Easter Brunch Success - and a few extra tips!

My simple Easter brunch was a delicious success. Family gathered, champagne flowed, and the food was delightful. Below is the menu we used, and a few extra brunch hosting tips that complement my Hosting a Special Occasion Brunch post perfectly!

The Menu:

Belgian Waffles (with berries and lots of homemade whipped cream)
Broccolini, Spinach, and Cherry Tomato Quiche
Homestyle Grits
Breakfast Potatoes
Bacon & Sausage
My mom’s infamous Strawberry Cake

More tips on being the Hostess with the Mostess:

Do whatever you can the night before! I made the dough for the frittata the night before, and allowed it to chill overnight. The tablecloth was ironed and table was set before I went to bed, and the potatoes, veggies, and waffle batter were prepped. Aside for some last minute mopping, the morning was pretty relaxed.
But don’t take things too seriously. As long as the food is ready (or close to being ready) when your guests arrive, everything will be fine. No one minds you finishing things up. It gives everyone time to settle in for a drink!
Use your oven to keep things warm! While frittata is fine to serve room temperature, I had to heat a few slices up last minute because I’d let them get a little too cool. Also, as I made waffle after Belgian waffle, I placed them in the oven on 200 degrees to stay warm until it was time to eat.
Lastly, and most importantly, enjoy yourself. Have a drink, laugh, and relax. It’s brunch.

Ryan Foster 3/30/15 Ryan Foster 3/30/15

How To Throw a Special Occasion Brunch

Easter to me feels like the real kick off to spring. It’s the first holiday leading into better weather, and an opportunity to get together with family to celebrate. It reminds me of little girls in lace dresses with ankle socks, men in shiny patent leather shoes, and of course, heaping plates of potato salad and ham. I don’t particularly love potato salad or ham. But that’s neither here nor there.

Boyfriend and I typically trek out to various family members’ homes to eat multiple holiday dinners, but this year, we’ve decided to switch it up a bit. Instead of roaming the metro area to cover all our familial bases, I’ll be hosting an Easter brunch. I can’t think of a better time to gather a few family members for a casual yet sophisticated celebration in my new-ish home. I chose to throw a brunch for the obvious reasons. Brunch just suggests casual elegance. Celebratory but not too formal. Special but not too over the top. Also, there’s always day drinking involved, which I obviously love.

So how does one go about hosting a “casually elegant” brunch? There’s only a few things you must do to throw a mostly effortless brunch. Here’s my best insight for success in the special occasion brunch department.

Read more...