My youngest is making his First Communion tomorrow at 10:15. His party will be in a few weeks but we are having my parents, brother, sister and my neice back here for brunch after Mass, at 11:15, so 11 people. We're not normally a brunch family but I sort of need people to not stay here all day so if we had lunch, they would expect to eat in the afternoon and this quick gathering would drag on. My plan is to have almost everything made ahead and just have to pop things in the oven to finish or warm while we get the cold dishes out, brew coffee, etc.
So my plan for the menu is:
Fruit salad and veggie salad
Breakfast sausages and brats (requested by the guest of honor), which I'll cook ahead and warm
Crustless quiche (because I can't eat grains), cooked today and warmed tomorrow
Hard boiled eggs
Bacon (roasted ahead and warmed)
A dish of roasted asparagus with topped with bacon and fried eggs (will throw that in the oven when we get home)
French toast bake...will bake before we go and then throw in the crockpot on warm while at Mass
Some ham and turkey from the deli with rolls for those who want lunch
Mini muffins and other breakfast pastries (I'll buy these)
Juice, coffee, tea, water, etc.
Am I missing anything obvious? Is there anything you would nix or add? Do you have a go-to make ahead brunch dish that is a must for your menu? Thanks for any advice...this is the first brunch I've hosted so I don't have my go-to menu and plan like I do for other meaks.
Shoot I just realized that I don't have a potato dish on the menu...is that really expected for brunch? Can I go without one or if not, what's easy?
Duh! Thanks Canuck...of course we have to have bagels and CC (and some lox for my mom and husband). Love the mini scones idea too,,,will add those to the pastry tray if I can find them.
Oh wow such good ideas...RevRuby love the punch idea! I actually have all of those ingredients and punch bowl that rarely gets used..,might just go ahead and make that. Rachel and sweet potato hash sounds awesome too...I might make up a batch of that just so that I can have the leftovers, which would be perfect for my restricted diet.
Thanks for all of your kind words and suggestions!
Just thought I'd say that sounds like you have everything covered, and a wonderful brunch it will be! Hope you have a great day!
Sounds perfect. No O. will miss the potatoes!
Bagels and cream cheese.
Hey JB,
I found a recipe for make-ahead home fries which might fit the bill for the potato dish...
http://washboardstorms.com/2012/09/08/make-ahead-oven-hom...
Myself, I love Spanish tortilla at brunches. My girlfriend lived in Spain and learned how to make it... one of the most-requested dishes in her repertoire!
I don't think there is a standard 'brunch etiquette' for which foods to serve, so if bagels are easy, go for it. And you have french toast, too. Your carb options are fine -- if you don't have time for potatoes, don't worry about it.
I was thinking about the potato dish, some type of hash brown casserole, but I got to the very end of your post and see that you realized that was the thing that was missing. Sounds like you have a nice variety of items for your guests. Hope it's a wonderful day for your family.
Holy cow that's a lot of food for 11 people. A ham and an egg bake, muffins, bagels, punch, coffee cake and call it a day.
sounds utterly delish!
i usually try to have something vegan available (cuz that works for the vegetarians too for the most part), like a quinoa and roasted veggie salad, or black rice and sweet potato casserole.
don't worry about the potato dish. you've got a great selection here.
hope it's a terrific party.
:) khairete
S.
Wow! You are doing far, far more than I would do. Honestly, a deli tray, a veggie tray and a fruit tray all ordered from the local grocery store. That and a cake are all I'm thinking for my son's first communion next year.
A big bowl of punch.??
I make mine in minutes. A large can (frozen) of lemon-aide - a large can of either pink lemon-aide or lime-aide - reconstitute one leave the other as is -- pour into punch bowl -- add a 2 liter of ginger ale. I have a star shaped cake pan but a jello ring works too anyway slice a couple oranges put in pan fill with water and freeze over night. Once punch is made run warm water over pan of ice and pop out onto a plate and set into bowl --- wow punch.
Hi J.B.
If you would like to an a potato dish you can. What about sweet potatoes instead? I like to make a sweet potato hash for breakfast or dinner sometimes and its always a hit!
Sweet potatoes
Red onion
Chicken sausage with herbs and Gouda (I think Kroger brand is what I use)
Cut them all in similar size pieces (about 1 inch or so). Saute the sweet potato in a little olive oil for a few minutes then add the onion and sausage.
So yummy!
Good luck!
Wow, that sounds amazing. I want to come.
You don't have to do anything you don't want to do.
I would nix whatever is too difficult.
Only thing I would add.....mini scones. Buy not make. Or mini donuts.
You don't necessarily need a potato dish but you could add that.
Hashbrowns are easy or even easier baked diced potatoes, topped w/olive oil, salt, pepper & throw in oven.
If the roasted asparagus is too hard, you could ditch that.
In fact, I think I would ditch that as you will have eggs in the quiche (you could even just do scrambled eggs), put some bacon in the oven on a wire rack over a cookie sheet so they all cook evenly. (google the exact way/time).
Enjoy & take it easy. :)
It sounds like a lot of food to me. I would put out bagels and the guests can have their choice of what they would like, cream cheese, lax, cold cuts, sliced cheese, or boiled egg for the side.
If the quiche works well for for no grains, then add that, but I would nix the veggie salad, asparagus, & french toast. That will keep it simple.
