(Family Features) There’s perhaps no better occasion to show off your kitchen skills than Mother’s Day, a perfect opportunity to turn the tables on mom and let her relax while you handle cooking duties. A homemade breakfast – or better yet, letting her sleep in for brunch – is a sure way to win her over and show how much you care.

Show your delicate side by working up a batch of Apple Ricotta Crepes, which require a soft touch to cook the light, silky batter to golden perfection. This rendition of the beloved thin pancakes calls for a ricotta spread and apple-cinnamon topping for a delightful pairing of savory and sweet.

If a full Mother’s Day celebration is on the menu, something a bit heartier may be required. A frittata provides the best of both worlds, as it’s a filling meal that’s also easy to make – just let the oven do the work. This Apple, Tomato and Goat Cheese Frittata is no exception as it calls for a handful of everyday ingredients you can whisk together in a cinch. While it’s in the oven (about 30 minutes, give or take) you can put the finishing touches on your last-minute decorations and handwritten cards.

Special occasions with those you love can be uplifted with the aroma and flavor Envy Apples that offer an invitation to savor small moments around the table. Available at Whole Foods and other major grocery stores, the craveable texture and crunch of this leading apple variety provides balanced sweetness as the ultimate apple experience for Mother’s Day gatherings. Along with their delicious flavor, the flesh remains whiter longer, even after cutting, slicing, dicing or cubing, so that homemade meals look as good as they taste.

Visit EnvyApple.com to find more Mother’s Day brunch inspiration.

Apple Ricotta Crepes

Crepes:

• 1 cup flour
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1cup whole milk
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• butter, for cooking

Apple Topping:

• butter
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• Envy Apples, sliced or cubed
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
• salt, to taste
• maple syrup

Ricotta Filling:

• 1 cup ricotta cheese
• 1 lemon, zest and juice only
• 2-3 tablespoons sugar, or to taste

1. To make crepes: In bowl, combine flour, sugar and salt. Add milk, eggs and vanilla then, using whisk, combine thoroughly. Mixture should be silky smooth. Refrigerate.
2. To make apple topping: In pan over medium heat, heat butter and brown sugar until bubbly and golden.
3. Add apples, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt, to taste; cook over medium-low heat until apples are soft. Turn off heat and finish with maple syrup.
4. To make ricotta filling: Combine ricotta, lemon zest, lemon juice and sugar, mix well and set aside.
5. In nonstick pan over medium-low heat, melt small amount of butter.
6. Add one ladle crepe batter, cook until bubbles form, flip and cook until golden. Repeat with remaining batter. Stack crepes to keep warm and soft.
7. Spread ricotta mixture thinly onto crepes and fold into quarters. Top with apple mixture and serve.

Apple, Tomato and Goat Cheese Frittata

• 6 eggs
• 1 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 20 turns fresh cracked pepper
• 1/4 cup whole milk
• 1 Envy Apple, small diced
• 1/2 cup sundried tomatoes, chopped
• 4 ounces goat cheese, crumbled
• 2 tablespoons thinly sliced chives

1. Preheat oven to 350 F.
2. In large mixing bowl, whisk eggs, hot pepper sauce, salt, pepper and milk until well combined.
3. Stir in apples, tomatoes, goat cheese and chives until well combined.
4. Using 1/3 measuring cup, spoon frittata mixture into oven-safe large skillet or 9-by-9-inch pan.
5. Bake 25-30 minutes, or until eggs are set.
6. Let cool slightly then serve.

Source: Envy Apples

(Family Features) Who says waking up your taste buds only happens in the morning? The novelty of breakfast for dinner can be a lively change for the whole family. And when you give them the added kick of picante sauce, you can create hearty family meals with variety.

Cooking with Pace Picante sauce adds texture and zest to a surprising number of traditionally "breakfast-y" foods. These tips and recipes will add ease, taste and fun to the table in a fast and budget-friendly way.

Breakfast for Dinner Tips

Simple Supper Solution: Spoon scrambled eggs or egg whites onto a warmed whole wheat flour tortilla. Add cooked, crumbled bacon or diced turkey sausage, cheese and picante sauce. Fold the tortilla around the filling and you've got a fast and hearty dinner.

Hard-boiled Eggs Made Easy: To hard-cook eggs, place eggs in a saucepan (do not crowd) and cover with cold water. Bring to a boil, then remove from heat and let stand, covered, for 10 minutes. Drain, cover with cold water and let stand 5 minutes before peeling. This causes the egg to shrink away from the shell, making peeling a snap.

Morning Fun at Dinnertime: Invite the family to dress for dinner - in PJs, of course. Add fruit as a garnish to different foods. Use strawberries and bananas to make a friendly face next to crêpes. Cookie cutters aren't just for cookies - use them to cut an omelet or breakfast pizza into hearts, stars and other fun shapes.

Wake up to these and other recipes at pacefoods.com.

Ham Spinach Fiesta Crêpes

Makes: 8 servings (2 crêpes each)
Prep: 10 minutes
Chill: 30 minutes
Cook: 25 minutes

• 1 1/2 cups nonfat milk
• 1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
• 3 eggs
• 1 package (15 ounces) frozen chopped spinach, thawed and well drained
• 1 jar (16 ounces) Pace salsa con queso
• 8 slices (1 ounce each) smoked fully-cooked ham
• 1 cup Pace Picante sauce
• 4 ounces shredded Cheddar cheese (about 1 cup)

1. Place milk, flour and eggs into a blender. Cover and blend until mixture is smooth. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
2. Stir spinach and salsa con queso in a medium bowl.
3. Pour about 3 tablespoons of batter into a hot, greased nonstick skillet or crêpe pan, swirling skillet to spread batter over bottom of skillet. Cook for 1 minute or until crêpe is golden on both sides. Remove crêpe from skillet. Repeat, making 16 crêpes in all and stacking cooked crêpes.
4. Place 1/2 slice ham onto each crêpe. Top each with 3 tablespoons of spinach mixture. Roll up crêpes around filling. Place filled crêpes seam-side down into 2 (2-quart) shallow microwave-safe baking dishes. Top with picante sauce and cheese.
5. Microwave, one dish at a time, on high for 2 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Tip: Chill time is important for this recipe, because it allows bubbles in batter to subside, which makes crêpes less likely to tear during cooking.

Tomato-Feta Frittata

Makes: 6 servings (1 wedge each)
Prep: 20 minutes
Bake: 40 minutes

• 7 eggs
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 cup cooked regular long-grain white rice
• 3 ounces crumbled feta cheese (about 3/4 cup)
• 2 ounces shredded Cheddar cheese (about 1/2 cup)
• 1/2 cup Pace Picante sauce
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro leaves
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano leaves, crushed
• 3 Italian plum tomatoes, sliced

1. Heat oven to 400°F. Heat greased, oven-safe 10-inch skillet in oven for 5 minutes.
2. Beat eggs and water in large bowl with a fork or whisk. Stir in rice, feta cheese, Cheddar cheese, picante sauce, cilantro and oregano. Pour egg mixture into skillet. Arrange tomato slices on egg mixture.
3. Bake for 40 minutes or until eggs are set. Cut frittata into 6 wedges.

Tip: You can use any type of cooked rice for this recipe. It's a great way to use up leftover rice from your take-out Chinese dinner.

Breakfast Pizza

Makes: 6 servings (1 slice each)
Prep: 20 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes
Bake: 5 minutes

• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1/4 cup chopped onion
• 1/4 cup chopped green pepper
• 1/4 cup chopped Canadian bacon
• 1 (12-inch) prepared pizza crust
• 8 eggs, beaten
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 3/4 cup Pace Picante sauce
• 2 ounces shredded Cheddar cheese (about 1/2 cup)
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro leaves

1. Heat oven to 400°F.
2. Heat butter in a 10-inch skillet over medium heat. Add onion, pepper and bacon, and cook until vegetables are tender.
3. Place pizza crust onto a pizza pan or baking sheet. Place in oven to warm.
4. Stir eggs and black pepper into skillet. Cook and stir until eggs are set. Spoon egg mixture onto pizza crust. Top with picante sauce. Sprinkle with cheese.
5. Bake for 5 minutes or until cheese is melted. Sprinkle with cilantro. Cut pizza into 6 slices.

Fiesta Breakfast Casserole

Makes: 6 servings (about 1 1/2 cups each)
Prep: 15 minutes
Chill: 2 hours
Bake: 45 minutes

• 1/2 pound bulk pork sausage
• 12 slices Pepperidge Farm White Sandwich Bread, cut into cubes
• 1 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
• 1 cup Pace Picante sauce
• 4 eggs
• 3/4 cup milk

1. Cook sausage in 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat until well browned, stirring often to separate meat. Pour off fat.
2. Spoon sausage into 2-quart shallow baking dish. Top with bread cubes and cheese. Beat picante sauce, eggs and milk in medium bowl with fork or whisk. Pour picante sauce mixture over bread mixture. Stir and press bread mixture into picante sauce mixture to coat. Cover and refrigerate 2 hours or overnight.
3. Heat oven to 350°F. Uncover baking dish.
4. Bake 45 minutes, or until knife inserted in center comes out clean.

Tip: Prepare dish the night before and pop into oven in the morning. It's great when you have overnight guests. Add a simple side of sliced melon and breakfast is ready!

Source: Pace Foods

(Family Features) Make it easy to stick to your resolutions by starting every morning with a breakfast with more protein. Did you know the average breakfast bowl or plate contains on average only 13 grams of protein, yet some nutrition experts recommend getting 20-30 grams at each meal?

Spreading out your protein throughout the day (rather than in one large amount) can help optimize how your body uses it. That means getting enough protein at breakfast! A breakfast with enough protein can help you feel fuller longer so you’re more likely to stick to your healthy eating routine. One easy way to get eight grams of high-quality protein is to add milk to your breakfast routine – whether in a cup, bowl and in your favorite recipe, an 8-ounce glass of milk contains 8 grams of high-quality protein!

Here are eight delicious breakfast ideas with protein to kick-start your new year.

Savory Oatmeal with Sunny Side Up Egg + Bacon

Make your oatmeal with milk instead of water to add milk’s high-quality protein to your morning meal. This twist also adds the classic combo of bacon and eggs to shake up your morning routine – serving up a total of 25 grams of protein.

Grab-and-Go Mini Breakfast Casseroles with Cheddar and Spinach

Need a quick breakfast for busy mornings? These grab-and-go mini casseroles have a few simple ingredients, like lowfat milk, spinach and cheddar cheese – with a ton of palate payoff. Pair two mini casseroles with a cup of milk for 24 grams of protein.

Apple-Cinnamon Whole-Grain Pancake Muffins

Try this yummy twist on your morning go-to pancakes filled with delicious apple slices and cinnamon and made with 100% whole-grain pancake batter. Pair with an 8-ounce glass of milk to add an extra 8 grams of protein to the meal, for a total of 13 grams.

Spinach Mushroom Breakfast Crepes 

These savory crepes made with milk and filled with veggies and Swiss cheese for a delicious way to kick-start your day with 23 grams of protein.

Skillet Eggs and Polenta 

Breakfast takes a flavorful twist in this recipe that uses traditional Italian flavors of polenta and marinara to create a delicious dish. Pair with a glass of milk for 25 grams of protein.

Creamy Green Goddess Smoothie 

Lowfat milk and avocados make this smoothie extra creamy for 7 grams of protein per serving, and it’s packed with spinach, pineapple and bananas so it’s a choice you can feel good about.

Nutty Blueberry Quinoa Oatmeal 

Spice up your morning meal by adding quinoa and blueberries. Pair this dish with a glass of milk for 21 grams of protein power to start your day!  

Chicken Sausage Scramble

Sweet potatoes, lowfat milk and chicken sausage combine in this tasty egg scramble to give you a protein boost to start your morning right. Add a cup of milk for 22 grams of protein.

For more recipes, visit MilkLife.com or check out Pinterest.

Source: Milk Life

Start the year off right with wholesome, nutritious morning recipes

(Family Features) With each New Year comes new goals and resolutions for the entire family. It’s the perfect time to start fresh and get everyone back on track with healthy nutrition. Starting each day with a nutritious breakfast is one way to do just that, not to mention a healthy habit to maintain throughout the year.

By incorporating simple, wholesome ingredients like milk into a balanced breakfast each morning, you can feel good knowing your family is starting the day on the right foot. With nine essential nutrients, including high-quality protein, calcium and vitamin D, pairing milk with breakfast can help everyone be their best.   

Try these seven breakfast recipes paired with milk, one for each day of the week, to fuel all kinds of mornings throughout the New Year. Visit MilkLife.com for additional recipe inspiration.

Southwest Breakfast Protein Sandwich

Add Southwestern flavors to spice up this breakfast sandwich. Scrambled eggs seasoned with cumin, pepper and chili powder are topped with shredded cheese, ham and sliced avocados and placed inside a toasted English muffin for a twist on a classic breakfast favorite.

Peanut Butter and Jelly Protein Power Muffins

When you’re in a rush on weekday mornings but still want a wholesome breakfast while on the go, try these protein muffins with peanut butter and jelly. This simple recipe is a kid-friendly way to serve a childhood favorite and start the day with a smile.

Raspberry Cottage Cheese Protein Pancakes

While cottage cheese is not a traditional ingredient in pancakes, these pancakes definitely make it work. By combining blended cottage cheese with rolled oats, this dish adds protein and fiber at breakfast without skimping on taste.

Chai Quinoa Protein Breakfast Bowl

How about a modern take on an ancient grain? This breakfast bowl with quinoa is a delicious and nutritious way to start your day. Chai spices combined with brown sugar, vanilla and milk add vibrant flavors sure to excite your taste buds.

Protein Power Huevos Rancheros

This tasty twist on eggs brings a Southwestern flair to breakfast with avocados and turkey sausage piled high on a tortilla to spice up your morning.

Vegetable and Sausage Mini Protein Quiches

This mini quiche recipe makes serving up protein at breakfast a snap. Use a muffin tin to create individual sausage quiches that are perfect for a make-ahead, grab-and-go breakfast.

Savory Smoked Salmon and Cream Cheese Protein Crepes

Lock down your week’s breakfast plan with these savory crepes the entire family will enjoy. Cream cheese with chives mixed in topped with smoked salmon and wrapped inside a warm crepe winds up being a delicious morning jump-start.

Source: MilkPEP

Turn your morning breakfast crepes into a delicious and totally satisfying dessert with creamy custard filling and decadent chocolate sauce.   See more of our delicious dessert ideas.

Boston Cream Pie Crepes

To make filling:

• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup cornstarch
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 1/2 cups milk
• 4 egg whites
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

1. Saucepan: milk, sugar, cornstarch and salt over medium heat. Stir until thickens.
2. Pour 1/3 of sugar mixture into egg whites and stir, return to saucepan and heat for 1 minute.
3. Remove saucepan from heat and pour in vanilla.
4. Transfer filling to medium bowl, cover and press plastic wrap to the top of the mixture. Refrigerate 1-2 hours.
5. Whip heavy whipping cream till stiff peaks are formed. Fold into the filling mixture.

To make crepe batter:

• 1 1/2 cups milk
• 4 eggs
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup flour
• 1 1/2 tsp sugar
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 8 tsp butter

1. Whisk milk and eggs.
2. Combine flour, sugar and salt then add to milk mixture.
3. Refrigerate for 1 hour.
4. Coat pan with butter. Pour about 2 TBS of batter into pan. Lift and move pan around to coat with batter.
5. Cook batter until top looks dry then flip and then transfer to plate.  
6. Spoon or pipe filling down center of crepe and fold over.  Drizzle with your favorite chocolate sauce, serve immediately.

Recipes adapted from Taste of Home and Girl Inspired.