Text size:

Mom's breakfast in bed

By Elaine Paoloni | amNewYork Features Editor

Waffles with fruit and whipped cream (Newsday/Bill Davis)

Breakfast in bed may be an age-old Mother's Day tradition, but it's one that never gets tired.

Sure, you can make a reservation at a restaurant, but cooking up sweet and savory treats such as eggs, pancakes, french toast or waffles isn't difficult and can save kids money.

"Mom would appreciate the meal more knowing it was created by her family," says Chad Pagano, a chef-instructor at The Institute of Culinary Education (ICE) in Manhattan. "Also, Mother's Day at a restaurant is usually a train wreck, with screaming kids and an aggravated wait staff, not to mention subpar food because the kitchen staff is cooking for 10,000 people that day."

Pagano offers the following recipes for waffles and french toast made from scratch that won't cost kids much to make.

While you don't need to be a culinary prodigy to cook these dishes, young kids will need adult supervision.

"The recipes aren't too involved, but when working with kids in the kitchen, safety is always a concern," Pagano says. "Keep them busy with the 'non-hot' jobs like mixing the batters and cleaning the fruit."

Pagano also suggests creating a special menu that you can present to mom before she is served. It will help set the mood for a meal and a Mother's Day to remember.

Recipes

Fruity French Toast
Serves about 4.

Ingredients:
2 cups heavy cream
5 eggs
Pinch of ground nutmeg
Salt as needed
2 tablespoons butter
8 pieces of day-old challah or brioche bread
1 banana, sliced
2 pints of mixed berries

Directions: