{Entertaining Tips} Hosting a Holiday Brunch

The holiday season is fast approaching.  With that comes entertaining family from morning till night.  Like many women, I have visions of preparing a fantastic brunch, hot off the stove.  But my family wakes up and wants to eat NOW.  Anything cooked just ends up being either a mid-morning snack or breakfast for lunch.  Over the years, I’ve pulled together a few tricks, and cheats to help make the first meal of the day quick, simple and special for everyone in the house.

 

1. Quick Breads.  Remember all those pumpkin and apple breads I made last month?  Aside from scarfing some down, half of each loaf is safely wrapped in our freezer, waiting for family to visit.  I’ll just pull a loaf out a couple days in advance, slice it up and plate it up for a quick and tasty breakfast treat.

 

2. Freezer casseroles.  Yep, here I am using the freezer again.  I love being able to pull a meal together in advance, and breakfasts from the freezer can be easy and delicious.  There’s always the classic quiches and stratas, but I’ve also made stuffed french toast and breakfast bread pudding. (Try this orange french toast from Yummly.com)
 

3.  Fresh fruit.  All that freezer food can get super heavy.  There’s nothing like fresh fruit to lighten up your breakfast.  In the summer, it’s as easy as giving some fresh berries a good rinse, patting them dry and putting them in a pretty bowl.  Add a sprig of mint or basil, and you’ve got a beautiful and tasty combination.  Fruits like cantaloupe, pineapple and watermelon can be chopped up the night before.  Just be sure to keep them all in separate containers overnight – preferably in a container where the juices can drain to a pan below (for example, with the fruit in a colander above a bowl.)  Add some yogurt or cottage cheese for your guests on the side and you suddenly have a DIY parfait bar.

4. When in doubt, buy it.  There’s no shame in purchasing pastries, donuts or other quick pastries from the store.  Just rearrange everything onto a pretty platter or plate the night before for a home-made touch and your guests are sure to enjoy their morning!

Want more tips on how to host a simple holiday brunch?  The Kitchn and In Good Taste both have great articles on how to serve up homemade fare for your family.