A Mother’s Day Weekend Unplugged: From Bacon & Bread to Beloved Bread Pudding

This Mother’s Day weekend was a delightful, albeit slightly chaotic, journey brought to you by the letter ‘B’. ‘B’ for the abundance of delicious bread, the irresistible sizzle of bacon, and the heartwarming comfort of bread pudding. Over the past two days, our family indulged in these culinary delights perhaps a little too much, leading to a delightful anomaly: we haven’t enjoyed a proper “dinner” since Friday, thanks to the continuous stream of generous lunches that became the centerpiece of our celebrations. Join me as I recount a weekend filled with laughter, unexpected mishaps, and cherished family moments, all revolving around the simple joys of good food and togetherness.

The Culinary Commencement: Bacon, Bread, and Family Fun

Saturday kicked off with a wonderful family lunch as my loved ones gathered. Knowing my Mom’s absolute favorite meal when eating out is bacon and eggs, I decided to bring that beloved diner classic into our home, elevating it with a homemade touch. We feasted on crispy, perfectly cooked bacon, alongside freshly baked, crusty homemade bread – still warm from the oven and ideal for soaking up every savory drop. Complementing these stars were sautéed spinach, vibrant and tender, and juicy maple sausages cooked to perfection on the barbecue. It was a simple yet profoundly satisfying meal, a testament to the idea that the best food is often the one shared with loved ones. The laughter and conversation around the table were just as nourishing as the meal itself, setting a joyful tone for the weekend ahead.

Saturday Night Adventures: From Chuck E. Cheese to Home Depot Hilarity

Saturday night took an unexpected turn when my sister and I embarked on a mission to Chuck E. Cheese with our boys. And let me assure you, it was absolutely not for the food – we strictly abstained from their culinary offerings. Our objective was far nobler: to redeem a treasure trove of over a hundred tickets that my six-year-old nephew had accidentally brought home from a birthday party, which had since become the sole focus of his young life. My sister, needing a fellow conspirator to commiserate with, brought me along, ensuring she had someone to share exasperated eye-rolls with. My son, W, sported his “skinny jeans,” which were actually just his regular jeans from when he was four – a small detail that added to the evening’s charm. As W walked into that brightly lit, cacophonous video game heaven, it was as if the Mothership was finally calling him home. The sheer unadulterated joy on his face made those two hours, which I’ll never get back, seem entirely worth it. The only way it could have been improved, I mused, was if the entire Chuck E. Cheese establishment were lifted up, dipped in chocolate, and then coated in sprinkles.

On the journey home, our grand Saturday night adventure continued with a vital stop at Home Depot to acquire tomato plants. Yes, my Saturday nights are indeed dramatically different from those a decade ago! As we closed the place, loading our new green charges into the car, I made the questionable decision of allowing W to sit on the roof. Before you gasp, let me clarify: it’s a low, smallish car, not an SUV or a minivan. In his youthful exuberance, he kicked the trunk closed – with my head still inside it. The rest of my evening was spent with a bag of frozen wild blueberries perched precariously on what felt like an ostrich egg growing on my forehead. I pondered the wisdom of falling asleep (my husband Mike was out) and questioned my makeup artistry skills, wondering if I could possibly conceal the damage for a few TV segments I was scheduled to film the next day without looking like an alien. Fortunately, bruising was minimal, but my entire right hemisphere remained comically puffed up, conveniently smoothing out any forehead lines. Who needs Botox when you have a curious child and a low car trunk?

Mother’s Day Morning: Reality Bites (and Pokes)

Today, Mother’s Day, commenced much like any other, with W’s enthusiastic cheek-pinching and head-poking, which effectively roused me faster than my usual alarm. Mike, after a night spent in W’s bunk bed (musical beds and couches are a common nightly game in our house), eventually ventured downstairs. He kindly reheated my leftover Tim Hortons coffee from yesterday, brought it up to me, then set on the Road Runner cartoons for W before retreating to the couch for more sleep. While I was certainly appreciative of the gesture, I couldn’t help but reflect that my “breakfasts in bed” could only go up from here. It was a perfectly imperfect start to a day dedicated to mothers, a realistic portrayal of the beautiful chaos that defines family life.

An Unexpected Revelation: The Shirtless Window Incident

Later that morning, as I was changing in our bedroom, I found myself mid-rant to Mike about the behemoth blue truck parked directly in front of our house. It had, to our collective annoyance, usurped our prime parking spot for the better part of a week. Still complaining, I walked over to the window, blinds wide open, and stood there, hands on my hips in a classic ‘humph’ stance, wondering aloud whose obnoxious vehicle it belonged to. It was at this precise moment that I realized, with a jolt, that I had no shirt on. I am plagued by recurring nightmares featuring scenarios exactly like this, where I inadvertently expose myself to the world. For a fleeting second, I genuinely wondered if I had somehow drifted back to sleep and this was all a vivid dream. Alas, I had not. The realization was immediate, mortifying, and hilariously real. I quickly retreated, heart pounding, hoping no one from the blue truck had been looking out their window!

The Heart of Mother’s Day: A Treasured Bread Pudding Tradition

The afternoon brought another delightful family gathering, this time featuring Mike’s Mom and sister. Since his Mom, Shirl, absolutely adores bread pudding, I knew exactly what to make. I had an extra loaf of no-knead bread, freshly baked on Friday night for Saturday’s lunch, which provided the perfect foundation for this comforting dessert. Bread pudding is such a wonderful, versatile dish, capable of transforming simple ingredients into something truly extraordinary. It’s the kind of dessert that feels like a warm hug, making it an ideal choice for a Mother’s Day celebration.

Crafting the Perfect Bread Pudding: A Blank Canvas of Flavor

The beauty of bread pudding lies in its simplicity and its incredible adaptability. It’s truly a blank canvas for your culinary imagination. While Shirl prefers hers “plain-old, straight-up,” the possibilities for customization are virtually endless. You can start with a base of cubed stale bread (this is key for texture!), soaked in a rich custard made from eggs, milk, sugar, and a hint of vanilla or cinnamon. The magic happens when you start adding your own flair.

• **Sweet Variations:** For a delightful twist, consider using raisin bread as your base, then enhancing it with a grated apple and a generous handful of toasted pecans. The apple adds a touch of freshness and moisture, while pecans provide a wonderful crunch. Another option is to fold in dried cranberries, orange zest, or even chocolate chips for a truly indulgent treat.
• **Savory Explorations:** Yes, bread pudding isn’t just for dessert! If you’re leaning towards a savory dish, simply omit the honey or maple syrup from the custard base. Instead, shred some sharp cheddar cheese and sliver some good quality ham, mixing them in with a few finely chopped green onions for a savory breakfast or brunch casserole. Alternatively, sauté a generous amount of sliced mushrooms in butter with minced garlic until golden brown and aromatic. Stir these into your bread mixture along with a handful of grated Parmesan cheese for a deeply flavorful side dish or light meal. You could also add wilted spinach for a touch of green and earthy flavor.

Truly, the potential variations are limited only by your imagination and what ingredients you have on hand. It’s a fantastic way to use up leftover bread and create something unique and delicious every time.

Elevating Your Dessert: Simple Espresso Syrup

For those who, like me, appreciate a little extra something, I whipped up a quick espresso syrup. I’d come across the idea in an old Donna Hay cookbook, and besides her stunning photography, she always delivers fantastic, practical ideas. This syrup offers the option of a sophisticated drizzle over the warm bread pudding, adding a depth of flavor that complements the richness of the dessert beautifully. After all, bread pudding is essentially French toast, but in a comforting casserole form, and just as French toast benefits from syrup, so too does its baked cousin. And on a linguistic note, it’s espresso. It’s not expresso. For the love of coffee, let us correctly pronounce and spell espresso!

Reflections on a Mother’s Day Well Spent

This Mother’s Day weekend was a perfect encapsulation of family life: a mix of delightful culinary indulgence, slightly unhinged adventures, minor bodily harm, and laugh-out-loud moments of unexpected embarrassment. From the joy of watching my nephew revel in video game heaven to the comforting scent of homemade bread, and the subsequent warmth of a classic bread pudding shared with loved ones, every moment, no matter how chaotic, was truly memorable. It’s these shared experiences, both grand and small, that weave the rich tapestry of family memories. As we conclude this eventful weekend, I’m reminded that Mother’s Day isn’t just about perfect breakfasts in bed or serene moments; it’s about the genuine, messy, and utterly loving reality of being a mom, surrounded by the people who make it all worthwhile. And perhaps, a little extra bread and bacon doesn’t hurt either!

One Year Ago: Spiced Roasted Chicken Stuffed with Falafel, and Greek Salad

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