Brunch Tips

● Brunch offers a great selection of ideas (yay breakfast and lunch) so make a few different dishes that tie together.
● A colourful fruit tray is not only delicious,but it’s also pretty on the table.
● Save yourself time by preparing the night before. Set up the table with serving ware, napkins, plates, and glasses so it’s one less thing to do the next day.
● Offer both hot and cold drinks—hot, fresh coffee, a selection of teas and cold fruit juice are the standard. Might we also suggest hot chocolate or mimosas too?

Recipes for the Holidays

Brunch is Always a Good Idea. There’s nothing quite like brunch on Christmas morning or New Year’s Day. It’s easy to prepare and serve and everybody loves it. Here’s a selection of our favourite brunch recipes, tips and tricks to make your holiday meal planning simple and delicious.

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Classic French Toast

  • Ingredients

    1 loaf day-old French bread, sliced thick ½ c. milk, preferably homogenized
    1 tsp. vanilla
    2 tsp. cinnamon
    Pinch of salt
    Butter for the griddle
    Fresh fruit, syrup, icing sugar
    and whipped cream

  • Directions

    Heat griddle to 350°F or frying pan on stove to medium heat.
    In a shallow bowl or pie plate, whisk together eggs, milk, vanilla, cinnamon and salt.
    Dip each side of the bread in the egg mixture. Drop a small amount of butter onto the griddle, and then add bread slice. Cook French toast until golden brown—about 2 to 3 minutes per side.
    Serve warm with fruit, syrup, whipped cream and icing sugar as desired.

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Sausage & Hashbrown Casserole 

  • Ingredients

    2 lb. breakfast sausage
    1 bag frozen shredded hash browns     1 tsp. salt
    ½ tsp. pepper
    ¼ tsp. garlic powder
    ¼ tsp. onion powder
    2 c. old cheddar cheese, grated
    8 eggs
    2 c. milk

  • Directions

    Preheat oven to 350°F and prepare a 13 x 9” pan with cooking spray.
    In a bowl, whisk together eggs, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder and milk. Set aside.
    In a skillet, crumble and cook sausage until no longer pink and drain fat. Remove sausage and set aside. Add hashbrowns to skillet and cook until golden brown. Add hashbrowns to 13 x 9” pan and top with sausage and cheese. Pour egg mixture     over hashbrowns and sausage.
    Bake uncovered for 35 to 40 minutes.

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Bright Blueberry Coffee Cake

  • Ingredients

    2 c. all-purpose flour ¾ c. sugar 2½ tsp. baking powder ¾ tsp. salt ¼ c. butter, softened ¾ c. milk 1 large egg 2 c. blueberries 
    Crumb Topping½ c. sugar ½ c. all-purpose flour ½ tsp. cinnamon ¼ c. butter, cold

  • Directions

    Preheat oven to 375°F and grease an 8 x 8” pan.
    In a bowl, add crumb topping ingredients. Using a pastry blender, mix until crumbs are formed. Set aside.
    In a mixing bowl, blend together flour, sugar, baking powder, butter, salt, milk and egg and beat for 1 minute with a stand or hand mixer. Fold in blueberries carefully. Spread batter into prepared pan with a spatula or wooden spoon. Sprinkle crumb topping over cake.
    Bake for 45 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Brunch Themes

Brunch can be more than just brunch with a fun theme. Here’s a few ideas to get your imagination working.
● Coffee and doughnuts – elevate the office coffee and doughnuts to the next level. Pretty trays of fresh doughnuts and pastries and a selection of coffees—regular roast, dark roast, espresso and flavoured—will wow your holiday guests.
● Road Trip Style – nothing says brunch like the classic eggs and bacon you enjoy on the open road. Set up your spread with scrambled eggs, crispy bacon, warm sausage, hashbrowns, pancakes and plenty of buttered toast—and be sure to have more than just white toast. Who doesn’t love rye or sourdough to mix it up?
● Waffle bar – break out the waffle maker and keep the waffles coming. Classic waffles with fresh fruit, syrups, whipped cream and fun sprinkles are a great way to feed the family between rounds of presents.