Tips And Recipes For Hosting Terrific Brunches: The Best Brunch-ideas Ever
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Hosting a brunch is easy and fun - it's the perfect time of day to share terrific food with friends and family. Here, you'll discover exciting tips, recipes and theme ideas that will give a little extra boost to any casual or formal brunch setting.
The Top Five Reasons For Hosting Terrific Brunches
- Hosting a brunch is fun!
- Brunches are terrific for any occasion
- Set a theme and create your own brunch traditions
- Brunches can range from casual to formal
- You can serve any type of food for a brunch
Best Ever Five Days of the Year to Hold a Brunch
- Mother's Day
The "Mother" of all days to hold a brunch, of course! - Any Sunday
Always on Sunday - it's just the perfect time. - Easter
Of course, church first (if you go) and then it's time to eat. - New Year's Day
The perfect time to not have to get up early to prepare a breakfast. - The "Day After"
Plan a brunch on the day after any event that runs late into the night. That includes weddings, anniversaries, graduation, etc.
A Taste of Brunch History
As you can imagine, the first brunch was invented to provide a repast for late-night party revelers. It was decidedly a European invention with records showing a rise in this affair in the late 1800s. Credit is given to Mr. Guy Beringer, a Brit who wrote an article titled "Brunch: A Plea" for the publication, Hunter's Weekly.Others suggest that while the word "brunch" may have arisen in 1985, the concept lies with the crafty French of earlier generations. Some insist that they captured the spirit of this cure for hangovers and being fashionably decadent before anyone else.
By the 1930s, Americans had eventually realized the value of having a blend of breakfast and lunch, typically much closer to the mid-day meal.
The Best Brunch Hosting Ideas
How to Put on a Perfect Spread
- Ideas for Brunch Hosts
- How to host the perfect brunch
Best Brunch Tips Ever
--Planning to host a brunch as an annual affair? Try including a new and adventurous dish each time. Of course, you'll want to try it out first, but find something unusual or exotic that will leave your guests with something to talk about long after the brunch is over.
--Make use of those pedestals - they're wonderful for placing lighter weight foods, such as muffins and pastries.
--Set up items "pre-sliced." That way guests can taste without having to take a whole portion if desired. This includes quiches and even pastries.
--Include a variety of "specialty dishes," including those for vegetarians and those who may be on diets. Include low-fat, low-carb and sugar-free offerings.
--Don't invite more guests than you can seat around tables. This is not an appetizer-style affair and it's so much nicer when guests can "spread out" a little with drink glasses and silverware.
--Go with a buffet if you want to invite a larger crowd. And be sure that seating is together; don't ever stick guests away from the center of action or the main group, unless it's extremely casual and the guests know each other well.
--Make use of those pedestals - they're wonderful for placing lighter weight foods, such as muffins and pastries.
--Set up items "pre-sliced." That way guests can taste without having to take a whole portion if desired. This includes quiches and even pastries.
--Include a variety of "specialty dishes," including those for vegetarians and those who may be on diets. Include low-fat, low-carb and sugar-free offerings.
--Don't invite more guests than you can seat around tables. This is not an appetizer-style affair and it's so much nicer when guests can "spread out" a little with drink glasses and silverware.
--Go with a buffet if you want to invite a larger crowd. And be sure that seating is together; don't ever stick guests away from the center of action or the main group, unless it's extremely casual and the guests know each other well.
Brunch Menu Ideas
Here, you'll find a few recipe lists to spark ideas for any size brunch.
The key to a great brunch is, of course, the food! Below, you'll find a few menu suggestions for any size and type of brunch from casual to formal.A basic rule of thumb? Here's a quick rundown.
-Always think savory and sweet. If you're more daring, go with some spicy and tart items, too.
-A general rule of thumb for selecting foods:
---Choose one meat and/or one fish dish
---Add an egg dish as your main course (which ca include the meat)
---Select 1-3 sides
---Include bread/muffin mixes
---Include sweets, especially fruits (and those that in season are best)
Menu Ideas for a Small, Casual Brunch
-1 meat and/or 1 fish
-1 egg dish (with/without meat)
-1-2 sides
-muffins/sweetbreads
-dessert
-1 egg dish (with/without meat)
-1-2 sides
-muffins/sweetbreads
-dessert
Menu Suggestions for a Smaller Casual Brunch
-Handmade sausage patties (flavored)
-OR specialty sausage pigs in a blanket
-Eggs, scrambled
-Potato pancakes
-Pre-made hash browns
-Grilled sweet potato rounds
-French toast
-Banana pancakes
-Biscuit/sandwich blends
-OR specialty sausage pigs in a blanket
-Eggs, scrambled
-Potato pancakes
-Pre-made hash browns
-Grilled sweet potato rounds
-French toast
-Banana pancakes
-Biscuit/sandwich blends
A formal small brunch menu plan
-Plank smoked salmon
-Eggs Benedict (always a classic)
-Or crispy duck with crepes
-Baked brie
-Omelette bar
-Scone Assortment
-In-season berries with cream
-Mimosas
-Flavored coffees
A formal brunch is usually catered. Here are a few tips on selecting a caterer for any occasion.
How to Hire a Caterer
-Eggs Benedict (always a classic)
-Or crispy duck with crepes
-Baked brie
-Omelette bar
-Scone Assortment
-In-season berries with cream
-Mimosas
-Flavored coffees
A formal brunch is usually catered. Here are a few tips on selecting a caterer for any occasion.
How to Hire a Caterer
Brunch menu plan for a crowd
Feed a Bunch with this Brunch!
-Glazed ham (basic pineapple/brown sugar glaze)
-Breakfast Burritos
-Frittata
-Muffin mix/Coffee cake
-Herb Roasted New Potatoes
-Fruit Salad
-Fruit Smoothies
-Breakfast Burritos
-Frittata
-Muffin mix/Coffee cake
-Herb Roasted New Potatoes
-Fruit Salad
-Fruit Smoothies
Best Breakfast Foods for Brunch
Breakfast foods are good anytime and you can mix them with other types of meals for a great brunch. Here are a few recipes to get you started.
- Pancakes-Stack 'em High!
- Pancakes are a brunch fave - don't forget the syrup!
- Easy Eggs Benedict
- What is a brunch without Eggs Benedict?
- Waffle-icious Recipe
- No one will "waffle" over this recipe!
- Betty Crocker's Bacon Pie
- This is a terrific make-ahead. Just bake before serving. (Uses Bisquick)
Best Brunch Themes
A themed brunch will add to the fun!
- Apple Party Theme
- Throw a Party in Praise of Apples
Best Brunch Lenses on Squidoo
Visit my featured lenses for great brunch recipes and ideas for your own menu.
- MBG's Brunch Menu Favorites
- This brunch lens is beautifully laid out with a menu, recipes and photos.
- CherylK's Brunch Lens
- You'll find some beautiful recipes for brunch from this lensmaster, too.
- Top 10 List from Janice S
- A great top 10 brunch list with some terrific make-ahead recipes.
- Relache's Blintzes
- All the blintz recipe links you could ever want.
These recipes will prove brunch is the best!
Everyone has a favorite brunch recipe - add yours here!
http://www.squidoo.com/griddlecakes
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Muffins and Cookies
Mrs Fields has the best breakfast muffins. Throw i more...1 point
Devilish Eggs
The Devil's in the Eggs0 points
Iced Coffee Recipes
Cool Coffee Drinks for a Hot Brunch0 points
Apple Pancake Recipe
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Vegetable Quiche with Filo
A great vegetarian quiche0 points
Little Things that Make a Great Brunch
Here are a few recipes that will provide an extra level of "best-ever-ness" to your brunch
- French Press Coffee
- Serve the "best" coffee with flair from a French Press
- Create a Sorbet or Granita for the Palate
- A homemade sorbet is a palate cleanser between courses, but pretty tempting as a refreshing brunch dessert, too!
- Best Iced Coffees
- Ice coffees will refresh and add some octane to offset those Bloody Marys!
- Raclette - Specialty Melting Cheese
- Serve a time-honored melting cheese in the traditional way.
Amazon Brunch Cookbooks
Brunch Cookbooks Worth Drooling Over
Brunch: 100 Recipes from Five Points Restaurant
Straight from New York's Five Points Restaurant, you can discover new ideas for turning an ordinary brunch into a true feast for two or a crowd.
Amazon Price: $16.47 (as of 07/04/2009) 
Breakfasts & Brunches (Culinary Institute of America)
A wonderful addition from the CIA (Culinary Institute of America) with basic recipes that are always a good foundation for brunch.
Amazon Price: $23.10 (as of 07/04/2009)
Brunch
You CAN have it all! Here, you'll not only find recipes, but full menus, theme ideas and ways to set up the table.
Amazon Price: $14.78 (as of 07/04/2009)
Williams-Sonoma Essentials of Breakfast & Brunch
You simply can't go wrong with anything from Williams-Sonoma. Design brunches for the seasons and the holidays and enjoy a few basics for exceptional feasting.
Amazon Price: $23.07 (as of 07/04/2009)
Morning Food: Breakfasts, Brunches and More for Savoring the Best Part of the Day
Let yourself go with foods that are perfect for morning and will be an incredible "comfort" setting for any brunch.
Amazon Price: $13.57 (as of 07/04/2009)
Let's do Dim Sum!
One of the most popular brunches ever
Double Happiness - Mother's Day Dim Sum Brunch
http://www.beYOU.tv brings you Double Happiness - Mother's Day Dim Sum Brunch.
Runtime: 7:58
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10 Comments:
If You Could Choose One Brunch Day...
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Let's Get Together Over Brunch
Time to chat about your favorite brunch ideas!
norbridgeantiques wrote...
Thank you for your lens. A Mother's Day brunch sounds like the ideal event we'll have this year.
Posted March 26, 2009
JeremyL wrote...
Isn't brunch one of the coolest things to do on Sunday morning? Great work!
Posted October 09, 2008
Evelyn_Saenz wrote...
The Purple Gallinules just flew over to check out your lens. For such a great lens we're sending you a virtual cup of coffee on the house. I can hardly wait to read the rest of your lenses.
Posted February 29, 2008
Best Easter Brunch Ideas & Recipes
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- Start your special brunch right with recipes from the Food Network.
- Bright Ideas
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- A Ladies Home Journal Brunch
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Best Mother's Day Brunch Recipes
Treat Mom to a brunch she'll never forget!
- Fabulous Foods Mother's Day Brunch
- From the family to a crowd, everyone can get involved in these great brunch ideas.
- Food Network Menu for Moms
- Give mom the attention she deserves, but say it with food!
- Mother's Day at All Recipes
- Pamper Mom with these great ideas
- Cooking Light
- Cooking Light Does it Right!
Countdown to the Best Mother's Day Brunch
Ideas that will really make Mom feel special!
-Start a tradition of a Mother's Day scrapbook. Take pictures of your special brunch and add to it each year.
-If you're going to grill for brunch, think about adding flavored wood chips for an extra special taste.
-Bring Mom a red carnation arrangement for the brunch table - they're the official Mother's Day flower!
-A mimosa will really sparkle at a Mother's Day brunch. Dress it up with fresh strawberries on the side.
-If you're going to grill for brunch, think about adding flavored wood chips for an extra special taste.
-Bring Mom a red carnation arrangement for the brunch table - they're the official Mother's Day flower!
-A mimosa will really sparkle at a Mother's Day brunch. Dress it up with fresh strawberries on the side.
Great Graduation Brunch Recipes
- Food Network Grad Brunch
- Great Grad Brunch Ideas
- Eating Well Brunch Tips
- Brunch menu ideas that are easy and fabulous
Graduation Brunch Ideas
Hosting a graduation brunch can be easy if you plan well ahead.
A graduation brunch is a great way to honor someone special (or if you're the grad - giving yourself a pat on the back - you deserve it!). Here are a few quick tips to make this event go smoothly.
- A grad brunch is one of the times when you can consider a buffet. (Unless you're planning a formal setting, of course.)
- Think about a mix of items - some made ahead, some purchased, and some you throw together the day of.
- Prepare only things you already are familiar with - this is not the time to experiment.
- Make lists: for the week before, the day before and same-day. This will include shopping and a timeline for prep and cooking.
- If you're going casual, consider splurging on nice paper or plastic goods. If you're the host and know your guests well, they'll know you don't want to deal with much cleanup afterward.
