Mother’s Day Brunch

Being a mother is one of my greatest joys and accomplishments, so I love when this time of year comes around and families come together to celebrate the spirit of motherhood.

One of the best ways to honor your mother is by making Brunch for them.  Brunch, the combination of breakfast and lunch, is such a great mixture of yummy foods that can be brought together to eat on any occasion.

Show her how much you care by preparing a sumptuous meal that makes her feel truly pampered. 

 Banana Nut Pancakes

 makes 12

    * 1 1⁄4 cups sifted flour

    * 1 tbsp. baking powder

    * 1 tbsp. sugar

    * 1⁄4 cup chopped shelled walnuts

    * 2 very ripe bananas, peeled

    * 1 egg

   * 1 1⁄4 cups buttermilk

   * 1 tbsp. crème de banana liqueur

   * 4 tbsp. butter, melted

Preheat oven to 200°. Sift together flour, baking powder, and sugar into a large bowl. Add walnuts and set aside. Using a fork, mash bananas in a medium bowl to a lumpy paste. Whisk in egg, buttermilk, banana liqueur, and 2 tbsp. of the butter, then add to flour mixture, whisking until well combined. Set batter aside to rest for 10 minutes.

Coat a large skillet with a thin film of the butter and heat over medium heat. Make 2–3 pancakes at a time by ladling about 1⁄4 cup of the batter for each pancake into skillet, keeping about 4″ between pancakes. Cook until bubbles form on tops of pancakes and bottoms turn golden, 1 1⁄2–2 minutes. Flip pancakes and continue cooking until bottom is golden and center is cooked through, about 2 minutes more.

As pancakes are finished, loosely wrap them in a clean kitchen towel on a large plate and keep warm in oven. Repeat process with the remaining batter, buttering skillet as necessary to keep pancakes from sticking. Serve with softened butter and maple syrup, if you like.

 Billionaire’s Bacon

 serves 8 – 10

    * 1 lb. bacon

    * 1 1⁄2 cups light brown sugar

 Separate strips of bacon and blot dry with paper towels. Put sugar into a wide  dish. Coat both sides of bacon in sugar, firmly pressing sugar into each strip.  Lay bacon out on sheet pans as coated (some sugar will fall off).

 Cook bacon in a preheated 425° oven, turning once, until browned and  lacquered, about 15 minutes. Transfer to a lightly oiled sheet pan to let cool.  Break slices into thirds.

Cheddar Cheese Grits Casserole

 Makes 6 servings

    *   4  cups  milk

    * 1/4  cup  butter

    * 1  cup  uncooked quick-cooking grits

    * 1  large egg, lightly beaten

    * 1  teaspoon  salt

    * 1/2  teaspoon  pepper

    * 2  cups  (8 ounces) shredded sharp Cheddar cheese

    * 1/4  cup  grated Parmesan cheese

Bring milk just to a boil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat; gradually whisk in butter and grits. Reduce heat, and simmer, whisking constantly, 5 to 7 minutes or until grits are done. Remove from heat.

Stir in egg and next 3 ingredients. Pour into a lightly greased 11- x 7-inch baking dish. Sprinkle evenly with grated Parmesan cheese.

Bake, covered, at 350° for 35 to 40 minutes or until mixture is set. Serve immediately.

Top this scrumtious brunch with a cocktail of choice, maybe a mimosa… YUMMY!!!!

Happy Mother’s Day!