It looks wonderful. Juices with a carbonated water in wine glasses or champagne glasses would look wonderful. A cute thing to do is tie a bow of the graduates colors on the glasses.
I am one of those non eaters for breakfast or for brunch. Just asking that you all’ ignore me as I enjoy the company but will nibble at the fruit.
So happy that new research says that it is OK not to be a morning eater.
But look out for me after the graduation when I am super hungry!
Your menu looks wonderful and sounds like a happy group of people!
As I mentioned, the graduation is inside, so no sunscreen necessary.
Thanks for all the great ideas! I’d love it if you could all come too!
The advantage to having several food options (as noted) is that you pick and choose what you’d like to eat. So…don’t choose chocolate waffles and hash brown casserole if that’s too rich for you! Again, I know the crowd - everyone is either really close family or best friends of ours. So, I know no one will be shy in eating.
BTW, my niece making the chocolate waffles has culinary training and has clocked MANY hours in the kitchen, especially with baked goods/sweets. I have no doubt that these will not be any ordinary chocolate waffle recipe!
I will probably add an egg casserole or perhaps quiche, chilled asparagus w/lemon vinegarette, and a meat - either some ham or sausage.
I fully DON’T want to spend a lot of time in the kitchen that morning - I’d rather spend my time hugging and gloating over my sweet graduate.
Do you guys like beans or mushrooms at all? I tend to like those for bunch items. Or maybe some spinach? Any of those options should also be a pretty easy add (just get the beans in a can).
We always had peppers, onions, and a meat (usually lamb or chicken) in our hash browns at our house. Maybe just some sauteed peppers (like poblano or bell peppers) and white or yellow onion on the side.
Oh! this is so great–take cranberry juice and add orange juice–it is a lovely color and so yummy–if you want to make it fancier serve it in wine glasses and add a cherry. Also, a fancy non alcoholic drink is orange juice with an ounce or two of grenadine and a cherry. So very pretty.
I had completely missed that someone else was bringing and making the chocolate waffles–that does make a difference!
I am a hopeless traditionalist when it comes to waffles. However, once a year on my birthday, I go to a local restaurant (The Screen Door) for brunch. They serve waffles with pralined maple bacon. The waffles are excellent and the pralined maple bacon is incredible. http://www.food.com/recipe/original-praline-bacon-recipe-502824
The chocolate waffles were amazing! The waffle maker made a smaller deep waffle so not too large. The waffle batter was definitely chocolate, but not overly sweet. Success (by my niece!)
I ended up making this spinach artichoke egg bake which was PERFECT and EASY! Thank you to whoever above suggested it!
Not sure if anyone has already mentioned it, but how about a ham? Folks can just help themselves if it is spiral cut. We have brunch for a fairly large group several times a year, and someone bought a ham 2 years ago. I was surprised how many people ate it. I don’t worry about too many carbs, I figure people can police themselves and take what they wish. We always have homemade muffins/breads, pancakes, omlets (made to order), bacon, sausage, hash browns, english muffins, fresh melon, berries and other fruit, coffee cake, ham, and what ever else folks bring. Good luck!
As I mentioned post #49 - the brunch is done and was a success!
I do think about over-carbing because 1. it’s not healthy and leaves you feeling “blah”. 2. I wanted variety - too many carbs and not enough protein, fruit/veggies also leaves you “blah!”. Not to mention the time factor for prepping. This was an event I did not want to be time hogging!
Last night I went to a neighborhood potluck and it was an unhealthy carb fest. I felt terrible afterwards, we have tried not to eat that way anymore. I think there were no heathy sides, so I need to bring one the next time we go. And eat less lol!
I would LOVE to have fresh artichoke at my disposal to use heartily in recipes! Alas, here in the midwest, though I do buy them for a treat because I grew up eating the leaves dipped in butter, fresh artichokes are a bit pricey. I buy the artichokes in water (2 jars to a pack) at Costco – still a great buy. Use them on pizza, in chicken/pasta dishes, and of course, the occasional spinach artichoke dip!
The two pack from Costco is gone in the blink of an eye…in salads, on pizza, in crock pot cream cheese chicken, with cheese/crackers/olives as a snack. Oh my…I love artichokes!!
I modify it sometimes as well…adding Parmesan cheese and sun dried tomatoes instead of Italian dressing. Mushrooms would be a tasty addition as well. My fam likes it over rice, but noodles work too. Enjoy!
