Celebrate this Spring- The beauty of brunch
Menu:
Appetizer- Artichoke Hors d’oeuvres & Fresh Fruit Salad
Main- Torta Rustica, Melted Potatoes, & Goddess Salad
Dessert- Carrot Cake Cupcakes
Drinks- Booze Optional Belinis
Brunch is cheerful, sociable and inciting. It is talk-compelling. It puts you in a good temper, it makes you satisfied with yourself and your fellow beings, it sweeps away the worries and cobwebs of the week.
- Guy Beringer, "Brunch: A Plea," Hunter's Weekly, 1895
That Guy was on to something! Brunch is my favorite meal of the bunch too, it is delicious and doesn’t require early rising or a late night out. It is the perfect menu to kick off a day of activity or celebrate a special occasion this spring. Brunch food is relatively easy to make, and due to its time span from 11am-1pm it offers enough variety to satisfy all your guests. To make it even easier on the host, all the dishes on this menu can be prepared the night before and simply cooked the morning of. So, the hardest part about this party is really selecting the date! Whether you are coordinating a ski trip at Mt. Baker, your best friend’s baby shower, or hosting your family (of friends) for Easter, you will need to give yourself sufficient notice if you would like a choice in whether or not you are hosting in your pajamas! Other than that, this one is a walk in the park…and your guests will enjoy the fresh air of spring! To make this tablescape beautiful yet functional, start with white linens on the table. This allows you to set-up and clean-up easily while providing a strong neutral backdrop for this colorful party pallet. Next layer different brightly colored plates in varying size, shape, and pattern and stack them at least three high. This will give you the ability to bring in lots of different colors and give this tablescape a whimsical springtime theme. The multitude of colors will also make this tablescape gender neutral if necessary and be cheerful and bright to maintain a daytime feel. The variety of plates will add to the playfulness of the table, and the plates will also come in handy for brunch’s wide variety of tasty treats! And don’t forget that brunch also has a variety of tasty drinks, so make sure you offer your guests at least two glasses. Try to use two different styles of glasses, this will bring some variety to the table. Next add some natural elements to compliment our spring time theme. Find flora and fauna shaped items to use as salt and pepper shakers or napkin holders, or for some variety use natural items like rocks or twigs. This adds some quirkiness to the table and will promote humor and conversation, this is a party after all! Line the center of the table with hurricane vases filled with different types of flowers or brightly colored fruits, depending on the nature of your event. Both will add color and whimsy to the table, and gives you some flexibility in your choice of products. Add some candles, turn on some tunes… and enjoy celebrating this spring! Check out www.TotallyUniqueDesigns.com/ChicLiving for information about products used in this fun tablescape!
RECIPES:
Artichoke Hors d’oeuvres
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Can be prepared in 10 minutes or less.
Ingredients
- 1 box of Melba Toast Crackers (Garlic is best)
- 1 cup of grated parmesan cheese
- ¾ cup of mayonaise
- 1 can of quartered artichoke hearts
- Salt & Pepper to taste
Method
1 Preheat oven to broil
2 On a stick-free cookie sheet, lay out the crackers topped with a piece of artichoke heart
2 Combine mayonaise, parmesan cheese, & salt and pepper together
3 Top the artichoke heart with a small scoop of the cheese mixture
4 Broil until cheese mixture is golden brown (approximately 2-5 minutes)
Remove and Serve after cooled.
Fresh Fruit Salad
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Can be prepared in 10 minutes or less.
Wash & Chop up a variety of fruit (melon, grapes, strawberries, apples)
** For added flavor throw in some cinnamon!**
Melted Potatoes
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Can be prepared in 30 minutes or less.
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons of olive oil
- 4 cloves of garlic-slices
- ½ medium sized red onion- diced
- 1 to 1 ¼ lbs of red potatoes-sliced the thickness of two stacked quarters
- 1 teaspoon of Salt & 1 teaspoon of Red Chili Flakes (or black pepper)
- 1 tablespoon of rosemary
- 4 ounces of grated sharp chedder cheese
Method
1 Pre-heat oven to 350º
2 Heat olive oil, onion, salt & pepper, and rosemary in a skillet (oven safe if possible)
3 Cook mixture until onions are tender, then add the garlic and potatoes and coat with oil mixture
4 Cover and Bake at 350º for 25-30 minutes
5 After potatoes are cooked thoroughly, mix in the 4 ounces of cheese
6 Cook potatoes until cheese is melted, then serve
To cut down on morning prep time, prepare method 2 &3 and place in the refrigerator overnight.
Torta Rustica
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Can be prepared in 30 minutes or less.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon of olive oil
- 4 cloves of garlic-slices
- ½ medium sized red onion- diced
- ½ cup of diced red bell peppers
- ½ cup of diced zucchini
- ½ cup of chopped fresh spinach
- 1 teaspoon of Salt & 1 teaspoon of Red Chili Flakes (or black pepper)
- ¼ teaspoon of nutmeg
- 1 package of premade pie crust (prepare per package instructions)
- 2 ounces of grated parmesan cheese
- 5 large eggs, lightly beaten with 1 cup of milk
Method
1 Pre-heat oven to 350º
2 Heat olive oil, onion, salt & pepper, garlic, & vegetables in a skillet until tender
3 Mix eggs, nutmeg, and cheese together in a bowl, and combine vegetable mixture
4 Pour into premade pie crust (prepare per instructions) and Bake at 350º for 25-30 minutes
To cut down on morning prep time, prepare method 2 &3 and place in the refrigerator overnight.
Rice & Bean Salad
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Can be prepared in 15 minutes or less.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon of olive oil
- 1 cup diced cherry tomatoes
- Salt and Pepper
- 2 cups cooked brown rice
- 4 cups of washed spinach
- 1 can of drained garbanzo beans
- ½ cup of Goddess Dressing (Find in the salad dressing section at the grocery store)
Method
1 Combine spinach, rice, beans, tomatoes, olive together in a bowl
2 Mix in Goddess Dressing and salt & pepper to taste
To cut down on morning prep time, prepare method 1 and place in the refrigerator overnight. Add dressing in the morning before serving.
Carrot Cake Cupcakes
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Give yourself a break… and purchase these delicious treats at Katie’s Cupcakes in Fairhaven!
Booze Optional Bellinis
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Can be prepared in 15 minutes or less.
Ingredients
- 2 cups sugar
- 1 cup water
- 1 (16-ounce) bag frozen peaches, thawed
- 1 teaspoon grated orange peel
- 1 (16-ounce) bag frozen strawberries, thawed
- 1 (16-ounce) bag frozen blueberries or blackberries, thawed
- 4 to 6 (750-ml) bottles Prosecco or other sparkling wine, chilled
- Fresh strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries, for garnish
- Orange peel twists, for garnish
Method
1 Stir the sugar and water in a large saucepan over medium heat until the sugar dissolves, about 5 minutes. Cool completely.
2 Puree the peaches and orange peel in a blender with 1/2 cup of the sugar syrup until smooth. Strain through a fine-meshed strainer and into a bowl. Cover and refrigerate. In a clean blender puree the strawberries with 1/3 cup of the sugar syrup until smooth. Strain through a clean fine-meshed strainer and into another bowl. Discard the seeds. Puree the blueberries in a clean blender with 1/3 cup of the sugar syrup until smooth. Strain through a clean fine-meshed strainer and into a third bowl. Discard the seeds and solids. Pour each of the purees into clear glass bowls or small pitchers.
3 For each serving, pour 2 to 4 tablespoons of the desired fruit puree into a Champagne flute. Slowly pour enough Prosecco into the flute to fill. Gently stir to blend. Garnish with the whole berries, as desired, and serve.
Remember Alcohol Optional!