It’s Mom (and Grandma’s) big day, so start her Mother’s Day off on the right note with well-deserved, brunch. Most of this menu can be done ahead and many of the main ingredients can be found locally grown!

Spring Brunch Bake

Directions

1. In a large bowl, combine the bread, asparagus, ham, and cheese. Whisk the egg whites, eggs, milk, lemon juice, and garlic powder; pour over bread mixture and stir until blended. Transfer to a 13×9-in. baking dish coated with cooking spray.
2. Cover and bake at 350° for 25 minutes. Uncover and bake 8-10 minutes longer or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.

Serves 6. Each 1 piece serving contains Calories 224, Fat 6 g, Protein 21 g, Carbohydrates 20 g, Fiber 0 g, Cholesterol 124 g, Sodium 640 mg.

Asparagus Quiche with Mushrooms and Tomatoes

Directions

1. In a saucepan, cover asparagus with water. Bring to a boil over high heat; reduce heat, cover, and cook for 5 minutes, or until just tender. Drain and set aside.
2. In a large skillet, heat the butter over medium-low heat; add mushrooms. Sauté until mushrooms are tender; add green onions and cook for 1 minute longer. Set aside.
3. To partially bake the piecrust, line the crust with a sheet of foil and fill it with pie weights or dry beans. Bake the crust in a preheated 400 F oven for 15 minutes. Remove the pie weights and foil and reduce the oven temperature to 375 F. Bake the crust for an additional 8 minutes; remove to a rack to cool. Prepare the quiche filling and bake as directed.
4. Heat the oven to 350°. Arrange the prepared vegetables and shredded cheese in pie pastry.
5. Whisk together the eggs and half-and-half; add salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Pour egg mixture over the vegetables. Place the filled pie shell on a large cookie sheet or jellyroll pan. Place in the oven and cook for 45 to 55 minutes, or until the filling is set. A butter knife inserted in the center should come out clean.

Make Your Own Brunch Egg Cups

(These are also great for a quick breakfast.)

Fillings (Note: Quantities will vary based on the combinations you choose to add. Each Egg Cup used approximately ¼ cup of mixed fillings and ¼ cup of cheese total)

Directions

1. Lightly spray each ramekin with non-stick cooking spray. Add 2 eggs to each ramekin and beat well with a fork. (Alternately, in a small to medium bowl, beat the twelve eggs and divide evenly between the six prepared ramekins.)
2. Add the filling ingredients and cheese depending on which version you will be making (see below for recommended flavor pairings) and gently stir to combine.
3. Place filled eggcup in microwave one at a time, cover and heat on high for 30 seconds.
4. Remove, stir and place back in the microwave uncovered and heat on high for 45–60 seconds or until puffed up and cooked in the center. If the center of the eggs are a little wet, remove them anyway as they will continue to cook in the hot dish. (Be careful; as the ramekins get hot so use potholders.)
5. Repeat for the remaining eggcups and serve immediately.

Overnight Lemon-Glazed French Toast Bake

(Adapted from Blog, @Just Putzing Around the Kitchen)

French Toast Bake, sliced into ⅓ to ½ inch thick pieces

Lemon Glaze

Directions

To make French Toast Bake:

1. The night before, lightly grease a square (8×8) baking dish with cooking spray.
2. Add the sliced bread in 3 rows of about 8 slices per row, slightly overlapping. Set pan aside.
3. In a large bowl, whisk together milk, eggs, and vanilla, cinnamon and lemon zest.
4. Pour mixture evenly over your bread slices in the pan, making sure each piece is completely soaked in the liquid.
5. Cover the pan with aluminum foil and place it in the refrigerator overnight.
6. When you’re ready to cook/serve, take your pan out of the fridge and preheat oven to 350° F.
7. Bake French toast for 30-35 minutes, or until golden brown.

To make your lemon glaze:

1. While your French toast is baking, make your lemon glaze. Melt your butter in a pan or skillet over medium heat.
2. Stir in granulated sugar, lemon juice, and corn syrup until well combined and slightly thickened, about 2 minutes.
3. Remove pot from heat and whisk in powdered sugar. This will make your glaze noticeably thicker.
4. Whisk in 1 tbsp. milk – if you like the consistency, you’re done! If you want it a little thinner/more pour-able, whisk in the second tbsp. milk until mixture is smooth. (When you first add milk, your mixture will look lightly curdled – that’s OK! Just keep whisking vigorously until smooth.)
5. Drizzle about half your lemon glaze mixture on top of your baked French toast. Pour the rest of it into a small pitcher or serving bowl (with pouring spout) so that you/your guests can drip more glaze on the French toast if they want to.

To Serve;

1. Scoop a few slices of French toast onto a plate.
2. Drizzle with more glaze (optional).
3. Dust lightly with powdered sugar (optional).
4. Serve immediately, and enjoy!

Citrus Cobbler

Filling

Topping

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400° F.
2. To prepare the filling: in a medium saucepan, stir together sugar, cornstarch, ginger, and nutmeg. Stir in the water. Cook and stir until thickened. Gently stir in orange and grapefruit sections.
3. To prepare the topping: in a medium bowl, stir together flour, sugar, the baking powder, ginger, and salt.
4. Using a pastry blender, cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. In a small bowl, stir together yogurt, egg, and milk. Add yogurt mixture to flour mixture, stirring just until moistened.
5. Spoon filling into a 2-quart square baking dish. Using two spoons, drop the topping into nine mounds onto hot filling.
6. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted into topping comes out clean. Cool slightly. If desired, sprinkle with toasted coconut and/or top with dessert topping. Serve warm.
7. To toast coconut spread in a shallow baking pan lined with parchment paper. Bake in a 350° F oven for 5 to 10 minutes or until golden, shaking pan once or twice, watching closely to avoid burning.

Serves 9. Each ⅓ cup piece serving contains Calories 172, Fat 3 g, Protein 4 g, Carbohydrates 34 g, Cholesterol 7 g, Sodium 111 mg.