10 Weekend Brunch-worthy Cocktails

Raise a glass to the weekend with one of these 10 Weekend Brunch-worthy Cocktails...

If you ask me, the weekends were just made for brunching. For starters, you don't have to get up early to enjoy brunch. You can sleep in AND still get to enjoy the best of breakfast & lunch. And when I think of a weekend brunch, I also picture inviting a few friends over and sharing plates of bacon, pancakes, & made to order omelettes. In fact, there is nothing I love more than preparing a tasty brunch spread at home on a Saturday or Sunday morning and kicking back with a brunch-worthy cocktail.

I know that when most of us think of brunchy cocktails that Bloody Marys & mimosas usually come to mind. And while I have definitely included a few unique twists on both of these classic libations in this collection of weekend brunch-worthy cocktails, there are also a few boozy concoctions featured below that are sure to kick you out of that brunch cocktail rut. It isn't all about the vodka & champagne, folks! Tequila, gin, Kahlua, & even beer are the stars of some of the tasty cocktail recipes you will find below. 

Ready to get your brunch on this weekend? ;) Let's get you started with this collection of 10 Weekend Brunch-worthy Cocktails... 

12 Savory Brunch-worthy Casseroles & Bakes

 Brimming with eggs, cheese, sausage, bacon, and lots of veggies & flavor, these 12 Savory Brunch-worthy Casseroles & Bakes are the perfect way to start your weekend...

Over the weekend I shared with you all 12 Brunch-worthy French Toast Casseroles.   But with Easter in just a few short days (and Easter brunches!), I had to also pay homage to the delicious & savory brunch-worthy casseroles and bakes.  

Because not everyone is into the sweet breakfast dishes, or maybe you would like to have a little variety at your weekend brunch to please everyone's palates. ;)

I searched high and low and gathered up the tastiest savory brunch casseroles and bakes that I could find from my favorite food bloggers- brimming with eggs, cheese, sausage, bacon, lots of veggies, and of course, flavor! 

You are sure to find at least one recipe below that should make an appearance on your weekend brunch menu.

12 Brunch-worthy French Toast Casseroles

These 12 Brunch-worthy French Toast Casseroles would make the perfect hassle free & tasty addition to that next big weekend brunch menu you may be planning...

I kind of have a thing for french toast casseroles.  It started with my Overnight Pumpkin Pie Chai French Toast back in November of 2012.  And then there was my Irish Coffee French Toast Casserole.  And I even created one chock full of rainbow sprinkles, perfect for celebrating a birthday- my Happy Birthday Cake Batter French Toast! :)

I am not really a big fan of traditional french toast.... the dipping and soaking and the mess. And then there is having to stand in front of the stove and watching the pan as you fry each batch.

There is just something so much more appealing to me about tossing the sliced bread into a casserole dish and pouring the eggs, and milk, and everything else over top & then popping it into the oven. 

Plus, a french toast casserole frees you up to be able to prepare another dish while it is baking... like frying bacon or making omelets, cutting fruit, brewing coffee.

They are the perfect, hassle free & tasty addition to a big brunch you may be planning... say for Easter or Mother's Day or just because. ;)

Exploring the Local Brewery Scene in Columbus, Ohio

With over 40 breweries & microbreweries, Columbus, Ohio is quickly becoming a must-visit destination for craft beer enthusiasts...

This post was created in partnership with Experience Columbus. As always, all opinions & thoughts expressed below are 100% my own.

When I moved back to my home state of West Virginia after living in the Columbus, Ohio area for 8 years, Columbus was just then starting to experience a growing craft beer movement. While local breweries were very few in number (think maybe Barley's, Columbus Brewing Company, & Elevator Brewing downtown), craft beer tap takeovers in local bars had started to become more & more popular. In fact, these tap takeovers is how I first experienced and fell in love with craft beers.

Fast forward 8 years later, and the craft beer scene in Columbus has totally evolved into a full-fledged local brewery movement. In fact, there are now over 40 breweries & counting in the Columbus area alone! I knew I had to get back to C-bus to explore the local brewery scene. I spent two days in the city- even embarking on a guided brewery tour- and I didn't even get to a fourth of the breweries in the city!

Even though I didn't get to experience everything Columbus's local brewery scene has to offer on this most recent visit, I did get a good taste of what the city has been brewing up since I moved away. Today I am sharing a few of my favorite craft beer gems from Ohio's state capital...

Strawberry-Coconut Crunch Layered French Toast

This delicious Strawberry-Coconut Crunch Layered French Toast is virtually guilt free thanks to nonfat Greek yogurt, fresh sliced strawberries, & crunchy Post Honey Bunches of Oats Greek Honey Crunch cereal...

This shop is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® and Post Pebbles, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #PostWalgreens http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV

I think by now you all know that I am a big fan of the make ahead, overnight french toast casserole.  But most of the french toast casserole recipes that I have shared with you all up until now have been decadent, bordering on almost qualifying as a dessert. ;)

I have been brainstorming ideas for making and sharing a healthier french toast casserole recipe with you all.  And I found my recipe inspiration while shopping at my local Walgreens for some of our favorite Post cereals...

So, today I am sharing with you all this Strawberry-Coconut Crunch Layered French Toast perfect for whipping up for Easter morning (or any spring weekend morning!).

I have made this delicious french toast casserole virtually guilt free by making it with nonfat Greek yogurt, fresh sliced strawberries, & crunchy Post Honey Bunches of Oats Greek Honey Crunch cereal.  

I absolutely love the addition of the Honey Bunches of Oats Greek cereal to this- it gives it a nice, crunchy texture and adds even more protein and whole grains to this healthy, perfect for spring french toast casserole...

Easy Eggs Benedict with Crispy Onion Rings

Crispy onion rings are topped with asparagus, over medium eggs, a drizzle of a quick mock hollandaise sauce, & a sprinkle of capers in this Easy Eggs Benedict with Crispy Onion Rings...

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #SpringIntoFlavor #CollectiveBias

Spring has been peeking her little sunny head up at us this week in my neck of the woods. :) I thought she was never going to get here after Mother Nature dumped about a foot of snow on us last week. For the past two days, we have been greeted with sunshine and warmer temperatures, and the snow has all but melted away now. These fresh breezes and sunshiny days are making me excited for Easter and spring. And when I think of Easter and spring, I always think of laid back weekend brunches at home with good food, wonderful company, and bright, fresh flavors. 

One dish that always reminds of me of a spring brunch is a sophisticated Eggs Benedict. But let's be honest- making a fancy-dancy Eggs Benedict brunch requires some time and a little culinary skill.  From perfectly poaching the eggs to whisking together a creamy hollandaise sauce, it is definitely a brunch recipe that can be a little intimidating. 

I love a nice spring weekend brunch, but I also don't want to be stuck in the kitchen for long making it. With this in mind, I headed to my local Walmart with a challenge- to create an easy to make Eggs Benedict recipe that would be just as delicious as the real deal...

Easy Bacon & Egg Cups

These Easy Bacon & Egg Cups are perfectly poppable & portable making them great for a weekend brunch spread or for a quick & hearty breakfast on the go...

Okay, so I totally teased you all with this recipe on my Instagram last Wednesday, and for that I do sincerely apologize, folks. It wasn't entirely fair to make you all wait five days on the how-to for these Easy Bacon & Egg Cups, but us bloggers do have this little thing called an editorial calendar that sometimes gets in the way of allowing us to share new recipes with you all sooner. 

But don't fret! The long wait is finally over, my friends. ;) And as I promised my followers on Instagram last week, this easy breakfast recipe was definitely worth the wait. 

You literally need only THREE ingredients to make these Easy Bacon & Egg Cups! (Well five, if you count the salt & pepper and fresh parsley.) These little cups of breakfast goodness are perfectly poppable and portable, making them great for a weekend brunch spread or for a quick & hearty breakfast on the go... :)

Frothy "Almond Joy" Hot Chocolate

Inspired by a candy bar favorite, this rich & decadent Frothy "Almond Joy" Hot Chocolate is the perfect addition to a cozy weekend brunch...

Thank you to Blendtec for sponsoring this recipe post. The recipe and opinions in this post are 100% mine.

If you ask me, cold winter weekends were just made for warm, cozy brunches at home. I mean, who wants to bundle up, get everyone in the car, and brave the freezing temps for breakfast out at your favorite brunch spot? And you have no reason to when you can stay at home with a huge stack of homemade waffles, your family's favorite toppings, and mugs of this warm & rich Frothy "Almond Joy" Hot Chocolate.

I do have to confess that I have always been more of a packets of hot cocoa mix kind of gal. I mean, it is easy, peasy, right? You dump the packet into a mug, pour in hot water or milk, stir, & done. 

But while the instant stuff is great in a pinch (or when you are feeling lazy), cozy weekend brunches at home with the family call for something a little more decadent. I do save the good stuff- like this Frothy "Almond Joy" Hot Chocolate- for more special occasions... or sometimes just because. ;) And you know what? Making hot chocolate from scratch really doesn't take that many more steps than making the packet stuff, and it happens to be 10 times better. Trust me on this...

20 Fun & Tasty Pancake Recipes

Whether you happen to go for fruity, chocolaty, savory, healthy-ish, or dessert inspired, there is definitely a pancake perfect for you in these 20 Fun & Tasty Pancake Recipes...

Hotcakes, flapjacks, pancakes... It doesn't really matter what you happen to call them. Because I think we all can at least agree on one thing- Pancakes are flipping delicious! (<< Did you see what I did there? ;) ) 

I know that there are entire restaurants dedicated to our love for all things pancakes, but sometimes you just can't beat a stack of warm & fluffy homemade pancakes. And sometimes you want something a little more than just plain ole buttermilk pancakes. Fortunately for us all, pancake batter lends itself very well to incorporating new & fun flavors into one of our favorite breakfast treats.

Whether you happen to go for fruity, chocolaty, savory, healthy-ish, or dessert inspired, I can guarantee you all that there is at least one homemade pancake recipe below that you will just have to make this week. All 20 of these fun & tasty pancake recipes are perfect for a weekend brunch or a special weekday breakfast... :)

Shrimp Scampi Pesto Frittata

Light & flavorful, this easy to make Shrimp Scampi Pesto Frittata is the perfect addition to your spring brunch, Lent, or Easter menu...

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of SeaPak. All opinions & text expressed below are 100% my own.

Spring is finally in the air here, and I couldn't be happier! As some of you all may have gathered from me by now, I am not much of a snow and winter kind of gal so the signs that spring has almost arrived here are most welcome. The days are warmer, the daffodils are ready to burst into bright yellow blooms, and I am starting to break out the lighter, brighter spring dishes on the blog like today's recipe for a flavorful & simple Shrimp Scampi Pesto Frittata. :)

Did you all know that the USDA recommends you eat two 4-ounce servings of seafood each week? I had no clue, and my family and I haven't even been coming close to that lately! But I am about to change all that real quick because I have discovered SeaPak's super convenient & quick seafood products. For this easy to make frittata, I picked up a package of the SeaPak Shrimp Scampi. I added in our favorite basil pesto, creamy ricotta cheese, and fresh baby spinach with these tender & flavorful shrimp for a light yet filling frittata that would be perfect to serve for a spring brunch, for Lent, or on Easter... 

Foodie on a Budget: Arrabbiata Bloody Mary

It is Sunday, and Sundays mean brunch, right?  When I think of Sunday brunch, I think of Belgian waffles, fluffy omelets, crispy bacon... and bloody marys!  ;)

Did you ever think of making your next round of Sunday brunch bloody marys with pasta sauce?  Me neither until I was trying to come up with something clever to use my Delallo Pomodoro Fresco Spicy Arrabbiata Sauce.  Why not a spicy bloody mary? ;)

What you will need:

1 shot of vodka (or a little more... whatever ;) )

1 cup of Pomodoro Fresco Spicy Arrabbiata sauce

1/2 cup of water

juice from 1/2 a lime

a few dashes of celery salt

a few dashes of Worcestershire sauce

You will note that I left hot sauce out of this recipe.  Hot sauce is really not necessary in this cocktail.  Trust me on this.  ;)

Basically toss all the ingredients in a cocktail shaker with some ice.  Shake well, and then strain into a tall glass filled with ice.  I do stress to make sure you strain the drink.  Unless you like a little chew to your bloody mary.  Garnish with lime, olives, pickles, celery... whatever floats your spicy little boat.  This recipe makes enough for one large (think about 16 oz) bloody mary.  

Well, you know I have to ask.... Have you entered the Delallo Pomodoro Fresco Sauce giveaway yet?  Well, what exactly are you waiting for?  ;)

CLICK HERE to enter!

These all ^^^^ could be yours, my friend! :)

Lox, Stox, & Triscuit

This easy to make Lox, Stox, & Triscuit is the perfect quick appetizer for a weekend brunch or an afternoon get-together... or just because. ;)

Antipasto Bloody Mary

Inspired by a favorite Italian appetizer, this Antipasto Bloody Mary is a tasty twist on the classic brunch cocktail...

This post was created in partnership with Drizly as part of their Top Shelf Blogger program. All opinions expressed below are 100% my own.

When it comes to weekend brunches, I am a Bloody Mary gal all the way. Sure, I can sip on a mimosa or a screwdriver, but you put a Bloody Mary bar in front me and I am in heaven. I think that Bloody Mary bars have to be like the best ever addition to a brunch menu- am I right? 

While the bartender shakes up your Bloody Mary to your spice & heat preference, you can peruse all the delicious ways that you can top your cocktail. From the traditional olives & celery stalks, to thick cut bacon slices, pickles, cocktail onions, and more, you can create a cocktail and a snack all in one. And if you ask me those are the best Bloody Marys- the ones that come with a built-in snack. ;)

This Antipasto Bloody Mary recipe that I am sharing with you all today is inspired by my love for Bloody Mary bars and after one of my favorite Italian appetizers, an antipasto platter. 

Traditional antipasto platters are the Italian version of a charcuterie board. They are usually brimming with hard cured Italian meats like salami, pepperoni, & proscuitto, olives, various peppers, and fresh mozzarella. With this Antipasto Bloody Mary, you get the cocktail with a bonus personal sized antipasto snack skewered right on top.... 

Irish Coffee French Toast Casserole

This delicious, make-ahead Irish Coffee French Toast Casserole is spiked with Irish cream, coffee, and whiskey...

I originally posted this recipe for Irish Coffee French Toast Casserole about two years ago for St. Patrick's Day.  The recipe itself has been always been amazing, but my photos of this recipe from two years ago were seriously lacking...

Pomegranate Mimosa Mule

Two classic cocktails come together into one delicious & bubbly concoction in this Pomegranate Mimosa Mule. Perfect for a midnight toast or a weekend brunch!

So it just occurred to me as I was sitting down to write this that this will be my last blog post on Frugal Foodie Mama for 2016. And what a year it has been for this blog! :) 

I found myself traveling 10 times this year- from our family trip to Gettysburg in March all the way to my solo trip to Amelia Island, Florida last month. 

I was fortunate to enjoy some fabulous long-term partnerships with brands such as Kroger, Hamilton Beach, Save-A-Lot, & Rice Krispies & to be able to share some amazing recipes with you all as a result of that. 

I met almost all of my blog and social media growth goals for the year (save my 10K goal for Instagram- I am a little over 8,000 right now ;) ). 

Every year I look back on what started as a fun little hobby for me, and I am amazed at how much it has grown and flourished. 

And while I know that quite of bit of that has to do with all of the hard work, blood, sweat, tears, and time I have invested in this, it also has A LOT to do with one other thing that I will forever be grateful for- you all. 

Those of you who come back week after week to check out my travel adventures and my newest recipe creations. Those of you who share my recipes & travel posts with your friends and family on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. 

Those of you who have been with me since the start of this great blogging adventure of mine almost 6 years ago, as well of those of you who may have just discovered Frugal Foodie Mama this past month while searching for the perfect holiday recipe to make. 

So today on this next to the last day of 2016, I raise a glass to all of you with this bubbly & festive Pomegranate Moscow Mule. THANK YOU for being a part of this, for being part of my dream job and a part of Frugal Foodie Mama. 

Here is to another year of tasty, budget-friendly recipes and fun travel adventures that I get the pleasure of sharing with you all. Cheers! :)