breakfast

Mother’s Day is a few weeks away and in this environment, you may be considering making Mom breakfast. I have two suggestions for you and both are quite easy. The first one is basic buttermilk pancakes with a recipe from a vintage cookbook, Betty Crocker Cookbook ©1969. I know it may be difficult to find all purpose flour, but if you can, Mom will love these pancakes. You’ll need flour, an egg, 2 tablespoons of melted butter or vegetable oil, buttermilk, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. These pancakes are light and fluffy and are way better than any box mix. My granddaughter prefers mine over a box mix. There are also variations where you add applesauce or cheese. There’s even one for cornmeal pancakes. I would recommend genuine maple syrup as Mom deserves the best today.
 
To accompany Mom’s pancakes, try sweet-and-spicy bacon. You’ll need brown sugar, a bit of cayenne pepper, black pepper and one pound of bacon. The bacon is cooked on a broiler pan, or I use a cooking rack over a foil lined rimmed baking sheet (easy clean up Dads.), and bake in the oven for 40-45 minutes.

If you are feeling adventurous, a Mixed-Berry Dutch Baby is a recipe from the Food and Wine website. I recently made this for my daughter and husband has we had some very ripe berries in the refrigerator. For the Dutch baby you’ll need 3 eggs, lemon zest, flour, milk, raspberries, blackberries and butter. You can adjust the recipe for whatever berries you prefer or can locate. The Dutch baby is made in a 10-inch cast iron skillet on the stove top, but finishes by baking in the oven. It magically puffs up and is light and delicious.
 
If Mom prefers something lighter and healthier, try the Shakshuka with Feta that I recently made. It’s made with extra virgin olive oil, onion, red bell pepper, garlic, cumin, sweet paprika, cayenne, 28 ounce can of whole plum tomatoes, pepper, feta cheese and 6 eggs. I recommend lots of crusty bed for soaking up the sauce. Pastosa in Manasquan has delicious Italian bread delivered daily.

​​If you prefer something even easier, I work at a Sweet Tease Tea Room in Belmar, NJ. The owner, Kate is preparing a Garden Party ParTea to Go for 2 for $60. You must pre-order and prepay. Pick up is at the Belmar, NJ location. The menu includes paper products, flowering tea ball, chamomile corn chowder, vanilla bean scones with clotted cream and jam and that’s just part of the menu.  I created a hyperlink so that you can easily find the menu. To order call 732-722-8030 and leave your name and number for a call back. You can email Sweet Tease at [email protected] .
 
How about dinner after the kids are in bed? Brandl Restaurant in Belmar, NJ is a favorite restaurant of mine. They have a menu with appetizers such as shrimp cocktail with cocktail sauce and lemon, Lazy Lobster with asparagus risotto and vanilla bean butter and chocolate tart. This I would choose if I was going to get dinner to go.

Another favorite of mine is Delicious Orchards in Colts Neck, NJ. You can order a gift box from them. They have many to choose from including one called “Sweet and Easy,” that includes their famous apple cider donuts and fresh ground coffee.
 
There are websites such as Shore Foodie that have a list of restaurants that offer food to go in Monmouth County. I’m sure if you do a web search, your town’s local food establishments may already be offering meals or meal kits to go.