There is no way to be a perfect mother but a million ways to be a good one ~Jill Churchill

According to Merriam Webster’s Dictionary the definition of mother is “a female parent, a woman in authority, maternal tenderness or affection.”

There are many different names a mom is given. Whether you are a mom yourself or have a mom we all know each name has a special meaning.

The point of making Mother’s Day special is to show how much you appreciate the mom in your life. Without our moms most of us would not be the people we are today. If you are a mom yourself then you know that you carry your children for longer than nine months. So, think about your mom, what she did and is still doing for you.

Spending time with family on Mother’s Day is one of the best gifts a mom can get. Whether your children plan something for you or they are too little to understand, as long as everyone is together that’s all that matters. Do something with them, make breakfast or go on a walk. If you live too far away and are unable to spend time with your mom, take the time to send a card, call or somehow show her affection.

Now, let’s talk about Mother’s Day food! As always any holiday, birthday or special day offers up the opportunity for fabulously delicious food. Of course moms don’t want to think about cooking on their day but they can get the whole family cooking making it fun for everyone! Plus it’s your day, so no one can really say no to you. (wink)

Brunch is one of the best ways to go on Mother’s Day. Create a spread that is diverse, easy to make and colorful. From fruit salad to pancakes, bacon and eggs, there are numerous options and ideas. Not a huge fan of breakfast? No worries, its brunch so one of the best parts about is that it does not necessarily have to be breakfast foods! Potatoes, vegetables, flatbread, chocolate covered strawberries, the list goes on.

One great option for brunch is French Toast with a twist; instead of using regular bread try using cinnamon bread or another variation!

Here is a simple brunch recipe to get you started.

Summery Scramble

Ingredients

• 4-8 eggs (depending on how many people are eating)
• 1 cup shredded cheese (use any melting cheese you like)
• 1 avocado
• Sliced cherry tomatoes (as many as you want)
• A splash of milk
• Garlic salt
• Pepper
• A few leaves of fresh chopped basil

Directions

1. Crack the eggs into a bowl and add the splash of milk and whisk together
2. Add ½ cup cheese, garlic salt and pepper
3. Pour a small amount of olive oil into a sauté pan
4. Add the egg mix to the pan and scramble
5. Halfway through cooking add the rest of the cheese and the tomatoes
6. Finish cooking
7. Add avocado and basil to the top
8. Enjoy!

Happy Mother’s Day!

The post Mom, Momma, Mother, Mommy… appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.

Plan an Easter gathering everyone can enjoy with a make-ahead menu that includes crowd-pleasing brunch casseroles packed with everyone’s favorite flavors – and leaves you plenty of time to spend with the family.

“Combine all-star breakfast ingredients like eggs, bacon and cheese into a single dish in this Cheesy Bacon & Egg Brunch Casserole, seasoned with ground mustard and nutmeg,” said Chef Kevan Vetter of the McCormick Kitchens. “The best part about this recipe is you can assemble it the night before – just add an additional 1/2 cup of milk – chill it in the refrigerator and bake it off in the morning.”

Serve a spring-inspired dessert topped with an array of fresh fruit to complement your brunch casserole.

Find everything you need to create a complete brunch menu and more easy Easter-themed recipes at www.McCormick.com, www.Facebook.com/McCormickSpices and www.Pinterest.com/mccormickspices.

Cheesy Bacon & Egg Brunch Casserole

Serves: 12

• 8 slices bacon
• 1 medium onion, chopped (1 cup)
• 1 loaf (8 ounces) Italian bread, cut into 1-inch cubes (5 cups)
• 2 cups (8 ounces) shredded Cheddar cheese
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 cup cottage cheese
• 5 eggs
• 1 1/2 cups milk*
• 2 teaspoons McCormick® Mustard, Ground
• 1 teaspoon McCormick® Black Pepper, Ground
• 1/2 teaspoon McCormick® Nutmeg, Ground

Preheat oven to 350°F. Cook bacon in large skillet until crisp. Drain bacon on paper towels; crumble and set aside. Remove all but 2 tablespoons drippings from skillet. Add onion to skillet; cook and stir 3 minutes or until softened.

Spread 1/2 of the bread cubes in 13×9-inch baking dish. Layer with 1/2 each of the onion, bacon, Cheddar cheese and mozzarella cheese. Spread evenly with cottage cheese. Top with remaining bread cubes, onion, bacon, Cheddar cheese and mozzarella cheese.

Beat eggs in medium bowl with wire whisk. Add milk, mustard, pepper and nutmeg; mix well. Gradually pour into baking dish. Press bread cubes lightly into egg mixture until completely covered. Let stand 10 minutes. (*To prep the night before, add an extra 1/2 cup of milk and refrigerate overnight.)

Bake 40 to 50 minutes or until center is set and top is golden brown.

*Family Features

The post Easter Brunch Made Easy appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.