On her day, you do the cooking

Sunday is Mother’s Day, so why not give your mom a break and celebrate her special day with a nice home-cooked brunch? Brunch dishes don’t have to be difficult. Select recipes with unique ingredients that add a wow factor. Many recipes can be made ahead, saving preparation time that morning. Here a few creative brunch dishes that will surely tempt her.

Fig and Prosciutto Tart

• 1 cup mascarpone cheese
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 1 (8-ounce) puff pastry sheet, thawed if frozen
• 10 fresh figs, trimmed and halved)
• 2 cups baby arugula
• 1 (4-ounce) package prosciutto, pieces sliced in half lengthwise

In a small bowl, stir together mascarpone and cheese until well combined. Season with salt and pepper.

Line a sheet pan with baking parchment. Center puff pastry on sheet and lay flat. Using a sharp knife, score a 1/2-inch border around edges without cutting through. Use a fork to prick multiple holes inside the border. Spread cheese mixture over pastry, leaving about a 1/4-inch gap between cheese and the scored border. Chill about 15 minutes.

Heat oven to 425 degrees. Remove tart from refrigerator and lay fig pieces over cheese mixture. Bake until edges are golden brown and puffed and figs have started to caramelize, about 20 minutes. Cool tart on cutting board.

Arrange arugula evenly over tart. Place prosciutto slices loosely over top. Cut into pieces. Serves 8.

Approximate nutritional analysis, per serving (not including sea salt to taste): 470 calories, 37 g total fat, 17 g saturated fat, 85 mg cholesterol, 650 mg sodium, 26 g carbohydrate, 3 g fiber, 14 g sugar, 13 g protein

Bittersweet Chocolate Waffles

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/4 cup (packed) brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 3 large eggs, separated
• 2 cups buttermilk
• 1/2 cup avocado oil (may substitute olive oil)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 6 ounces bittersweet chocolate (at least 70 percent cacao), finely chopped
• Nonstick cooking spray
• Butter and warm pure maple syrup (for serving)

Heat oven to 250 degrees.

In a large bowl, whisk flour, cocoa powder, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Make a well in the center; add egg yolks, buttermilk, oil and vanilla. Blend with a fork, then gradually incorporate dry ingredients, mixing just until combined.

Using an electric mixer on medium-high speed, beat egg whites until soft peaks form. Working in batches, fold egg whites into batter until just combined. Fold in chocolate.

Heat a waffle iron until very hot; lightly coat with nonstick spray. Cook waffles in batches. Transfer to a wire rack set inside a baking sheet, cover loosely with foil and keep warm in oven until ready to serve. Serve with butter and syrup. Serves 6.

Approximate nutritional analysis, per serving (not including butter and maple syrup): 480 calories, 19 g total fat, 10 g saturated fat, 100 mg cholesterol, 900 mg sodium, 70 g carbohydrate, 4 g fiber, 28 g sugar, 12 g protein

Sourdough Ham and Cheddar Brunch Bake

• Nonstick cooking spray
• 10 large eggs
• 1-1/2 cups low-fat milk
• 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
• 2 teaspoons fresh thyme
• 2 teaspoons fresh parsley, chopped, plus more for garnish
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 4 cups cubed sourdough bread
• 8 ounces ham, chopped
• 1-1/2 cups shredded white cheddar cheese

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray.

In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, mustard, thyme, parsley and garlic powder. Season with salt and pepper; set aside.

Place bread in baking pan and top with ham and cheese. Pour egg mixture over all. (At this point, pan may be covered with foil and refrigerated overnight.) Bake 45-55 minutes, until eggs are cooked through. Garnish with parsley. Serves 15.

Approximate nutritional analysis, per serving (not including salt to taste): 240 calories, 9 g total fat, 4 g saturated fat, 150 mg cholesterol, 600 mg sodium, 24 g carbohydrate, 1 g fiber, 3 g sugar, 15 g protein

More Hawaiian Electric Co. recipes are available at hawaiianelectric.com.