EASY SPECIAL BREAKFASTS FOR MOTHER'S DAY: oven baked indulgence, prep ahead, opt for alcohol free

Guaranteed to please Mum, these recipes are mostly easy - and fun - for kids and dads to prepare and present:

BREAKFAST STICKS WITH MAPLE WHISKEY DIP

(OR alcohol-free maple syrup, jam, Nutella or lemon curd)

Decadent with whisky but so easy kids can make it under supervision; oven-baked, fab taste & texture

Slightly decadent but ever-so-scrumptious with more-ish crisp challah fingers

  

CHOCOLATE FLOWER PANCAKES:

prep-ahead, lower-sugar/fat/preservative, easy, child friendly 

Doesn't matter if they end up pretty or like Impressionist art; it's a mum-delighting treat which kids will have a lot of fun making

DOUBLE DIPPED CRUNCHY FRENCH TOAST

Ultra easy, ultra frugal delicious low-sugar treat with leftover bread

Perfect for mums, kids and dads.  All that's needed is bread & egg, and a bit of vanilla, sugar and cinnamon.  An extra slice will definitely not break the bank 

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These recipe have been developed by B M Lee/ Bright Sun Enterprises and may not be reproduced without the author's written permission.  

BANANA BLUEBERRY GINGER PUDDING: no-bake, frugal, very low sugar, vegan option, easy

Run-of-the mill bananas, a few berries and ginger make a surprising pudding...

first posted 2021; updated May 2023

Utter yumminess on a budget

This combo of everyday bananas, a handful of berries and spice in a creamy but healthy pudding was quite the hit at Sunday lunch.

Time was short so it was almost thrown together but the results were terrific.  Make it the night before so that the flavours have a chance to deepen and the creamy banana mousse to set.

The 67 kitchen had frozen leftover double cream and had a handful of leftover blueberries so costs were not high.  But any berries will do, and less expensive whipping cream will work as well as double.  

Cost: depending on leftovers, up to £2.50'ish 

Serves: 2-3; doubles easily

INGREDS: (dairy or plant products are suitable) 

65gm/2.3oz full fat cream cheese

65gm/2.3oz plain Greek yoghurt

1/2 cup (125ml) double cream

3 bananas

1/2 tsp vanilla

1-2 tb black molasses sugar or dark brown sugar

zest of half a lemon (opt)

handful of blueberries (pref but other berries will do)

8-10 small ginger snaps

1/2 tsp ground ginger

Garnish (opt): a few pieces of candied ginger (from syrup or crystallised, finely chopped)

Method:

PARMESAN COURGETTES, an easy indulgence (opt for low-carb)

Richly rewarding indulgent courgettes... 

Parmesan Courgettes...a wonderful treat

This is one of the Blogger's favourite courgette dishes* which - for obvious reasons - does not appear on the menu very often.

The courgette slices are coated in flour and parmesan but overall, the coating is light and the carb count is not horrendous. There's no other way of cooking these beauties except by frying them (oven-baking doesn't work though there is a grilling option in Tips) but as long as you're using a good vegetable oil (pref olive) and don't go overboard, you'll be all right.  

It's a good idea to check the pan and oil are at the right temperature.  Don't leave them unattended; they will burn quickly.

Cost: £2'ish

Feeds: 3-4

Ingreds:

4-6 medium courgettes 

3 tablespoons flour

3 tablespoons grated Parmesan

Salt and plenty of freshly ground black pepper

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 tablespoon butter (opt) or replace with olive oil

Method:

FEAST OF THREE VEGETARIAN PIZZAS: carnivore & frugal options

Pizza Fillings: 

from top left, clockwise: Sausage, Onion & Grape;  Mushroom; Potato & Pesto

These three Pizzas are out-of-this world fantastic and very simple.  Like the pizza bases (see Stupendous Make-it-yourself Pizza Dough) prep the day or night before needed. 

67 used Simple Tomato Base for Pizzas but you can use your own. 

Cost: depends on toppings

Feeds: 4-6

TOPPINGS 

1.  SAUSAGE, ONION & GRAPE 

Adapted from Jaimie Oliver; fascinating but fantastic combo of ingredients for a  sensational pizza 

Ingred: 

   2/3 recipe Stupendous Pizza Dough (the other third will be used for mushroom pizza - below - cover it with clean tea towel)

   4 cooked vegetarian sausages (Carnivores: substitute Wild Boar or Toulouse)

   1 good-sized med red onion, finely sliced (yellow onions will do)

   small sprig fresh rosemary or pinch of dried

   2 tbsp olive oil

   handful fresh or frozen grapes, halved if big

   125gm mozzarella 

Method:

1. Preheat oven in 180C350F oven; take pizza dough out of the fridge
2. Bake sausages 20 mins till golden; remove
3. Turn up oven to to 260C, 550F.  Place a large baking tray or pizza stone in the lower third of the oven at least 30 minutes before baking. 
4. Slice sausages in generous bite-sized coins; set aside
5. Once dough is at room temperature, turn out on lightly oiled surface; cover with kitchen towel; rest 10 mins
6. Either place a large sheet of baking parchment onto a dry surface OR use a low-sided pan from which you can easily slide the pizza onto the hot oven  tray/pizza stone.  
7. Place dough on parchment/pan.  Roughly dust with flour, roll out 1/2inch/1cm thick into a rough oval about 7x12 inches, building up the edges a little .  
8. Coo k onions in oil over medium heat until soft and melting - abut 20 mins
9. Spoon grapes into pan then add sausages, stirring well 
10. Spread 2-3 tablespoons Tomato Base over pizza base, leaving edges free
11. Spread sausage/onion/grape mix over pizza base; tear over mozzarella
12. THE FOLLOWING STEP MUST BE DONE BY A COMPETENT ADULT:  Carefully remove hot pizza pan/tray from oven. (1)  If using the parchment paper method, very carefully lift the sides of the paper supporting the pizza and holding a hand underneath, center it on the hot pizza stone/tray.  OR (2) slide it and pizza from your prep tray onto the hot pizza stone/tray
13.  Return pizza stone/tray to the bottom third of the oven.   Turn down heat to 240C
14. Cook 10 to 12 mins; cheese should be melted & the filling hot 

Tips: 67 used Linda McCartney's Rosemary Sausages and didn't bother adding rosemary

   

2.  MUSHROOM 

Fabulously delicious and so frugal 

Ingreds: