Brunch Menu and Recipes

Brunch is an easy way to reconnect with people you love at a time that is convenient for most everyone. Brunch is usually held after breakfast but before lunch, so between 10:15 AM and noon, typically.

Brunch is one of the easiest meals to entertain with, people never stay long and you don't have to get up too early. There are a lot of options for the menu, including things you can both prep and cook the night before allowing you further relax with your guests the next morning.

I always serve a Breakfast Casserole, which is something you can have to assemble the night before, so it's easy to pop into the oven in the morning. All you need is one pound of ground sausage, browned and drained of any excess grease, six large eggs, 6 slices of bread, 2 cups of milk and 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese, along with ¼ teaspoon each dry mustard, salt and pepper. Beat the eggs and seasoning, then cut the bread into 4 pieces. Layer the bread, then sausage, then cheese, and cover with egg mixture, then continue with another few layers of the same until the ingredients are gone. Cover and place in the refrigerator overnight. The next morning, bake the casserole at 325 degrees Fahrenheit for about an hour until the top is crispy and golden.

Another good make-ahead brunch offering is Baked French Toast. It's the same idea as the Breakfast casserole; you assemble it the night before and bake it in the morning. For this dish, you'll need a large loaf of thick, crusty French or Challah bread. Slice the bread into thick slices and assemble them side-by-side in a casserole dish. In a large bowl, beat together eight large eggs, 2 cups of milk, 1 cup of heavy cream, two teaspoons of vanilla extract and a small splash of orange juice. Pour the egg-milk mixture over the bread slices, cover and refrigerate overnight. Bake at 325 degrees Fahrenheit for about an hour the next morning. Serve with fresh berries and whipped cream.

You can also offer a selection of breakfast meats such as Canadian bacon, regular bacon, sausage links, breakfast ham or scrapple. Fruit salad, coffee cake, donuts and bagels are also good choices. For condiments, offer a variety of jams and preserves, soft whipped butter, cream cheese and nut butters. Beverages can include hot or cold tea, tomato and orange juice as well as Mimosas, which are orange juice and champagne cocktails.

Brunch is never complete without coffee, however. It's nice to offer a few different flavors of beans as well as a variety of flavored creamers along with traditional half and half. Sugar, raw sugar, honey and artificial sweeteners can be offered to meet everyone's sugar needs.

Hosting a brunch in your home is great on holidays or just for fun. Everyone loves these menu options, you have plenty of variety and it's a very easy meal to put together in no time!