Did you volunteer to host brunch this Easter Sunday, Mother’s Day or maybe for a bridal shower this spring? Don’t get stuck footing an expensive bill or sweating over the stove while your family and friends enjoy the day. You can pull off a delicious brunch that is bound to impress without spending too much money or time.
For a savory option:
For your brunch menu, try to have a balance of sweet and savory. Eggs are satisfying and versatile ingredients that work with so many different dishes; plus, they’re inexpensive. But don’t get caught preparing eggs or omelets to order on the day of your brunch, which would take up valuable time and make a mess of your kitchen. Instead, prepare eggs in an easy-to-make dish ahead of time. Quiches, frittatas and strata are all relatively simple, and you likely have quite a few ingredients on hand already.
To make sure all your guests are happy, make a few different dishes, including a non-meat version. You can prep everything the night before and bake it in the morning if you choose. Some quiche and strata recipes have an option to bake in muffin tins for individual portions — even easier.
Serve a spinach salad alongside your egg dishes. This is easy to assemble the morning of the event, just make sure you have spinach leaves, dressing and any other ingredients you want to add the night before. You can also throw some nuts on top, as long as your guests don’t have allergies to them.
For the sweet treat:
To balance out the savory, include a few sweet options in your brunch menu. Fresh fruit is also easy to prepare ahead, and you can cut costs by buying fruit that is in-season. If you’re looking for something a little different than a fruit salad, you can create kebabs by layering fruit pieces on skewers. A dip for fruit is relatively easy to make — just mix yogurt and honey.
For a sweet main dish, you might think pancakes, waffles or French toast. These are all delicious brunch foods, but they require a lot of last-minute cooking during your party. Instead, convert one of these popular dishes into a casserole. French toast casserole can be cooked a number of ways, either prepared and refrigerated the night before and then put in the oven that morning, or baked in a slow cooker. You can find a number of variations and recipes online.
Lastly, quick breads, coffee cakes and muffins are always popular and can easily be baked a day or two ahead and then warmed before serving. They’re easy for you and tasty for your guests!
For beverages:
Drinks are an important part of a brunch menu, and can be set up the morning of your event so that everything is available by the time your guests arrive. This will keep people happy and busy while you finish any last-minute preparation with the food.
At your beverage table, include coffee and tea as well as cups so guests can serve themselves. Put the coffee and hot water in labeled carafes so they stay hot throughout the day, and have sweetener and tea on display with milk and cream kept in a chilled ice bucket.
You can also impress your guests with a mimosa bar. Include a few different fruit juices in chilled pitchers, such as orange, grapefruit or pineapple. Complete the display with chilled prosecco, which is less expensive than champagne.
For a winning presentation:
An easy way to upgrade your brunch is through the presentation. Serve your beverages and food buffet-style, which allows guests to mingle and frees you up from serving. Make more room and create a nice display with elevated levels on your buffet table by using cake stands or putting boxes or books underneath a tablecloth. While you are shopping before the party, pick up a few inexpensive floral bouquets at the grocery store. An easy trick to make any flower display look more impressive is doubling the amount of blooms. Set out silverware and plates at the head of your buffet table, and now you’re ready to welcome your guests — and enjoy the day with them!
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How to Save Money on Brunch originally appeared on usnews.com
