Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Mother’s Day Brunch Ideas

In the past, we have gone out for Mother’s Day, but we never really enjoyed it as it was always very crowded. So in the past few years, we usually had brunch at our place for Mother’s Day.

For me the key to a successful brunch are plenty of dishes I can make ahead of time so that I’m not stressed the hour before guests arrive. Also, a few store-bought items make things a lot easier.
Here are some of my past brunch items that were a hit with everyone:

Mini Quiches
 

This is a very quick and easy dish. The quiches are crust-less and are baked in mini muffin tins. They come together in no time.

Banana Pancakes with Strawberry Sauce


This is one of my favorite pancake recipes. It uses very ripe bananas in place of butter or oil. The strawberry sauce adds a nice touch and is very easy – simply cook some frozen strawberries with a little bit of sugar. So good yet so easy.

Mini Apple Crisps

Apple Crisp 09
The crisps are a healthy dessert and perfect for a brunch. You could even make them in mini ramekins.

Egg/Tofu Scramble with Spinach and Mushrooms
 

This is a very flavorful and healthy egg dish. However, it’s a dish you should prepare fresh for your guests. I would only include one made-to-order item on a brunch menu. Otherwise things can get a bit stressful.

Fruit Salad 


Fruit salad is always popular at a brunch. I choose ripe fruit and add just a bit of lemon juice to keep the fruit from turning brown. I usually make the fruit salad first thing when I get up and put it in the fridge.

Tomato/Mozzarella/Basil Skewers


These skewers toothpicks are flavorful and pretty. I buy the mini mozzarella balls at Trader Joe’s to make these. Sometimes, I buy the ones that are marinated for some extra flavor.

Grilled Cheese Sandwiches 


I have a very inexpensive sandwich maker. Making grilled cheese sandwiches with interesting fillings is easy and quick and always enjoyed by everyone.

Banana Bread
 

This is my favorite banana bread recipe. It has no added fat, just lots of ripe bananas, which makes the bread nice and moist. You can make this the day before.

For more brunch ideas and tips, check out a post I wrote a little while ago. 

Questions: Do you have any plans for Mother’s Day? What’s your favorite brunch item? 

Be well,
Andrea