Preparing the perfect brunch

Preparing the perfect brunch is a great way to test your breakfast and lunch skills. Brunch usually involves a combination of dishes that are a little bit breakfast and a little bit lunch. Especially on holidays when you want to feed a large group of people with a minimum of headache, brunch is a really good choice.

The first step in preparing a perfect brunch is to come up with the perfect menu. You want to have as many dishes that can be prepped in advance as possible to allow you the time to prepare the items that will require last minute cooking. Some suggestions for great dishes are baked French toast, a frittata, a strata, lasagna, baked ham, oven baked bacon, and pancakes.

Once you have settled on the menu you need to make sure that you have the correct serving dishes. For a perfect brunch, it is a good idea to have enough chafing dishes, Crockpots and other ways to keep the food warm between the time it is cooked and the time it will be served. A heating tray is a great piece to have in your kitchen as it can keep at least two dishes warm at the same time. If you have two ovens, then you can place one on warm and fill it with the dishes as they are cooked and use the other oven for the actual cooking.

Make sure that you do your shopping for nonperishable items in advance and save the perishables for the last minute. When you are thinking about your meal, don’t forget drinks and dessert. You will also want to get some easy items from the grocery such as small Danish pastries and muffins. You don’t need to bake your muffins from scratch especially if you will be doing several homemade dishes.

Depending on the number of people you are preparing brunch for, you may want to make individual Mimosas and fresh squeezed orange juice. Good quality coffee is a must and this is not an area to skimp.

If there are going to be children at the brunch keep that in mind and have some simple things such as cereal and milk that will appeal to them. If your guests are health conscious you may want to make oatmeal, have a bowl of fresh fruit and some yogurt and granola available. A perfect brunch is one that will appeal to the people who you are preparing it for. Don’t try to do too much, keep it simple and keep it delicious and you will enjoy your brunch instead of stressing yourself out.

The night before your brunch, put together your oven French toast, strata or frittata. This way in the morning you can just pop it into the oven. Try to coordinate your dishes so that you can have two in the oven at once, one breakfast and one lunch.

On the day of the brunch, set up the plates and cups on a sideboard or counter and make sure that you have all the implements that your guests will need. Have everything ready and keep it simple, this is about good food and good company not about impressing with your décor. Place the breakfast items together, the lunch items and then the dessert. Set the drinks on a separate table if possible.

 Let your guests help themselves and then sit down and enjoy the delicious meal you have created and don’t forget if people ask what they can bring, don’t hesitate to take advantage of their help. I enjoy doing brunch, especially at Easter when it is one of the easiest ways to entertain family and friends.