Mother's Day Brunch Menus & Recipes

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.

If you'd like to avoid the crowds, save a few bucks and have fun preparing your own special Mother's Day meal, here are a few menu options. You've got a choice of egg dish, two kinds of French toast and two kinds of waffles, plus choice of hash browns or home fries, blueberry muffins or scones -- and of course, cocktails (non-alcoholic, as well as the more "festive" variety).

Eggs

Photo © Danilo Alfaro

This Perfect Scrambled Eggs recipe isn't difficult to make. The key is whisking the eggs thoroughly and vigorously before cooking them. Whisking incorporates air, which produces fluffier scrambled eggs. And fluffier is better!

Or, for a really special egg concoction, there's always a fritatta -- which is an Italian-style flat omelet that's baked in a skillet. This Spinach, Bacon & Cheddar Frittata is perfect for Mother's Day. The recipe calls for cooking everything in a cast-iron skillet because it can be heated on the stovetop and then transferred to the oven where the cooking is finished.

Waffles

Photo © Danilo Alfaro

Nothing says "brunch" like a great waffle. This tried and true recipe for Basic Waffles is perfect for Mother's Day. And if you want to go a little further, try this Fluffy Waffles recipe. It's a bit more involved than the basic recipe, but the fluffier result is worth it. It uses melted butter in addition to oil, and the waffles are made lighter by incorporating stiffly beaten egg whites into the batter.

French Toast

Photo © Danilo Alfaro

French Toast is traditionally made from day-old bread. But if you buy your bread at the supermarket, there's not much chance it was baked that day anyway, so you've already got that part down.

Because this Thick French Toast is made with extra thick bread, it's important to make sure that the custard is fully absorbed into the bread, otherwise you'll just have dry bread at the center of the slices. And because of the extra thick bread, we finish the cooking in the oven to ensure that the custard is fully cooked.

Potatoes

Photo © Danilo Alfaro

You might think of home fries as a breakfast side dish, but here's a little secret: It's the potatoes that really make a great breakfast. This Home Fried Potatoes recipe features red potatoes, onions, and red and green bell peppers.

Meanwhile, this simple recipe for Hashed Brown Potatoes (or hash browns) is made from shredded potatoes that are cooked in hot butter and oil until crispy. They can be prepared on a griddle or a skillet.

Scones & Muffins

Photo © Danilo Alfaro

These deliciously buttery Classic Scones are light and flaky, and they're delicious with a jam or marmalade. Or if Mom has a bit of a sweet tooth, she'll love these easy Blueberry Muffins. Either way, you can't go wrong.

Mother's Day Cocktails

Photo © Leonid Mamchenko

Moms put up with a lot, so don't skimp when it's time to mix the Mother's Day cocktails. For a really happy Mother's Day, check out these recipes for Mimosas and Bloody Marys.

On the non-alcoholic side, we have a Virgin Sunrise and a Virgin Mary.