A piece of toast while daddy and the children go out to eat at a restaurant, is how one mom describes the best Mother’s Day breakfast.

If you have small children, the phrase “I’ll make you breakfast mommy” is more likely to induce a panic attack than feelings of maternal love and appreciation.

Personally, one question about the whole thing looms darkly in my mind: who is going to clean the applesauce off the ceiling?

As long as it isn’t me, I’m all for it. Here are a couple of recipes children can try to make for mom. Just keep a secret box of cereal on hand in case it doesn’t quite go as planned.

Maple Granola

Ingredients: ¼ cup granola; ½ cup plain yoghurt; 1 tbsp maple syrup.

Method: Put the granola in the bottom of a parfait glass or dish. Spoon the yoghurt on top. Drizzle with syrup.

Funny Face Bagel

Ingredients: 2 bagels, split in half; ½ cup cream cheese (about 4oz). (It’s Mother’s Day, please give me full fat cream cheese, thank you. The reduced fat tastes like axel grease.); 1 small cucumber; ½ tomato, cut into wedges

Method: Toast the bagel halves and spread each with the cream cheese. Cut the cucumber into eight rounds and several thin slices that can be used to form spectacles. Cut the tomato into four wedges and use one on each bagel half to form a smile. You could also experiment with other fruits and vegetables to make your face such as strawberries, blueberries and bananas.

Mom’s Oatmeal

Ingredients: 2 cups old fashioned oats; ¼ cup light brown sugar; 1 ½ tsp cinnamon; 1 tsp baking powder; ¼ tsp salt; 1 ½ cups milk; ½ cup applesauce; 1 tbsp melted butter; 2 egg whites; 1 teaspoon vanilla; 1 large apple, peeled, cored and diced; For optional toppings try brown sugar, raisins, dried cranberries, blueberries or chopped almonds.

Method: Preheat oven to 350F (176C) degrees. Coat an 8 X 8 inch baking dish with cooking spray and set aside. In a large bowl, mix oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, baking powder and salt. In a medium bowl, whisk together milk, applesauce, butter, egg whites and vanilla. Pour wet ingredients over dry ingredients and stir until combined. Gently stir in diced apples. Pour oatmeal mixture into prepared pan. Bake for 20 minutes or until oatmeal is golden brown and set. Remove from oven and serve warm. Add toppings as desired.