Serve up a tasty brunch surprise for Mom on Mother’s Day. It’s an easy overnight egg dish like you’ve never tasted before —  fresh apples and apple-chicken sausage are the new ingredients that give it extra zip.

Whether you set up a pretty breakfast-in-bed tray or make place settings for the whole family at your kitchen table, she’ll be thrilled by the celebration that focuses on her.  Let the kids prepare this brunch entree with another adult the night before.  There is cheese to shred, bread to cube and lots of eggs to crack — perfect jobs for junior chefs. You also might want to prep some fruit and berries as a side to the egg dish.

Mother’s Day Egg Dish

5 cups of 3/4-inch square cubes of bread from a sourdough or French baguette
5-6 links (about 3/4 pound) of chicken-apple pre-cooked sausage, cut into 1/2-inch slices
1 1/2 cups grated medium and sharp cheddar cheese
2 apples peeled and thinly sliced
6 eggs beaten
2 cups milk
1/2 teaspoon salt and cracked pepper to taste.

Put the following together the night before.
1. Set the cubes of bread in a buttered glass 8-inch-by-11-inch baking dish. Sprinkle sausage, cheese and apples on top. Lightly toss together.
2. Combine beaten eggs, milk and salt and pepper in a bowl and pour mixture over all, making sure bread is soaked with the mixture. Cover with aluminum foil and refrigerate overnight.
3. In the morning, remove foil, preheat oven to 350 degrees and bake for 45-50 minutes.
4. Let stand for 10 minutes, then cut into serving pieces. Serves 6.

Donna Erickson’s award-winning series “Donna’s Day” is airing on public television nationwide. To find more of her creative family recipes and activities, visit www.donnasday.com and link to the NEW Donna’s Day Facebook fan page. Her latest book is “Donna Erickson’s Fabulous Funstuff for Families.”

© 2013 Donna Erickson
Distributed by King Features Synd.