Nothing says “I Love You” like hosting a home cooked meal right in your own kitchen. This year, treat Mom to a Mother’s Day Brunch that is simple to make and sure to impress!
Strawberry Spinach Salad
Show your mom you love her “berry” much with this Strawberry Spinach Salad. The perfect start to your Mother’s Day brunch, this salad has ripe strawberries, baby spinach leaves, and a lovely dressing sweetened with honey. Start by rinsing and slicing 1 cup of fresh strawberries in a small colander, and set them aside. Wash baby spinach leaves and add them to your salad bowl about ¾ of the way full. In a separate bowl, whisk 1/4 cup of balsamic vinegar, 3 tablespoons of honey, 1/2 cup of olive oil oil, 1/4 teaspoon of dry mustard, and salt and pepper to taste. Lightly toss your salad with the dressing, sliced strawberries, and slivered almonds. Top with poppy and sesame seeds.
Brunch Strata
Your main course is rich with fluffy eggs, ham and sharp cheddar cheese, perfectly baked in a prep-ahead casserole. Begin the night before by buttering a large (9×13) baking dish. Break up eight English muffins into large chunks and arrange them evenly in your baking dish. In a separate bowl, whisk 10 eggs with 2 cups of whole milk. Add 1/2 teaspoon of salt and a dash of black pepper. Cut a thick slice of cooked ham (from the deli counter at your local grocery store) into half-inch cubes, and add to the egg mixture. Toss two cups of shredded sharp cheddar cheese with a half teaspoon of flour, and gently fold into the mix. Pour the ingredients into your prepared baking dish, thoroughly covering the English muffins. Cover with foil and refrigerate the Brunch Strata overnight.
An hour before your guest of honor arrives, preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Bake your strata for 45 minutes to an hour, or until set in the middle, removing the cover halfway through baking. Top with a sprinkling of extra cheese, and let your casserole sit for ten minutes before serving.
Cinnamon Coffee Cake
Cinnamon Coffee Cake is the finishing touch to your Mother’s Day celebration. Make this dessert the night before, top with powdered sugar and serve with hot herbal tea or coffee. Begin by preheating your oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, sift a cup of all-purpose flour with 3 teaspoons of baking powder, ½ teaspoon of salt, and ½ cup of granulated sugar. Add ½ of milk, one egg, and 4 tablespoons of melted butter and mix with a wooden spoon until blended. Butter and flour an 8×8 baking dish. Pour your batter into the prepared dish and spread evenly.
In a separate, small bowl combine 1 cup of all-purpose flour, 1/2 cup of packed brown sugar, 8 tablespoons of unsalted butter, and 1 1/2 teaspoons of ground cinnamon. Blend well with a fork until it resembles course crumbs and sprinkle evenly on top of the cake batter. Bake for 20-30 minutes or until done.
Show Mom you care by preparing a sweet and simple Mother’s Day Brunch right in your own kitchen. In addition to beautiful kitchen cabinets, Willow Lane Cabinetry offers kitchen accessories for all your cooking and baking needs. Choose from helpful items like kitchen cabinet inserts, door mounted spice racks, culinary prep carts, and more. So you can cook and bake — and host guests — in the kitchen of your dreams!