- If the weather holds up, consider moving your brunch outdoors.
- Presenting your meal buffet-style can be of great help as guests can serve themselves throughout the gathering.
- Be sure to have ample seating in a variety of places.
- Set the table with bright-coloured linen and tableware in colours such as yellow, chartreuse and orange.
- Eliminate stress by keeping it casual - it's ok to mix and match.
- Be creative by using baskets, painted pots, metal trays and baskets for serving food or holding utensils.
- Grouping a stack of plates, piles of napkins, flatware and glasses on one end of a table allows guests to help themselves.
- In a separate area set up a station with a carafe of coffee, pitcher of steamed milk, little bowls of sugar, vanilla and chocolate.
- Citrus fruits are an inexpensive and easy way to decorate a table (for instance pile lemons, oranges, tangerines and kumquats in a compote, tray or platter amd add a few lemon leaves).
As your guests arrive start them off with a café au lait made with equal portions of good strong coffee and hot milk, served the traditional way - in bowls (small dessert or cereal bowls are good substitutes).
1. TANGERINE MIMOSAS can also be a refreshing start - made with juiced tangerines and champagne. Substitute flavoured or plain sparkling water for the Champagne.
Timesaver Trick: Buy freshly squeezed juice, concentrate or bottles of tangerine juice at the grocery store.
2. FRITTATA
An Italian OMELET that usually has the ingredients mixed with the eggs rather than being folded inside, as with a French omelet. It can be flipped or the top can be finished on the top shelf of the Roasting Oven. A frittata is firmer than an omelet and is not folded. It works best cooked slowly using the Baking Oven.
Timesaver Trick: Buy a fresh or frozen quiche.
3. FRENCH TOAST
Strive for a perfect balance of sweet and savoury with everyone’s favourite breakfast mainstay - French Toast - topped with caramelized fruit (peaches, apples, pears, berries). Try using interesting breads such as brioche (a French creation that is a light yeast bread rich with butter and eggs), pumpernickel, rye, challah (a traditional Jewish yeast bread) or sourdough. To caramelize the fruit combine sugar, butter and peaches in an AGA Baking Dish and place in Roasting Oven until lightly browned. To assemble simply place fresh toast on platter and top with fruit. Sprinkle with icing sugar or toasted almonds.
Timesaver Trick: Substitute good-quality canned peaches.
4. POTATO LYONNAISE
Combine peeled and quartered potatoes with thinly sliced onions and fresh herbs tossed with seasoning and olive oil. Transfer AGA Gratin Dish in Baking Oven for 45-50 minutes.
Timesaver Trick: Buy frozen home-style potatoes or potato salad from a grocery or deli.
5. SALAD PLATTER
Toss your own salad dressing with some of the following suggestions (tomatoes, green beans, olives, carrots, radishes, asparagus, hard-boiled eggs) - a little something for everyone.
Timesaver Trick: Buy a bottle of your favourite vinaigrette and prepared bags of lettuces, baby carrots, cherry tomatoes.
6. FROM START TO FINISH
Pick up some pate to serve with toasts, crackers, Melba, etc. A great quick nibble that is easy to plate and serve while guests are arriving.
Pick up fresh bread, pastries, cookies and little cakes for dessert on the morning of your brunch.
Spinach Parmesan FrittataINGREDIENTS:
8 large eggs, beaten
salt and black pepper, to taste
2 cups loosely packed fresh spinach leaves, chiffonade
1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
METHOD:
1. In a large bowl combine the eggs, salt and pepper, spinach, and half the cheese, and beat lightly to combine.
2. Heat AGA Frying Pan on Simmering Plate and add olive oil. Pour in egg mixture, sprinkle with remaining cheese and transfer to Baking Oven and bake until cooked and fluffy.
4. Transfer pan to top rack of Roasting Oven to lightly brown frittata.
