Mother's Day is legendary for being the single busiest day in the restaurant business. Whether it's brunch or dinner, more of us go out to eat on Mother's Day than on any other day of the year.

Which is certainly nice for moms (assuming they're not the ones paying). It's convenient for burglars, too. But it's a real boon for restaurants, because they get to roll out their special "holiday menus." All of a sudden, a dish you ordered last week for $8.95 might set you back $14.95. It's simple economics. Increased demand and a fixed supply of restaurants means prices go through the roof. And because owners and managers know that every restaurant in town is booked solid, they're going to squeeze every last dollar out of you that they can.

If you'd like to save a few bucks and avoid the crowds, why not prepare your own Mother's Day meal? With these Mother's Day brunch menu recipes, you'll find a choice of egg dish, two kinds of French toast, and two kinds of waffles, plus your choice of hash browns or home fries, blueberry muffins or scones. And we've got the cocktails, too — with some non-alcoholic choices to go with the more "festive" variety.

Finally (and this may be the most important point of all): Don't stress! Moms tend to appreciate the effort more than anything else. So get in there and mess up your kitchen, maybe burn the French toast, but above all, have fun!