Christmas Brunch – An Alternative To A Big Dinner
Family’s are often caught up in so many plans during Christmastime that sitting down together over a fancy dinner may not be a good fit. Your family members may be traveling and have to head out before dinnertime, or you may be expected to eat at several homes and can’t fill up on a big meal at each home. Or, you may simply need to watch the food budget and can’t justify the expense that a big sit-down meal usually entails.
When the family budget is tight, you may want to reconsider a big dinner. Sit-down dinners will normally cost quite a bit more than even the loveliest brunch. The reasons are numerous. First of all, you will most likely have a large main course, like turkey, duck, or prime rib. Then you’ll want to have all the sides that go along with your traditional fancy meal. And what about the desserts! Then there are the beverages. Typically, an evening meal will have wine or other expensive drinks. It’s hard to trim the expense from a traditional fancy dinner.
For families who are struggling trying to enjoy Christmas while sticking to a budget, a brunch may be just what they need. If travel plans and sharing meals at more than one household are a problem, a brunch may solve that problem, too. Take a look at some simple, yet delicious, ways that you can plan a meal that would suit such a festive occasion.
Brunch Casserole – Probably one of the most familiar and popular dishes for brunch, there are countless recipes from which to choose. Most begin with some sort of potato like hash browns, or bread. To that you add your layers of anything like sausage, ham, green pepper, cheese, and egg. This assemblage is refrigerated overnight, then baked in the morning and served hot. You can make this as simple or as complicated as you choose.
Skillet Dish – A skillet meal is very easy to prepare quickly and with relatively little fuss. There are many recipes to choose from, like this familiar favorite, a Frittata. This is typically a skillet of fried rice or potatoes with a variety of meats and vegetables added. Then eggs are poured over and the Frittata is cooked without stirring until the eggs firm up. Cut into wedges right in the skillet and serve just as it sits. Use a nice cast iron pan for a pretty and homey appeal.
Muffin Tin Meal – Picture mini pot pies full of your favorite breakfast foods. You can start with some simple biscuits in a tube, roll them out flat, and line the muffin tin just like a pie pan. Then fill with sausage, a little hash browns, and crack an egg on top. Sprinkle some shredded cheese on top and pop them in the oven until they are nice and golden brown and the egg is done. Or you can make up a batch of muffin mix and throw in some ham bits, or bacon, and cheese and turn a regular muffin into a whole meal.
Omelets – This item on your menu won’t work for you if you don’t want to cook while you have guests in your house. If your kitchen is far removed from the area where your family and friends will be mingling, you probably wouldn’t want to prepare omelets. However, if your house is set up with an open kitchen dining room area where you’ll be gathering right around the cooking area, then you may find this fun. Be sure to get all your prep work done well in advance so that you are ready. Wash and chop all the veggies you are using in the omelets and get the assembly line well organized so you don’t miss a beat.
When you start planning your menu, be sure to include a variety of foods. A brunch usually involves a lot of little nibbling and lots of mingling, so some ‘walking around’ type food is in order. Don’t forget a nice tray of fruit and even some cheese would be nice. Have plenty of coffee and tea ready and waiting. Pitchers of milk, water, and juice should be readily available. Don’t bother with pie or cake, and definitely not fudge or other candy. You may have guests who are headed to “round two” and they don’t want to stuff themselves. But, a plate of pretty Christmas cookies will always be appreciated.
With just a few ideas for a simple brunch menu, you can put together a nice meal for Christmas. It’s all about spending time with the people you love and not spending your hard earned money on a big fancy dinner. Enjoy your brunch!
Searching for delicious, elegant, or simple free Christmas recipes to liven up your holiday parties? Start right here at FreeQuickRecipes.com and start planning today!
No related posts.