For most of us, weekday breakfast gets scant attention: a bagel in the car on the way to work; yogurt on the train; a bowl of cereal with the kids. But on the weekends, at least some weekends, there's the opportunity to slow down. The recipes featured here are for those days when you want to treat yourself (and your significant other) to something special. 

Special doesn't mean complicated or time consuming. A mozzarella and mushroom frittata, for example, cooks in mere minutes but has a deep, rich flavor. Taking that extra time to pan fry the bread in butter (instead of serving the eggs with plain old toast) shows the person you're cooking for that you really do care. (And made this way, the bread tastes so much better.) Or wow your partner with this pear, walnut and gorgonzola tart . The recipe adorably yields two individually sized tarts. It also gives you 25 minutes of hands-off baking time, which means you can head back to bed for a bit, a worthy consideration if it's Valentine's Day. 

For a true extravagance, serve fresh truffles at breakfast. Shaved over polenta and a perfectly cooked poached egg, there may be no better way to start the day.  And when spring arrives, celebrate with zucchini blossom omelets, which look incredibly sexy and taste incredibly good. For other great breakfast recipes, click on any of the photos above. For how to brew the best coffee, look here. And if you are celebrating, add some Prosecco to that orange juice and offer up a toast to true love or, in this case, a truly lovely breakfast. 

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breakfast, brunch