What are some good menu ideas for brunch?

If you are entertaining, you want to be able to relax and enjoy your guests, not be slaving over the stove. And you want foods to be a treat they will remember, not something they can get at any corner diner. Here are some ideas:

1. People will arrive hungry and wanting their coffee. Have a coffee service set up for them to help themselves right away, and on the side have a tray full of mini-muffins, small pastries, or sliced specialty breads.

2. Use something like quiche for your main course. It's an egg dish, but one you can prepare in advance or have in the oven while you are being hostess with your guests. And you can easily prepare two different kinds so people can choose, for example one with crab but one just with vegetables. Or for an even easier alternative, put out a beautiful tray of bagels with cream cheese and some really good smoked salmon, with sliced heirloom tomatoes, sliced red onions, capers and all trimmings on the side.

3. Serve some beautiful special fruits and just one other side dish, keep it simple. For example, a mixture of fresh organic strawberries and blueberries, and a side of roasted asparagus. If you have an unusually large-appetite crowd, you can add some herb-roasted potatoes to fill them up.

Keep the mimosas and bellinis flowing, and everyone, including you, will have a great time!

busicuits gravy bacon sausage eggs pancakes etc fresh fruit; croissants with jams; bagels; egg type casserole such as a quiche. Self serve toast, so the toast stays warm. Orange juice and coffee, raspberry tea.
Source(s):
foodnetwork.com

From Martha Stewart


THE MENU
Canadian-Bacon Strata
Oven-Roasted Home Fries
Tomatoes with Basil Vinaigrette
Pecan Shortbread Bars

THE SHOPPING LIST
Pick up these ingredients for each recipe, plus pantry items if you don't already have them on hand.

Canadian-Bacon Strata
# 4 English muffins
# 1/2 pound sliced Canadian bacon (about 10 slices)
# 1 1/4 cups (5 ounces) shredded sharp cheddar cheese
# 1/3 cup finely shredded Parmesan cheese
# 8 large eggs
# 1 quart milk



Oven-Roasted Home Fries
# 2 pounds red new potatoes
# 1 large onion
# 1 red or green bell pepper

Tomatoes with Basil Vinaigrette
# 6 large plum tomatoes
# 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves

Pecan Shortbread Bars
# 1 cup pecan halves
# 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter


Pantry
# Butter
# Dijon mustard
# Salt, table and coarse
# Ground pepper
# Hot sauce, such as Tabasco
# Dried crushed rosemary
# Olive oil
# White-wine vinegar
# All-purpose flour
# Confectioners' sugar


Canadian-Bacon Strata
Softened butter for pan

4 English muffins, split, toasted, and cut in half

1/2 pound sliced Canadian bacon, about 10 slices, halved

1 1/4 cups (5 ounces) shredded sharp cheddar cheese

1/3 cup finely shredded Parmesan cheese

8 large eggs

3 cups milk

1 1/2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

Coarse salt and ground pepper

1/4 teaspoon hot sauce, such as Tabasco

1. Butter a 2-quart shallow baking dish (oval or square); set aside. In dish, alternately arrange, cut side down, muffin halves and Canadian bacon. Sprinkle with cheddar and Parmesan cheeses. Set aside.

2. In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, mustard, 1/2 teaspoon salt, a pinch of pepper, and hot sauce until combined. Pour over muffins and bacon; cover tightly with plastic wrap. Refrigerate at least 2 hours and up to overnight.

3. Preheat oven to 350°. Place baking dish on a rimmed baking sheet; remove plastic wrap. Bake until puffed and set in the center (see note below), about 1 hour and 30 minutes. (Tent loosely with foil if strata starts to brown too quickly.) Let stand 10 minutes before cutting and serving.



Note: With a paring knife, pierce the center of the cooked strata. If it feels firm and the knife comes out clean, the eggs have set and the strata is done.


Oven-Roasted Home Fries

Serves 6; Prep time: 10 minutes; Total time: 1 hour 10 minutes


2 pounds red new potatoes, scrubbed and cut into 3/4-inch chunks

1 large onion, chopped

1 red or green bell pepper (ribs and seeds removed), chopped

3/4 teaspoon dried crushed rosemary

2 tablespoons olive oil

Coarse salt and ground pepper

1. Preheat oven to 350°. On a large rimmed baking sheet, combine potatoes, onion, bell pepper, rosemary, and oil; season with salt and pepper.

2. Toss until vegetables are coated with oil; bake until tender, about 1 hour. Transfer to a serving dish.

Tomatoes with Basil Vinaigrette

Serves 6; Prep time: 15 minutes; Total time: 15 minutes


3 tablespoons olive oil

1 tablespoon white-wine vinegar

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

1/2 cup lightly packed fresh basil leaves

Coarse salt and ground pepper

6 large plum tomatoes or medium vine-ripened tomatoes

1. In a blender or mini food processor, combine oil, vinegar, mustard, basil, and 1 tablespoon water; blend until smooth. Season with salt and pepper. If not using right away, transfer to an airtight container; refrigerate, up to overnight.

2. Slice tomatoes, and arrange on a serving plate; drizzle with dressing. Serve immediately.

Pecan Shortbread Bars

Makes 18; Prep time: 20 minutes; Total time: 1 hour 20 minutes


1 cup pecan halves

1 cup all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled), plus more for preparation

3/4 cup confectioners' sugar

1/2 cup (1 stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces

1/4 teaspoon salt

1. Preheat oven to 350°. Line an 8-inch square baking pan with aluminum foil, leaving an overhang on all sides.

2. In a food processor, pulse pecans until finely chopped. Transfer to a bowl; set aside. In processor, blend flour, sugar, butter, and salt until moist clumps form. Add reserved pecans; pulse 2 or 3 times, just to incorporate.

3. Press dough evenly into the bottom of prepared pan (if dough is sticky, dip fingers in flour). With a floured fork, prick dough every 1/2 inch. Bake until lightly golden, 30 to 35 minutes.

4. Cool 5 minutes in pan. Use foil overhang to lift shortbread from pan onto cutting board. With a serrated knife, carefully cut warm shortbread into 18 bars (6 rows by 3 rows). Remove from foil; cool bars completely on a rack before serving.


I also serve some nice fresh seasonal fruit and berries!
Nice Champagne

Orange juice. kiwis, croissants chocolate and plain, made to order eggs, bagels , cream cheese from a local store, baked beans, hash browns, waffles,link sausages, watermelon juice with a dash of salt pepper and lime juice, champagne if it is a grown up thing and lastly a cab ride home. bloody Mary's with Tabasco sauce
Spanish omelets
belgian waffles with strawberries
chocolate covered strawberries
champagne