Mother's Day brunch: What to serve?

[dandelionbeautiful]

I can't say that I've ever really hosted a brunch before. What should I serve?

[msnicolea]

I like things I can make in advance:

mimosas +/or bloody mary's
fruit salad/fruit tray
some sort of breakfast casserole
sides of sausage, bacon
hashbrowned potatoes
biscuits
baked french toast--marinates the night before, you pop it in the oven day of, and VOILA!

[KarenS]

Ditto everything msnicolea suggested. WE usually make a french toast casserole, do sausage and bacon, either fruit salad or sliced melon/fruit, and the mimosas and bloody marys.

Another option that we did one time that was a HUGE hit was borrow a waffle iron from a friend (so we had 2 -ours and theirs). We mixed up a huge batch of waffle batter and set out things like nuts, fruit, chopped up bacon, cheese, etc., and had everyone make their own waffles. Then we had sliced melon and pineapple on the side.

Oh, and don't forget the coffee!!!

Karen

[Adaya]

Wow, I like the ideas of both of the PPs. I was coming to post a menu similar to msnicloea, but the idea of everyone making their own waffle is really nice. It would add an element of fun that people probably wouldn't be expecting. ;)

[Janey]

Man - can I come over to you guys' houses for brunch? That all sounds sooo good. :D

How about Quiche? Larry's Markets (I don't know how widespread Larrys are?) has a crab quiche that is oh-my-goodness good.

[dandelionbeautiful]

WE usually make a french toast casserole

MMM how does one make a french toast casserole?? That sounds good!

All of those suggestions are great! And the make your own waffle idea is great!

[msnicolea]

Loving the "waffle bar" idea--must file away for future brunch!

[MrsD]

A cheesy hashbrown casserole is a perfect hit for a brunch. I use the Betty Crocker recipe, and sometimes add cubed ham:

1 (26 ounce) package frozen hash browns
2 cans cream of mushroom soup or cream of chicken soup (small cans)
1 (16 ounce) container sour cream
1 tablespoon milk
2 tablespoons butter
shredded cheese (as much as you like)

Preheat oven to 375.
Mix all ingredients in a casserole 9x13in casserole dish.
Bake at above temp for 40-50 minutes .
Sprinkle extra cheese on top and bake an additional 5 minutes.

[KarenS]

The recipe for the French Toast Casserole is linked in my Recipe and Food Blog below, but if you don't want to click through .. here it is! :)

French Toast Casserole
2 loaves baguette bread (the long, skinny loaf)
8 large eggs
2 cups half-and-half
1 cup milk
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Slice French bread into 1-inch slices, discarding the heels. Arrange slices in a generously buttered 9 by 13-inch flat baking dish in 3 rows, overlapping the slices (you may have extra slices that won't fit, depending on how large your baguettes are). In a large bowl, combine the eggs, half-and-half, milk, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt and whisk until blended but not too bubbly. Pour mixture over the bread slices, making sure all are covered evenly with the milk-egg mixture. Cover with foil and refrigerate overnight.

The next day, preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Top with brown sugar/pecan topping (if desired) and bake for 45 minutes, until puffy and golden.

Topping
2 sticks butter
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1 cup chopped pecans
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl and blend well.

[maplekitty]

A favourite "special brunch" item we always make is brie stuffed french toast. You make the french toast, using french bread or ciabatta is good. Then slice some brie cheese and put in between two slices and then stick in the oven to bake and melt the cheese. SO yummy!

[SunnyAB]

WOW these sound good! KarenS - instead of pralines (FH doesnt like them) do you think coconut would work? or better to just omit them and not substitute?

[KarenS]

instead of pralines (FH doesnt like them) do you think coconut would work? If you read the second part of the recipe, the toping is NOT made of pralines. It's just called a praline topping because ... well .. .honestly I don't know why. Maybe because it has pecans in it. :) It doesn't really taste anything like pralines at all. (ETA: I've edited the recipe to make it clearer.)

I personally would not put coconut on this. It wouldn't fit with the other flavors.

Karen

[LILRTL]

Does anyone have an egg-type casserole? My stepMIL made one around Christmas that was really good, but kind of dry. Looking for more ideas! :) TIA!

[SunnyAB]

Sorry Karen, I meant pecans as well (to be honest, I thought a praline was a type of nut!! but I looked it up so now I know better! - "a confection made with pecans" - for all others who dont know, hopefully Im not the ONLY one!) :) But its probably best to just omit the pecans altogether. I think I will try that. :) Thanks again!

[wine_o_girlie]

Does anyone have an egg-type casserole? My stepMIL made one around Christmas that was really good, but kind of dry. Looking for more ideas! :) TIA!

There are a lot of different things you could do with an egg casserole. For a basic, lower fat casserole I would combine the following:

3 large eggs
3 egg-beaters (I think that would be 1 1/2 cups)
1 cup of reduced fat half and half
1 cup of sharp cheddar cheese
Dash of garlic and old bay seasoning
Salt and pepper to taste

Mix ingredients and put into a glass pie pan that has been sprayed with Pam. Bake at 350 for 40-45 minutes.

If you wanted to add any of the following to the basic egg casserole, it would be great. You could add: mushrooms, green peppers, sausage (pre-cooked), diced ham, chopped spinach (add a dash of nutmeg if you add spinach), chopped artichoke hearts, chopped asparagus tips, onions, etc. HTH.

[Natrat80]

LILRTL Here's a recipe for Sausage Strata. My mom has been making this for years and we all love it!
ingredients:
8 pieces of bread-cubed (I use wheat, my mom uses white)
1 lb sausage-browned and drained
5 eggs
1 cup half & half
1 cup milk
1 teaspoon wet mustard
1 teaspoon worcestershire sauce
1/2 cup grated swiss cheese
1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese

In a bowl mix all of the mustard and a liitle milk with a whisk. Then add eggs and beat. Add the rest of milk and all the other ingredients. Spray a 9x12 pan with Pam and pour in mixture. Cover with foil and refrigerate overnight. Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes until bubbly in the middle.

[LILRTL]

TY so much ladies! :)