Brennan - Brunch : recipes for cozy weekend mornings

Brunch is an ideal meal for daytime entertaining for a variety of reasons. Because two meal periods are combined into one wonderful feast, guests feel they can indulge, leaving the host with many options for recipes. In addition, brunch is usually a casual get-together enjoyed on weekends and vacations when there are no strict timelines. Because of the informal setting and flexible menu, children can easily be included in the festivities, making brunch a great way to celebrate with family and friends of all ages.

Almost any occasion can be celebrated at a brunch, including birthdays, engagements, anniversaries, graduations, and the many other holidays and events that occur throughout the year. But brunch can also be enjoyed as an event all its own, for no other reason than the desire to share a relaxing afternoon with family and friends. If you are new to entertaining, brunch is a great meal to start with, as you only need to select one or two dishes for the menu. In addition, the recipes are typically easy to prepare. Happening as it does at the most relaxed time of the week, and featuring breakfast and light luncheon foods that are associated with comfort and leisure, brunch epitomizes both casual entertaining and festive celebrations.

Brunch dishes lend themselves readily to informal presentations. For a small gathering of guests seated around a table, its logical to serve the meal family-style: Bring the food out on serving platters from which guests can help themselves and pass the dish along. For large groups or to allow weekend guests to serve themselves at their own pace, a buffet is a .) Of course, brunches do not always have to be casual affairs. When the occasion or your mood calls for it, you can make the meal as formal as you like, setting the table with your best linens, glassware, and tableware, and serving the food individually plated.

Keeping Foods Warm

To keep pancakes and waffles warm while you finish cooking all the batter, transfer the cooked items to a rack set over a baking sheet and put in a preheated 200F oven until ready to serve. You can also use this method with sausage, bacon, and potatoes.

Make-Ahead Tip

When making pancakes, waffles, or quick breads, combine the dry ingredients in one bowl and pour the wet ingredients into another the night before you cook them. In the morning, simply whisk the ingredients together to make the batter.

The versatility of brunch allows for great flexibility when it comes to where and how you serve it, if you choose to host a formal or informal meal, and whether you present the food on individual plates, family style, or as a buffet.

The dining room is one choice locale for brunch. Most tables will comfortably seat six to eight guests. For smaller gatherings, seating guests in a kitchen large enough to hold a table, or one with an adjoining breakfast nook, is an ideal way to make sure that everyone can mingle throughout the meal. This will create a relaxed mood and the proximity to the kitchen activities allows willing guests to assist you with the food.

There are other venues for brunch besides the predictable dining table. Living rooms can work well, especially if you are serving a large crowd or utilizing a buffet. Rearrange furniture as needed to provide convenient, comfortable seating; dont forget to include tables for guests to rest their plates.

If the weather is warm, consider serving the meal outside. Set up the buffet near a door with easy outdoor access or in the yard on a table that is protected from sunlight. Be sure to position tables, chairs, or blankets on the lawn beneath umbrellas or trees to shade your guests while they eat.

Tips for Successful Brunch Entertaining

Pick a serving styleformal or informal, individually plated, family style, or buffetthat matches your mood, the number of guests, and any time constraints.

Select a location thats right for the style of the brunch and the seasonin the dining room, in an eat-in kitchen, in the garden, or in a large living room.

Choose a menu that combines make-ahead dishes with last-minute preparations; use the season or the weather and the preferences of your guests to help you make decisions about your menu selections.

The night before the brunch, clean the house, set the table, choose the serving vessels and utensils, and do as much advance cooking as you can.

If you are serving a brunch outdoors, consider supplying mesh domes to keep bugs away from the food.

For a pretty finishing touch, choose a simple centerpiece or floral arrangement to create a focal point for your meal. For smaller tables or meals served at the kitchen counter, put an individual bloom in a bud vase at each place setting.

Baked-Goods Station

Fill plates or napkin-lined baskets with , or serve purchased breads and bagels. Position the items near an electrical outlet where a toaster can be plugged in safely. Add bowls of toppings so guests can help themselves.

Cereal Buffet

Place containers of homemade and a pitcher of milk. Supplement these with bowls of dried fruit and toasted nuts. Stack bowls, spoons, and napkins nearby.

Remember that brunch doesnt need to be a multicourse affair. One hearty dish, such as .

As for beverages, there are a profusion of appropriate brunch choices. Hot drinks such as freshly brewed coffee or tea are classic standbys, but consider including other warm .

Cooking is easier if you pair dishes that are prepared at the last minute with those that can be made ahead of time. It is also a good idea to balance your brunch menu with a combination of both savory and sweet dishes. Recipes rich in butter or cheese are best served with those that feature fruit, for example. Finally, be sure to offer meatless dishes for vegetarians and nonalcoholic beverages for nondrinkers and children.

Set the table the night before you entertain so that you will have more time the next morning to prepare the meal and visit with your arriving guests. Choose serving vessels that complement the shapes and colors of the food and appropriate serving utensils.

Simple bouquets of seasonal flowers or baskets or bowls of fruits featured in the menu are all that are needed for attractive, easy-to-make centerpieces. To complete the mood, play music that suits the tastes of your guests, keeping it at a low volume so it wont interfere with conversations. For more tips on creating a simple centerpiece and setting a brunch table, .