I thought with Mother’s Day here this weekend, it’d be fitting to share a few tried and true recipes that ensure you get something tasty and delightful, all the while knowing minimal efforts have to be put into them. Whether you, Mom, are doing the cooking, or Dad’s going to give it a shot, these are (close to) no fail, and completely delicious.
First up – breakfast. On weekends, this is my favorite meal of the day. We typically don’t eat right away in the morning….us parents like to have a cup of coffee, our 3 year old will have some juice and a little snack, and then mid-morning, we’ll make something really good. But on Mother’s Day, let’s be honest. We want to be pampered, have little to no messes to worry about, and fully enjoy the meal. That’s why the slow cooker is such a wonderful invention. This recipe turns into a wonderful bread pudding-like texture, and is so versatile. You can add fruit or raisins right into the slow cooker if you want. You could also mix in some mashed pumpkin to the egg mixture. Whatever you want – it’s your day!
Slow Cooker French Toast (serves a really hungry group of 4)
- 1/2 loaf of bread (thicker sliced French loaf, Cinnamon Raisin, or Challah bread cut into large chunks is delish!) but really, whatever bread you prefer would work.
- Whisk together:
- 8 eggs
- 2.5 cups milk
- 3 tsp cinnamon
- 3 tablespoons light brown sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla
Lightly butter or olive oil spray the slow cooker. Carefully dip the chunks of bread into the egg mixture, place in slow cooker, and pour rest of the egg mixture over the top. OR – just put the bread into the slow cooker and pour the entire egg mixture over the top.
Set slow cooker to “low” and let it cook for 6-8 hours. Take the top off 15 minute before you’re ready to serve, and the bread will get a nice crust on top. Serve with maple syrup or mashed up berries, and a side of scrambled eggs. And, of course, a mimosa!
This next recipe is one that your kiddos will probably enjoy helping with. Younger ones can rinse the fruit, older ones can chop, and everyone can work to put it all together.
Spring Berry Salad
- Mixture of greens
- Strawberries
- Blueberries
- Craisins
- Goat cheese crumbles
- Chopped walnuts
- Salad dressing (whatever you like. I love a really simple balsamic/olive oil mixture or a light berry vinaigrette)
