Sliced bread, sugar free gum, nannies-on-call: all great ideas for moms.

Add to the list these brightly coloured silicone baking cups that can be used over and over, and washed in the dishwasher.

And best of all, no eating paper.

$3.47/6 at Nood in B.C. and Alberta or online at www.nooddesign.ca

Breakfast in bed? We love the concept but our eggs are runny and day-old bread is dull.

Instead, dial-up freshly baked brioche from Mon Panier Gourmet, a delivery service devoted to the most important meal of the day.   Each of the 20 menus (from $33.99) is made from locally sourced artisanal products and served on a wooden tray. 

Go for the Lovely Matinée with fruit salad, honey and almond granola and tropical green tea or the decadent Chocolateful including black chocolate muffins, cappuccinos, granola chocolate bars and fresh orange juice.

If you’re hoping the in-laws won’t stay an extra night, best stick with burnt toast.

www.monpaniergourmet.ca

Nothing says je t’aime like a pile of fluffy flapjacks.

We’ve flipped for Batter Blaster (from $5) a ready-made organic pancake mix you can store in the fridge.  Just shake the canister, spray some batter onto a hot griddle, brown, flip and serve. No muss, no fuss and no measuring cups.

No you can save your energy for other, um…morning pursuits.

At Loblaws stores, www.loblaws.ca

Watch Top Chef, and you’ll soon learn that culinary prowess can be judged on the basis of a perfectly cooked egg.

When it comes to our own breakfast we’re not quite so fussy, but it’s near perfection at Toi Moi et Café. After Sunday morning trips to the Atwater Market, refuel with the divine Le Parisien which includes mouillettes (strips of baguette) dipped into soft-boiled eggs, or the mouth-watering crêpes et gauffres enveloped in fruit and cream (from $6.50).  

And, with four pages of fair trade tea and coffee concoctions to choose from, you’ll be infused with enough energy to plan your own cook-off (minus the nasty eliminations).

Toi Moi et Café, 2695 Notre Dame W., Montreal, 514-788-9599, www.toimoicafe.com

An ‘I Love You’ tattoo is a bold gesture, but we’ve decided on a less painful way to show our amour this Valentine’s Day.

Toast Tattoo lets you imprint your affections onto slices of bread, perfect for that breakfast-in-bed surprise. Serving suggestion: On a silver tray wearing a big smile (and not much else).

$4.95 at Motivo, 251 St-Zotique E., Montreal, 514-509-9064, www.motivo-magasin.com

Cheerios not so cheery anymore? You too can be a happy homemaker at breakfast time.

We tested Grandma Betty's scones by Joy Road Catering from this month's Western Living magazine, and they are the lightest, fluffiest, downright best we've ever had.

So pour some coffee, hand him the recipe, and head back to bed.

For scone recipe, visit Western Living magazine.

Opening presents always works up an appetite. On Xmas morning we’ll be throwing on our ‘Will Cook for Shoes’ apron and whipping up a batch of mini pancakes:

Ingredients
1 cup whole-wheat flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 tbs brown sugar
1 cup milk
2 eggs
1 tbs melted butter

Method
Sift together flour, baking soda, salt and sugar. Stir in milk and beaten eggs, then add butter and beat until smooth.
Poor two tablespoons of batter onto a hot griddle. When bubbles appear, flip pancake and cook until light golden brown. Serve with honey or rum maple syrup. Makes 16 mini pancakes.

Merry Christmas!

Mentioning the word cafeteria conjures up images of burnt toast, powdered eggs and teenaged angst. But mention La Cantine and you enter a whole new culinary world.

We’re stopping into this funky retro bistro on weekday mornings for a quick grilled cheese sandwich with aged cheddar, nut bread and fresh apple slices ($6). On the weekends, we prefer to lounge over the Ultra Chocolat. A sweet-tooth’s dream, this dish features French Toast-style chocolate croissant filled with slices of banana and topped with dark chocolate syrup, whipped cream and fresh fruit ($12.95).

It’s always nice to start your day on a (sugar) high.

La Cantine, 212 Mont-Royal Ave. E., Montreal, 514-750-9800, www.lacantine.ca

You’ll never skip breakfast again after you’ve tried a bowl of La fourmi bionique’s yummy granola.

With names like L’Euphorique, Le Divin and Le Vitalité, the certified-organic cereal is the loving concoction of identical twin sisters Genevieve & Valérie Gagnon. Found in over 250 stores across Québec, it’s also the chosen granola of the Ritz Hotel in Paris. Try it with yogurt, soymilk or even sprinkled on ice cream.

We especially love the Aphrodisiac blend for its fair-trade dark chocolate, roasted almonds and Siberian ginseng.

Breakfast has never been so naughty!

For retailers in your area visit www.lafourmibionique.com