How to Make the Best Brunch Ever!

There's nothing quite like throwing a memorable brunch for your friends Yet most hosts think the meal means tossing some eggs and bacon together around the kitchen table after church. It's much more than that. Brunch is good food and drink served in a comfortable, relaxed atmosphere. It's a nice way not only to catch up on each other's life but a great way to end the weekend.

What's one of the key ingredients for a memorable brunch? Well, food of course, but also good friends. If you have the room , then nine or ten people (more or less) is a good number. A more intimate meal centering around smaller groups, like four or five is another excellent choice. Remember this is a time to kick back and relax, share laughs and ideas. It doesn't have to be chock full of guests like a frenetically paced party or a stiff formal dinner. The smaller the group the better it is to give everyone equal time. As for eating time twelve noon or one PM is the best. It's not too late but not too early. Guests can attend church services or younger ones can go to Sunday school with enough time to spare. Other can sleep late as well as having Sunday evening free to prepare for the upcoming week. Keep the mood mellow with mellow music. Any of Norah Jones' CDs are great because they have a lazy Sunday kind of feel to them. Other good choices are Michael Buble John Mayer and even Queen Latifah's The Dana Owens Album. Also have the Sunday papers accessible so guests can relax with their favorite sections.

Now the question is what to serve? Brunch can be an array of different dishes from sweet to savory. A great staple is French toast. To make it in true Gallic style, like the pain perdu of Brittany, use a French or Italian loaf of bread and cut into thick (figure about one inch to two inch) slices. Prepare your skillet by melting two tablespoons each of margarine and butter .over a low flame. While this is melting mix together four eggs and about one cup of milk in a medium sized bowl. Soak your slices in this, about a minute or two for each side. Let each piece absorb the mixture and then transfer to your skillet. Fry until each bread slice is golden brown on both sides. Most people love their French toast drizzled with maple syrup so have a big jar of the 100 percent Vermont kind on the table. You can also create fruit syrups by taking a cup of jam or preserves and adding a few tablespoons of water to it. Microwave for a minute or until the syrup is thin enough to stir. Serve in pretty bowls with spoons.

Omelets are another good brunch standard.You can create the French kind if you're having only two or three people over. This consists of taking six eggs, beating them with a whisk and then pouring into a greased skillet or omelet pan.. Add any ingredient to the middle and then flip one side over. Your omelet should now take on a crescent shape. For a larger group make an Italian frittata , made with the same amount of eggs but cooked like a giant pancake in a skillet. For both dishes stock up on your guests' favorite fillers such as chopped onion, bacon, green peppers, ham, tomatoes,spinach and any kind of cheese. Usually all will agree on the same ingredients so preparing and cooking will be easy. If you want a little something different you could simply scramble the eggs, and add canned tomatoes, chopped garlic and oregano. Serve this with toasted slices of Italian bread.

Meat plays an important part in any brunch. Make you have Canadian bacon, lox, regular bacon pre sliced ham and breakfast sausages on the table as well. For your vegetarian guests. You can make Morningstar Farms soy bacon and sausage patties. They taste like the real things and are also heart healthy as well. Remember to also have fruits and vegetables gracing your brunch table. You can buy platters of precut fruits and veggies, serving them as side dishes. You can also put together refreshing tomato, basil and mozzarella salad or cubed avocados with oil and vinegar. If you're just serving French toast, then whip up a mixed berry salad to complement the bread's richness,

Drinks are very important at a brunch. Start your guests off with refreshing mimosas, that classic combination of champagne and orange juice. For a twist, use tangerine juice instead of the orange. Bellinis are another fun beverage. Here peach juice is added to champagne for a different spin. Another staple is the Bloody Mary . You can buy the mix at your local grocery or liquor store , add vodka and a dash of tomato juice and top with celery sticks. Non alcoholic cider is also a good brunch time drink. It has the fizz and sweetness of champagne but without the punch. Sparklers - half club soda and half fruit juice are also wonderful with an omelet and salad. They have a soft drink's bubble but none of its' cloying sweet taste. You could make these with tangerine, orange, apple, grape or cranberry juice. Remember to have a variety of teas , from the traditional Earl Gray and Orange Pekoe to the new varieties of green. Coffee is good too but keep it simple like straight joe or café au lait. I find that the fancier cappuccinos are better for after dinner desserts. (but that's just me.)

It's easy to make the best brunch ever. Start with mellow, relaxed mood, and then add friends. Top off with yummy food and delicious drinks and presto - a meal to remember!