Change Up That Brunch Menu

Mmm, brunch.  So many delicious options and I love the fact that many favorite dishes are easy to make ahead.  No need to get up early and start cooking.  Just make them the day before and pop them in the oven in the morning.

Fabulous Brunch Ideas

By Ann Martin

What better way to spend some quality time with family friends than by sharing a Sunday brunch together! There are many menu items that are simply a must, but there are few updates to the brunch menu that include foods you wouldn’t necessarily expect. Let’s take a look at a few brunch menu ideas and how to add a twist to your standard brunch!

Classic Brunch Cocktails with a Kick

Mimosas and Bloody Marys typically make their appearance on the brunch scene more than any of the other cocktails. There are some exciting variations to both the mimosa and the Bloody Mary that turn these cocktails into the ultimate brunch accessory. Add raspberry ice cubes to your next mimosa for that extra special touch. Simply by crushing red raspberries and placing them in ice cube trays with a little bit of water to freeze, you instantly have updated the standard mimosa. Instead of making standard and individual Bloody Marys at your next brunch, try opting for a Bloody Mary punch. Mix all your standard ingredients together in a pitcher ready for guests to help themselves. Set up small ramekins of limes, old bay, horseradish and celery sticks next to your punch for guests to customize their own Bloody Mary. For those Bloody Mary aficionados, instead of using your standard vodka, try out a tomato-flavored vodka in its place.

Fun Twists on Your Classic Brunch Foods

For those seafood lovers out there, we know that it can be difficult to sneak in flavors of the sea into a brunch menu. I recently came across a brilliant idea and a unique twist to the traditional Eggs Benedict. By substituting the usual English muffin base of Eggs Benedict with a jumbo lump crab cake, your standard Eggs Benedict has now become something delectable! Place your poached egg onto of your crab cake and serve thinly sliced avocados on the side. Top with a hollandaise sauce that you can add lime juice and a pinch of red pepper to as it will act as a perfect accompaniment to your crab cake.

Everyone loves French toast and although it is a quick menu item to whip up for a brunch, a make-ahead French toast recipe is even better! Use a cinnamon-raisin bread instead of using standard baguettes and place the bread in shallow baking pan. By combining cream cheese, half-and-half and other traditional French toast ingredients, you can turn your usual French toast into a delicious stuffed French toast that can be prepared the day before and baked the morning of the brunch. This delicious and updated recipe of stuffed French toast can be found on the Cooking Light website.

Finally no brunch is complete without a casserole! Grits are typically served in the south and make for a delicious brunch side. Prepare your grits like normal (but make sure you are using milk to prepare them) and add an egg, shredded cheddar and grated parmesan and place the entire mixture into a baking dish. Bake at 325 degrees fro about 30 minutes or until golden brown. This tasty grits casserole will be sure to please and makes for a wonderful addition to any brunch.

About the Author:  Ann Martin is a writer for dinnerware center, an online tableware store. Dinnerware Center specializes in tableware sets from major brands, including the Noritake Colorwave Graphite and Noritake Colorwave Blue dinnerware sets.

Fit a Dinner Party in Your Menu Plan

By Kathy Hester

When you’re rushing around to the store last minute every night there is never enough time to entertain. If you are already doing a menu plan and shopping once a week, you are way ahead of the game. So, go ahead and wash your up best dinnerware and send out an evite to your friends. It’s time for a dinner party!

The menu can be as simple as you want. You can make a lasagna with seasonal veggies like Swiss chard and mushrooms at the beginning of the week and heat it up on the day of the party. Another option is make it in the slow cooker and when you come home from work all you have to do is throw together a salad.

You can also plan way ahead for a party and freeze your pre-made dish in an oven safe Pyrex dish. I always have a few of these stored in the freezer just in case I feel like having people over. Make sure to defrost in the fridge overnight or add extra cooking time.

Not into lasagna? A warm weather dinner can be a chilled soup that you make the day before. I like gazpacho, yogurt dill, or a cold borscht for a refreshing summer treat. Pair it with a salad made of mixed greens from the farmers market and topped with julienned veggies that you’ve marinated overnight in a balsamic vinaigrette.

If you have a sweet tooth like I do, you’ll want to serve a dessert. It can be as simple as a store bought vanilla greek yogurt topped with in season berries. Serve it in a martini glass placed on a square dinnerware salad plate and drizzle some melted chocolate over the top.

Make sure to start the party with an empty dishwasher and your clean up will be a breeze too.