Brunch Recipes

Too late for breakfast and too early for lunch, time for a brunch! Brunch is normally associated with Sundays when one would wake up late and not be bothered with shipping up a breakfast and a lunch. But a brunch can also be had on any day of the week.

Brunch is more elaborate than a breakfast and is a heartier meal that offers a little bit of everything. You can have an array of dishes laid out for brunch. Traditional breakfast food like pancakes and sausages are served for brunch. Eggs, casseroles, pastries, muffins are ideal for a lazy brunch.

Often a brunch is said to be perfect for those suffering hangovers. Champagne, mimosa (mix of orange juice and champagne) or bloody Mary may be served during brunch. Brunch is just not a home affair, many hotels, resorts, cruise ships and vacation destinations serve brunch. For yet a few, brunch is an outing occasion and they prefer having brunch out at a hotel.

Having originated in the upper class families in Britain, the concept of brunch came in as servants were given partial offs on Sunday. They laid the buffet spread in the morning during which they laid dishes prepared for breakfast and lunch. Brunch has its own social edge too. A meeting occasion for friends and family members who are other wise too busy during the week can make use of this opportunity to meet up.

Brunch recipes

Muffins crumbs and banana

All-purpose flour 1 ½ cups + 2 tbsp
Bananas 3, mashed
Egg 1, lightly beaten
Baking powder 1 tsp
Baking soda 1 tsp
Salt ½ tsp
White sugar ¾ cup
Brown sugar 1/3 cup
Butter 1/3 cup, melted + 1 tbsp
Ground cinnamon 1/8 tsp

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly grease 10 muffin cups. Mix 1 ½ cups of flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt in a large mixing bowl. In another bowl, beat the melted butter, eggs, sugar and banana. Stir in the banana mixture into the flour mixture. Spoon the batter into the muffin cups.

In another small bowl, mix brown sugar, flour and cinnamon. Add butter and mix until the mixture looks like cornmeal. Sprinkle this topping over the muffins. Bake in preheated oven for 18 to 20 minutes until cooked.

Fruit tarts

Tart shells (frozen) 16, thawed and baked
Assorted fruit 3 cups
Vanilla pudding 3 cups
Raspberry gelatin 2 cups
Whipped cream optional

Spoon pudding into the tart shell bottom portion to fill one third from bottom. Arrange the fruits in a decorative fashion. Pour the gelatin over the fruit. Chill and top with whipped cream just before serving.

Egg casserole

Eggs 10, lightly beaten
All purpose flour 1/3 cup
Baking powder ¾ tsp
Mushrooms 1 cup
Lean pork breakfast sausage 10 oz, fried and crumbled
Low fat cottage cheese 1 ½ cup
Monterey Jack cheese ½ lbs, grated

Preheat the oven to 375 F. In a large mixing bowl, mix the eggs, flour and baking powder. Stir in sausage, cheese, cottage cheese and mushrooms to the egg mixture and beat well. Pour into a greased 13x9 glass baking dish. Bake for 30-35 minutes, until done.

Simply apples

Tart apples 4 (large), peeled, cored and sliced to ¼ inch thick
Cornstarch 2 tsp
Brown sugar ½ cup
Butter ¼ cup
Cinnamon ½ tsp, ground
Cold water ½ cup

Over medium heat, melt butter in a large saucepan. Add apples and cook till tender. Dissolve cornstarch in water; add to skillet. Stir in brown sugar and cinnamon. Cook for 2 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and serve warm.

Buttermilk pancakes

Flour 2 cups
Buttermilk 2 cups
Butter 2 tbsp, melted
Milk ½ cup
Eggs 2
Sugar 3 tbsp
Baking powder 1 tsp
Baking soda 1 tsp
Salt 1 tsp

In a small bowl beat eggs and stir in the milk, buttermilk and melted butter. In a separate bowl, add the flour, baking powder, sugar, baking soda and salt. Stir in the milk mixture and egg in to the dry ingredients. Stir until it blends well. Pour out batter onto greased frying pan to make 4-inch pancakes, cook on both sides.

Brunch ideas

These simple yet effective brunch ideas can make your brunch extra special:

• Plan the dishes you want to serve. Make the dishes simple yet interesting.
  
  
• Light alcoholic beverages can be served. Champagne, mimosa, bloody Mary, etc can be served based on the gathering. Any morning cocktail can be served.
  
  
• Non-alcoholic drinks like fresh fruit/vegetable juice, ginger lemonade, tea, coffee, etc can be served.
  
  
• Fruits are a great brunch option. Get creative on ways of serving them.
  
  
• Pastries are yet another great option, take care to pick fresh ones.
  
  
• Quiche is a healthy and nutritious dish that can be served for brunch.
  
  
• Eggs can be served as egg benedict. Eggs Benedict is made by topping a buttered,toasted half of an English muffin with a piece of ham, a poached egg and hollandaise sauce
  
  

Basic brunch menu ideas

Breads: breakfast pastry, bagels, rolls, muffins, croissants

Fruits: seasonal fruits, bananas, fruit salad, oranges, warm fruit compote

Warm dishes: omelets, quiche, frittata, crepes, pancakes, waffles, French toast, etc

Lunch foods

Soups
Light salads, like broccoli salad, tuna salad, egg salad, pasta salad, or chopped salad
Cold chicken salad
Carved roast beef
Cheese
Luncheon meats
Yogurt
Smoked or poached salmon
Mini sandwiches

Beverages

Coffee, tea
Hot chocolate
Fresh juice
Champagne
Mimosa
Bloody Mary

Easter brunch

Celebrating the Easter holiday with friends and family is fun and many people love the idea of getting together for brunch. A casual buffet would be the best option for an Easter brunch.

• Look for recipes that can be made in advance, e.g. breakfast casseroles.
  
  
• Make salsas the day before.
  
  
• Cook plain pasta and toss with olive oil and store them in Ziploc bags.
  
  
• Cook sausages and bacon the previous night. Drain well and store in the fridge between parchment paper layers.
  
  
• Make muffins, quick breads, etc in advance and wrap them well and freeze them until use.
  
  
• If you plan to serve quiche and custard tarts, prepare the dough and freeze them a couple of weeks ahead, bake them on the day of the get-together.
  
  
• Salad dressings,dips and mayonnaise based sauces can be made 2-3 days ahead.
  
  
• Prepare fruit salads in the morning so that he flavors can blend.