This seems like a good time to share some easy-to-prepare ideas for a Mother’s Day brunch. Whether you are a young member of the family or a dad not used to doing much cooking, an adult daughter wanting to honor your mom, or maybe a mom who wants a bit of a break by making something simple, here is some help.

For the main dish, I started with a recipe from a sausage wrapper that I have used and enjoyed several times and made some changes to it. I substituted cooked ham cubes for the sausage to eliminate the process of browning the meat, added more cheese, mixed the ingredients instead of layering, and added the sprinkling of a spice on top. It also contains bread, eggs, and milk. I called it “Simple Ham’n’Eggs Brunch Casserole.” To make it simpler, you could buy grated cheese and even a package of cooked ham cubes, if it’s available at your store. I recently noticed that the ham cubes were available for purchase at the store where I regularly shop. This dish can be made the night before and refrigerated. Just be sure to take it out of the fridge half hour to an hour before you bake it, since being cold would alter the way it bakes. I found that reheating leftovers in the microwave works well if you sprinkle a little water on top to prevent it from becoming too dry.

To accompany the brunch casserole, I have suggested a simple, three-ingredient fruit salad. Bananas and a can of pineapple tidbits are the basic ingredients, with grapes, blueberries, or strawberries as the third ingredient for an additional fruit flavor with color contrast. I called it “Easy Fruit Salad.” Not an especially clever name, but it works.

Then all you need to add is a beverage, to make your menu complete. Perhaps those sharing the brunch will want tea, coffee, cocoa, or mocha (coffee and cocoa mixed).

Printable copy of the recipes