE
MIXED FRESH BERRIES
HOMEMADE HOT COCOA MIX
TROPICAL FRUIT JUICE BLEND
~~~~~~
EASY
BREAKFAST PLAN:
1. Several days before Mother's Day, make up a shopping
list from the menu and recipes below and buy the
ingredients that you will need.
Mix up the Homemade Hot Cocoa Mix.
2. The evening before, set the tray and gather all the
equipment you will need. Mix up the dry ingredients in
step 3 of Crumb-topped Breakfast Cake. Cover the bowl and
leave at room temperature.
3. First thing Mother's Day morning, finish making the
breakfast cake. While the cake is baking, get everything
ready for the Shake-'em-up Scrambled Eggs.
4. When the cake comes out of the oven, cook the eggs and
heat the milk for the cocoa. Pour the juice, make the
cocoa and arrange everything on the tray.
~~~~~~
SHAKE-'EM-UP
SCRAMBLED EGGS
Utensils
you will need:
Sharp knife * Cutting board * 1-quart jar with lid *
Measuring cup * Measuring spoons * 10 inch skillet (a
non-stick one will prevent the eggs from sticking) *
Spatula
1. Adult Help: Wash, then chop into 1/2 inch pieces and
put in the clean jar> 1 Medium Tomato
2. Add> 4 large eggs
1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
1/4 teaspoon salt
Dash of pepper
3. Cover the jar tightly and shake well
4. Melt in skillet over medium heat, then tilt skillet so
inside of skillet is coated with> 1 Tablespoon
margarine or butter. (Use hot pads to hold the handle of
the pan, keep away from the flame - Ask adult for help if
needed)
5.
Pour egg mixture into skillet and cook without stirring.
Turn eggs in the bottom of the pan to get firm. Cook 5 to
8 minutes or until eggs are slightly firm but not runny.
TO MICROWAVE:
Leave out margarine. Beat eggs, salt and pepper with a
fork in a 1-quart microwavable casserole or bowl. Stir in
chopped tomato and cheese.
Cover
the casserole with a lid or plastic wrap. If using
plastic wrap, turn back 1 edge to make a little space for
the steam to come out.
Microwave
on High (100%) 1 minute. Very Carefully (Caution) remove
the lid or plastic wrap, then stir.
Recover and microwave on High (100%) 3 minutes, stirring
again half way through. (CAUTION: Dish may be hot at the
end of cooking, so use pot holders.)
Eggs
should be slightly firm but not runny.
ANOTHER IDEA: Add 1 small stalk of celery, washed and
chopped, or 1 small green bell pepper, washed and
chopped, in place of the tomato.
Add 1/4 cup milk to the recipe.
Always be sure to cook eggs until firm, not runny, to
kill any bacteria.
~~~~~~
CRUMB-TOPPED
BREAKFAST CAKE
Utensils
You Will Need:
A Square Pan 9 x 9 x 2 inches * Pastry Brush * Large Bowl
* Measuring Cup * Measuring Spoons * Wooden Spoons *
Small Sharp Knife * Pastry Blender * Liquid Measuring Cup
* Fork * Pot Holders * Toothpick * Wire Cooling Rack *
Small Bowl * Spoon
1. Heat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Grease the square pan with shortening.
3. Mix in the large bowl with a wooden spoon>
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/4 cups sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
4. Cut into the flour mixture with the pastry blender
until mixture looks like small crumbs>
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) firm margarine or butter.
5. Save 1 cup of the crumb mixture, and set aside.
6. Stir into the rest of the crumb mixture just until
flour is wet (batter will be lumpy)>
1 cup chopped walnuts
1 cup buttermilk
1 large egg, slightly beaten
7. Pour batter into the pan. Sprinkle saved crumb mixture
over the batter.
8. Bake 40 to 45 minutes or until toothpick poked in the
center comes out clean. Use hot pads to take the cake out
of the oven. Put pan on the wire rack.
9. Mix in the small bowl with a spoon, adding water 1
teaspoon at a time, until thin enough to drizzle>
1 cup powdered sugar
2 tablespoons margarine
or butter, melted
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
3 to 4 teaspoons hot water
10. Drizzle glaze over warm coffee cake, serve warm.
~~~~~~
HOMEMADE
HOT COCOA MIX
(Makes 4 1/2 cups mix)
Utensils
You Will Need:
Large Bowl * Measuring Cups * Measuring Spoons * Wooden
Spoon * Mug * Liquid Measuring Cup * Spoon
1. Mix in a large bowl with the wooden spoon>
2 2/3 cups nonfat dry milk powder
1 1/2 cups cocoa
1 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
2. Can be stored in a tightly covered and labeled
container at room temperature for up to 6 months.
3. For each serving, mix in a mug until smooth>
2 heaping teaspoons Homemade Hot Cocoa Mix
2 tablespoons cold milk or water
4. Stir in>
1 cup hot milk or water (Caution: ask dad or another
grown-up to help with pouring the liquid if needed)
5. If you like, top with> Miniature Marshmallows
Blender
Fruit Beverage
Ingredients:
1 quart unsweetened orange juice
1 cup unsweetened frozen whole strawberries
2 large bananas, sliced
6 ice cubes
Preparation:
Combine half of each ingredient in the container of a
electric blender; process until frothy. Pour into a
longstem glasses. Repeat procedure with remaining
ingredients. Serve immediately. You can fix this last, so
it will be good and cold. Serves 4-6.
~~~~~~
Breakfast
Parfait
Ingredients:
1 cup Quaker old-fashioned oats, uncooked
16 ounces vanilla yogurt, nonfat or low-fat
8 ounces crushed pineapple in juice, undrained
2 tablespoons sliced almonds
2 cups sliced fresh strawberries
Garnish with strawberries and fresh mint
Preparation:
In a medium-size bowl, combine the oats, yogurt, crushed
pineapple with juice and almonds. Mix well. Cover and
refrigerate overnight. To serve, layer oat mixture and
strawberries into longstem glassware and garnish with
strawberries and fresh mint. Serve chilled. Hide from Mom
until the next morning. Serves 4.
~~~~~~
French
Toast Strata
Ingredients:
12 cups bread cubes
8 ounces cream cheese, cubed
8 eggs, beaten
2-1/2 cups milk
6 tablespoons butter, melted
1/4 cup maple syrup
Cooking spray
Preparation:
Coat a 3-quart baking rectangular baking dish with
non-stick cooking spray. Place half of the bread cubes in
the baking dish. Top with cream cheese cubes. Combine
eggs, milk, melted butter and maple syrup in a large
bowl. Mix well.
Pour
egg mixture over the bread and cream cheese. Top with
remaining bread cubes. Using a spatula, lightly press
layers down to moisten. Cover with plastic wrap and
refrigerate overnight. Remove plastic wrap from baking
dish.
Bake
uncovered in a 350-degree preheated oven for 35 to 40
minutes, or until center appears set and the edges are
lightly golden. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.
Serve with maple syrup. Serves 6 to 8.
Good Morning Mom!
Wake
mom up with Cappuccino cakes, mocha sauce, freshly sliced
strawberries, oranges, bananas and a tall glass of cold
water.
Or
try out some of the delicious muffins below...blueberry,
carrot or chocolate chip!
Serve with a floral arrangement.
~~~~~~
Cappuccino
Cakes
Ingredients:
2 tsps instant espresso powder
1 egg
3/4 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 tbsps butter, melted
3/4 cup all purpose flour
2 tbsps all purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
3 tbsps sugar
1/4 tsp salt
Directions:
Mix together the instant coffee and water to dissolve.
Whisk together egg, milk, vanilla, butter, and espresso
mixture in mixing bowl.
In
another bowl, combine flour, baking powder, sugar and
salt.
Add
to liquid mixture and whisk to combine.
Heat
the skillet or griddle over medium-high heat.
Lightly
coat with butter.
Drop
batter, 1/4 cup at a time, on griddle, with plenty of
space for spreading.
Fry
until bubbles form and break on the pancake's surface and
the bottom is browned.
Flip
and cook just until done, about 1 minute more.
Dust
with sugar and sprinkle with chocolate.
~~~~~~
Mocha
Sauce
This
sauce is made to order for 'Cappuccino Cakes.'
Ingredients:
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 tbsps espresso bean, coarsely ground
1 tbsp chocolate syrup
1/2 cup plain yogurt
Directions:
Combine the cream, sugar, and coffee in a small heavy
saucepan.
Cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, until sugar is
dissolved and coffee infused, about three minutes.
Watch carefully, to avoid boiling over.
Pour through a fine strainer into a bowl.
Stir in chocolate syrup.
Add yogurt and stir to combine.
Do not reheat.
Serve with fresh strawberries, orange slices and banana
slices.
Muffins
for Mom
Make
the day special with a sweet start to Mom's day.
Make a batch to send to your mom!
~~~~~~
Blueberry
Muffins
Ingredients:
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 tbsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
1 cup lowfat milk
1/4 cup canola oil
1 1/2 cups blueberry
Directions:
In a large bowl combine the dry ingredients.
Make a well in the middle and add the wet ingredients,
stirring the wet together to break up the egg, then
stirring into the dry mix just to blend.
Spray muffin tins with cooking spray.
Fill tins 2/3 full.
Bake at 400°F for 20 minutes or until golden brown and
the top springs back when touched gently.
Suggested Alternative Substitutions:
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 cup nuts
1/2 cup raisins
1 mashed banana
poppy seeds
1/4 chopped dried fruit 1/4 cup
wheat germ
~~~~~~
Carrot
Muffins
Ingredients:
2 cups all purpose flour
1/4 cup sugar
1 tbsp baking powder
1 cup carrot
1 tsp orange zest
3/4 cup skim milk
1/2 cup raisins
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 egg, beaten
Directions:
Sift flour, sugar, baking powder into a bowl.
In another bowl, combine carrots, milk, raisins, oil,
beaten egg, and grated orange peel.
Add the carrot mixture all at once to the dry
ingredients, mixing just until flour mixture is
moistened.
Spoon batter into greased muffin pans, filling each about
2/3 full. Bake at 425 for 20 minutes.
Makes 12 muffins
~~~~~~
Chocolate
Chip Banana Muffins
Ingredients:
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup all purpose flour
2 tsps baking powder
pinch salt
2/3 cup semi-sweet chocolate chip
4 ripe bananas, mashed
1/2 cup apple juice concentrate
1 egg, beaten
1/2 cup milk
1/8 cup vegetable oil
Directions:
In a large bowl, stir together all dry ingredients.
Set aside.
In a second bowl, beat together all wet ingredients.
Blend wet ingredients into dry ingredients,
stirring just to mix.
Spoon batter into muffin tins lined with
paper baking cups.
Bake in preheated 400 fahrenheit degree oven for 20-25
minutes or until golden brown.
Makes a dozen muffins.
SUBSTITUTION
TIP: Substituting regular apple juicefor concentrate is
fine. If you don't have juice, you can also use honey or
sugardon't use honey if you have kids under the age
of one. If you use sugar, decrease the vegetable oil to
1/8 cup.
Family
Fun - Piccadillo!
Piccadillo
Brown Rice
Sliced Tomatoes with Cilantro Vinaigrette
Frozen Fruit Bars
Helpful Hints
This is a wonderful Mexican-inspired dish that the whole
family will love. To save time, things can be chopped and
sliced the night before and the brown rice can be cooked
the night before and reheated. In fact, the piccadillo
can also be made that night if its more convenient
and reheated with no loss in taste.
If You Have Kids
Kids can always help with setting the table and would
probably enjoy measuring the ingredients for the
piccadillo. Depending on their ages, cleaning and cutting
the vegetables could be a fun task.
What to Do with Leftovers
Leftover piccadillo can be mixed with the rice and used
as a filling with shredded cheddar or jack cheese in a
tortilla. Add any leftover chopped cilantro you might
have too. Leftover cooked brown rice is also excellent
reheated for breakfast or a light lunch when it is served
with a fried egg on top.
Another excellent egg-rice dish is fried rice. Prepare a
vegetarian version with chopped scallions, fresh bean
sprouts, baby corn and peas seasoned with soy sauce.
Remaining tomato slices can be used to make a sandwich
with a sliced cheese such as mozzarella. Try an olive or
rosemary bread for a delicious alternative to the usual.
~~~~~~
Piccadillo
Ingredients:
1/2 Spanish onion, diced
1 green bell pepper, diced
2 tbsps olive oil
1 lb ground beef
1 15 oz can tomato sauce
1 tbsp Worchestershire sauce
1/4 cup pimento stuffed olives
1/4 cup caper
1/2 cup seedless raisin
1/2 cup frozen corn
dash oregano
Directions:
Saute onions and green peppers in a large frying pan with
the olive oil over medium heat until onions are
translucent.
Add meat and cook until meat is brown on all sides.
Add tomato and Worcestershire sauce to pan and stir
throughly.
Once mixture begins to boil, reduce heat to low and add
remaining ingredients to pan.
Simmer covered with a lid for 20 minutes.
~~~~~~
Sliced
Tomatoes with Cilantro Vinaigrette
Ingredients:
4 medium tomatos
1/2 cup fresh cilantro
1/2 cup olive oil
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
Directions:
Clean and slice tomatoes and place in a serving bowl.
In a food processor, mince the fresh cilantro and add the
olive oil in a steady stream until blended.
Add Balsamic vinegar to the cilantro-oil mixture and
blend.
Pour over tomato slices and serve.
Preparing a meal for mom doesn't have to be hard.
~~~~~~
Salmon
Surprise Menu
Broiled Salmon
Green Beans with Toasted Almonds
Crusty Rolls
Tossed Green Salad
Apple Cranberry Crisp
Helpful Hints
Prepare your favorite green salad (try Romaine lettuce,
carrots, tomatoes, cucumbers and red onion with your
favorite vinegarette). Toss while the fish is broiling
and serve on individual salad plates. Purchase frozen
green beans that come with the almonds. Serve up
individual dinner plates with the fish and the beans
topped with almonds. Garnish the dinner plates with lemon
slices and fresh dill springs.
~~~~~~
Broiled
Salmon
Ingredients:
4 salmon steaks
1/4 cup olive oil
2 tbsps lemon juice
2 tbsps soy sauce
1/2 tsp dry mustard
1/2 tsp ginger
Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a shallow dish and marinate
steaks for as much time as you have (about an hour if you
can). Remove salmon and place in a broiling pan, baste
with marinade and broil for five minutes on each side
(brushing occassionally with more marinade). Watch
carefully and check for doneness. Serve immediately.
~~~~~~
Apple
Cranberry Crisp
3
cups cooking apple,
thinly peeled and very thinly sliced
1 16 oz can whole cranberry sauce
2 cups granola cereal
1/3 cup butter, melted
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 400°F.
In a bowl, combine the cranberries and apples and pour
into a baking pan. Combine the cereal and butter until
well blended and sprinkle evenly over the fruit. Bake for
15 minutes covered, and uncover and bake for 10 more
minutes or until topping is crisp and brown.
BREAKFAST
POPOVERS
From the kitchen of: Lisa Mackie
2 large eggs (or 3 small eggs)
1 cup flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup water
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Coat 6 to 8 muffin pans with
Crisco, butter or nothing. (Special popover pans make the
best, highest-rising popovers, but regular muffin pans
will do.) Beat the eggs first, then sift the flour and
salt into the bowl, add the milk and water, and beat
until smooth.
Fill each cup about 3/4 full. Bake 40 to 45 minutes.
(Baking time varies, so check the popovers after 30
minutes to see if the tops are golden and not too
browned.) Serve immediately. Recipe can be doubled.
Serves how many: 4 to 6
Takes how long to make: 1 hour
Kid-friendliness rating: 9
(1 to 10, where 1 = Won't eat it until after college and
10 = They beg you to make it every night)
Difficulty rating: 5
(1 to 10, where 1 = Practically boiling water and 10 =
Takes years and Julia Child's help to perfect)
Comments:
Whenever I visit my grandparents, my grandpa gets up
before everyone else and makes popovers. He sets the
table with juices, butter, maple syrup, jams, apple
butter and anything else you could stuff into a popover.
When we're all seated, Grandpa forces popovers on us
until we're too full to move. This batter can also be
used for Yorkshire pudding or éclair puffs.
Go
back to the Mother's Day Page.
|