I love Sunday Brunch. It's easy, fun and quite relaxing! The key to a successful brunch is to plan ahead, lay a simple yet inviting table and set a nice menu.My friend, Julie, is a pro at hosting Sunday brunches and this post is inspired by her!
Sample Menu
Main Egg DishSide of Bacon or SausageRoasted PotatoesFresh baked bread - Brioche or French BreadFresh squeezed Orange Juice (Champagne optional for mimosas)Bowl of fresh seasonal fruitYou can of course make it a more elaborate menu by adding a cheese plate, a cold cut plate, salmon and cream fraiche but I wanted to start off with a basic menu.
Here are my two favorite egg recipes that work really well for groups.
Breakfast Omelet
This is a wonderful recipe because you can make it a night ahead, pop it in the fridge overnight and bake it the next morning for a hot, fluffy, egg dish. Also works really well if you have weekend breakfast guests.Serves: 6-8 Prep Time: 15 mins
Ingredients
4 T. butter, softened10 slices high-quality white bread (they found Pepperidge Farm Hearty white to work great)
4 c. shredded cheddar cheese8 large eggs3 cups whole milk1 small onion, grated1 tsp salt1/2 tsp black pepper1 tsp dry mustard1/2 tsp Tabasco
Preparation
Grease bottom and sides of a 9x13 dish with 1 T. butter. Spread remaining butter evenly over one side of each bread slice. Cut the bread into 1 inch pieces. Scatter half of the bread evenly in the dish, and sprinkle with half of the cheese. Repeat with remaining bread and cheese.Whisk eggs, milk, onion, salt, pepper, mustard, and Tabasco together. Pour evenly over the bread/cheese and press lightly to submerge. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 8 hours or up to 36 hours.Preheat oven to 350. Remove dish from refrigerator and take off plastic wrap. Bake until puffed and golden brown, about 60 minutes. Serve immediately.
Shirred Eggs
Something magical happens when you bake eggs with cream: They turn into a dense, silky custard, becoming much more than the sum of their parts.
- Serves: Makes 1 serving
- Prep Time: 15 mins
Ingredients
1/4 teaspoon butter
2 tsp heavy whipping cream2 eggsSaltFreshly ground black pepper1 tsp minced chives1 tbsp grated hard cheese, like parmesan
Preparation
1. Preheat oven to 375°.
2. Coat a 6-oz. ramekin with butter. Pour whipping cream into ramekin.
3. Crack eggs into ramekin, coaxing yolks toward the center, using a spoon if necessary.
4. Sprinkle eggs with salt and pepper, top with chives, then cheese.
5. Bake until set around edges and still a bit jiggly in the center, about 12 minutes. (For firm yolks, bake an additional 3 minutes.) Let sit 2 to 3 minutes to set and serve immediately.
Recipe Courtesy: Sunset Magazine
Ideas for Table Settings
Mother's Day Sunday Brunch: Use soft, feminine colors and patterns for a special Mother's Day brunch table.
Formal Sunday Brunch: Pick a sophisticated color scheme, use formal linens and china and lace doilies to give a more formal look.
Rustic Style Sunday Brunch: Use wood and galvanized silver accents for a rustic, farmhouse look.
Informal Sunday Brunch: Pick a color scheme and use that for the linens, flowers and place cards for a cohesive look.
