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Tips And Recipes For Hosting Terrific Brunches: The Best Brunch-ideas Ever

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Brunches Are Terrific for Any Occasion

Hosting a brunch is easy and fun - it's the perfect time of day to share terrific food with friends and family. Here, you'll discover exciting tips, recipes and theme ideas that will give a little extra boost to any casual or formal brunch setting.

Top Five Reasons For Hosting Terrific Brunches

  • Hosting a brunch is fun!
  • Brunches are terrific for any occasion
  • Set a theme and create your own brunch traditions
  • Brunches can range from casual to formal
  • You can serve any type of food for a brunch

A Taste of Brunch History

Brunch GroupAs you can imagine, the first brunch was invented to provide a repast for late-night party revelers. It was decidedly a European invention with records showing a rise in this affair in the late 1800s. Credit is given to Mr. Guy Beringer, a Brit who wrote an article titled "Brunch: A Plea" for the publication, Hunter's Weekly.

Others suggest that while the word "brunch" may have arisen in 1985, the concept lies with the crafty French of earlier generations. Some insist that they captured the spirit of this cure for hangovers and being fashionably decadent before anyone else.

By the 1930s, Americans had eventually realized the value of having a blend of breakfast and lunch, typically much closer to the mid-day meal.

Best Ever Five Days of the Year to Hold a Brunch

  1. Mother's Day
    The "Mother" of all days to hold a brunch, of course!
  2. Any Sunday
    Always on Sunday - it's just the perfect time.
  3. Easter
    Of course, church first (if you go) and then it's time to eat.
  4. New Year's Day
    The perfect time to not have to get up early to prepare a breakfast.
  5. The "Day After"
    Plan a brunch on the day after any event that runs late into the night. That includes weddings, anniversaries, graduation, etc.

The Best Brunch Hosting Ideas

How to Put on a Perfect Spread

Ideas for Brunch Hosts
How to host the perfect brunch

Best Brunch Tips Ever

--Planning to host a brunch as an annual affair? Try including a new and adventurous dish each time. Of course, you'll want to try it out first, but find something unusual or exotic that will leave your guests with something to talk about long after the brunch is over.

--Make use of those pedestals - they're wonderful for placing lighter weight foods, such as muffins and pastries.

--Set up items "pre-sliced." That way guests can taste without having to take a whole portion if desired. This includes quiches and even pastries.

--Include a variety of "specialty dishes," including those for vegetarians and those who may be on diets. Include low-fat, low-carb and sugar-free offerings.

--Don't invite more guests than you can seat around tables. This is not an appetizer-style affair and it's so much nicer when guests can "spread out" a little with drink glasses and silverware.

--Go with a buffet if you want to invite a larger crowd. And be sure that seating is together; don't ever stick guests away from the center of action or the main group, unless it's extremely casual and the guests know each other well.

Brunch Menu Ideas

Here, you'll find a few recipe lists to spark ideas for any size brunch.

The key to a great brunch is, of course, the food! Below, you'll find a few menu suggestions for any size and type of brunch from casual to formal.

A basic rule of thumb? Here's a quick rundown.

-Always think savory and sweet. If you're more daring, go with some spicy and tart items, too.
-A general rule of thumb for selecting foods:
---Choose one meat and/or one fish dish
---Add an egg dish as your main course (which can include the meat)
---Select 1-3 sides
---Include bread/muffin mixes
---Include sweets, especially fruits (those in season are best)

Menu Ideas for a Small, Casual Brunch

-1 meat and/or 1 fish
-1 egg dish (with/without meat)
-1-2 sides
-muffins/sweetbreads
-dessert

Menu Suggestions for a Smaller Casual Brunch

-Handmade sausage patties (flavored)
-OR specialty sausage pigs in a blanket
-Eggs, scrambled
-Potato pancakes
-Pre-made hash browns
-Grilled sweet potato rounds
-French toast
-Banana pancakes
-Biscuit/sandwich blends

A formal small brunch menu plan

-Plank smoked salmon
-Eggs Benedict (always a classic)
-Or crispy duck with crepes
-Baked brie
-Omelette bar
-Scone Assortment
-In-season berries with cream
-Mimosas
-Flavored coffees

A formal brunch is usually catered. Here are a few tips on selecting a caterer for any occasion.

How to Hire a Caterer

Brunch menu plan for a crowd

Feed a Bunch with this Brunch!

-Glazed ham (basic pineapple/brown sugar glaze)
-Breakfast Burritos
-Frittata
-Muffin mix/Coffee cake
-Herb Roasted New Potatoes
-Fruit Salad
-Fruit Smoothies

If You Could Choose One Brunch Day...

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Best Breakfast Foods for Brunch

Breakfast foods are good anytime and you can mix them with other types of meals for a great brunch. Here are a few recipes to get you started.
Pancakes-Stack 'em High!
Pancakes are a brunch fave - don't forget the syrup!
Easy Eggs Benedict
What is a brunch without Eggs Benedict?
Waffle-icious Recipe
No one will "waffle" over this recipe!
Betty Crocker's Bacon Pie
This is a terrific make-ahead. Just bake before serving. (Uses Bisquick)

Best Brunch Themes

A themed brunch will add to the fun!

Apple Party Theme
Throw a Party in Praise of Apples

Best Brunch Lenses on Squidoo

Visit my featured lenses for great brunch recipes and ideas for your own menu.
MBG's Brunch Menu Favorites
This brunch lens is beautifully laid out with a menu, recipes and photos.
CherylK's Brunch Lens
You'll find some beautiful recipes for brunch from this lensmaster, too.
Top 10 List from Janice S
A great top 10 brunch list with some terrific make-ahead recipes.
Relache's Blintzes
All the blintz recipe links you could ever want.

Little Things that Make a Great Brunch

Here are a few recipes that will provide an extra level of "best-ever-ness" for your brunch

French Press Coffee
Serve the "best" coffee with flair from a French Press
Create a Sorbet or Granita for the Palate
A homemade sorbet is a palate cleanser between courses, but pretty tempting as a refreshing brunch dessert, too!
Best Iced Coffees
Ice coffees will refresh and add some octane to offset those Bloody Marys!
Raclette - Specialty Melting Cheese
Serve a time-honored melting cheese in the traditional way.

These recipes will prove brunch is the best!

Everyone has a favorite brunch recipe - add yours here!

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Muffins and Cookies

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Vegetable Quiche with Filo

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http://www.squidoo.com/griddlecakes

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Devilish Eggs

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Apple Pancake Recipe

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Amazon Brunch Cookbooks

Brunch Cookbooks Worth Drooling Over

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Putting Together a Brunch

Main Course Tips
Main Course Ideas with Mary Corpening Barber & Sara Corpening Whiteford
by PotteryBarn | video info

1 rating | 3,651 views
curated content from YouTube

Let's Get Together Over Brunch

Time to chat about your favorite brunch ideas!

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Best Easter Brunch Ideas & Recipes

Food Network
Start your special brunch right with recipes from the Food Network.
Bright Ideas
Here's a coffee cake with a Snicker's twist.
A Ladies Home Journal Brunch
A brunch spread that can be made ahead!
A Cooking Light Brunch
A super springtime spread.

Countdown to the Best Mother's Day Brunch

Ideas that will really make Mom feel special!

-Start a tradition of a Mother's Day scrapbook. Take pictures of your special brunch and add to it each year.
-If you're going to grill for brunch, think about adding flavored wood chips for an extra special taste.
-Bring Mom a red carnation arrangement for the brunch table - they're the official Mother's Day flower!
-A mimosa will really sparkle at a Mother's Day brunch. Dress it up with fresh strawberries on the side.

Best Mother's Day Brunch Recipes

Treat Mom to a brunch she'll never forget!
Fabulous Foods Mother's Day Brunch
From the family to a crowd, everyone can get involved in these great brunch ideas.
Food Network Menu for Moms
Give mom the attention she deserves, but say it with food!
Mother's Day at All Recipes
Pamper Mom with these great ideas
Cooking Light
Cooking Light Does it Right!

A Special Gift Idea for Mother's Day

Personalized Keepsake & Jewelry Boxes

Give Mom (or someone who's like a mom) a special place for small treasures. Keepsake and jewelry boxes can hold cell phones, keys, and other items, too. Personalize and they're even more special. These are beautifully crafted with ceramic insets featuring vivid florals and other themes. Boxes are wood with a cherry or black finish and are velvet lined. Click on photos below for details and ordering.

Contact me here for adding names.
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Great Graduation Brunch Recipes

Food Network Grad Brunch
Great Grad Brunch Ideas
Eating Well Brunch Tips
Brunch menu ideas that are easy and fabulous

Brunch Tips in the News

Brunch: The most important meal of the weekend
"You can stir it all together by hand in one bowl, the pears don't need peeling, and it's one of those recipes that actually is better the next day." Some brunch clubs, though, are not into doing it at home. Sacramento Sunday Brunches in California, ...
Side Dish for Feb. 23, 2012
... menus of 1500 and 1800 calories and 12 menus for special occasions from a New Year's Day brunch to a Super Bowl party. Each recipe includes an extensive nutritional breakdown. The recipes are divided into 15 chapters from Breakfasts and Brunches to ...
Staten Island agencies' recipe for success
One outlet offers a special occasion Saturday brunch menu, while other agencies host evening social activities on a weekly or monthly basis and are ready to cater private parties in the community whenever they are requested. The sites range from A Very ...
Art museum getting new cafe
Pine Valley's delectable cheesesteaks are not among choices, but the market's catering side will supply recipes for shrimp and grits and fried green tomatoes, perfect selections for Johnnie's pending Sunday brunches, including Easter Sunday brunch.
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Graduation Brunch Ideas

Hosting a graduation brunch can be easy if you plan well ahead.

A graduation brunch is a great way to honor someone special (or if you're the grad - giving yourself a pat on the back - you deserve it!). Here are a few quick tips to make this event go smoothly.
  • A grad brunch is one of the times when you can consider a buffet. (Unless you're planning a formal setting, of course.)
  • Think about a mix of items - some made ahead, some purchased, and some you throw together the day of.
  • Prepare only things you already are familiar with - this is not the time to experiment.
  • Make lists: for the week before, the day before and same-day. This will include shopping and a timeline for prep and cooking.
  • If you're going casual, consider splurging on nice paper or plastic goods. If you're the host and know your guests well, they'll know you don't want to deal with much cleanup afterward.

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ckennedy

Welcome to my little Squid corner! I'm Cindy, a career writer, photographer, and artist with a passion for regional and international cuisine. If you don't... more »

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