Help with Christmas brunch menu

[eeyoresmom]

We are doing a brunch for our family this year instead of the usual dinner and need some ideas for easy menu items. This is what I'm thinking:
Quiche
hashbrown casserole
bacon
fruit salad
cinnamon rolls
mini muffins
prime rib
asparagus
rolls
Its just my immediate family ( all young adult kids) so no need to impress but I think I'd like to add a few items. Any ideas?

 

[mumto3girls]

That actually seems like a lot of food to me, but what about a dessert (not that cinnamon rolls and muffins aren’t enough) but something like Christmas cookies or a cake.

 

[TipsyTraveler]

I hosted a Christmas brunch a few years ago. I don’t remember most of what I made and from what I do remember, you’ve already named a few, but I know there was a French toast casserole on the menu.

 

[Neesy228]

I would suggest another main dish. Maybe something sweeter since you have savory in the quiche. When I do a holiday brunch my two main dishes are a breakfast casserole and an apple cinnanmon French toast casserole.

I would also do a light dessert...or maybe just a few small sized cakes/pies so people can have a little sample of something sweet to end their meal.

 

[McKelly]

What you have sounds good to me! I agree with the poster who said some Xmas cookies. Also, a Xmas punch of some sort.

 

[Hikergirl]

If it were me I'd not do Prime Rib and do a nice spiral ham instead.
French toast casserole over cinnamon rolls.
I think your menu is perfect for a brunch (other than my personal preferences above) so I don't think you really need to add anything.
Just have a variety of beverages, like OJ, cranberry and apple juice or something different like a mango blend.

 

[mjkacmom]

I like ham better than beef for a brunch. We are doing quiche, fresh bagels with butter, cream cheese, smoked salmon, onions, capers, monkey bread, and probably leftover ham from the night before. Most likely some sort of breakfast potatoe, and pineapple.

 

[MrsPete]

Sounds like a whole breakfast and a whole dinner served up together. I think it's too much -- you'll run yourself ragged.

In my experience, brunch tends to be 2/3 breakfast (aim for make-aheads), a salad (green or fruit) and one dinner entree (probably a meat). Brunch must include a cocktail (Mimosa or Bloody Marys) and a light dessert.

I'd definitely lose either the quiche OR the hash brown casserole -- and either the cinnamon rolls OR the mini-muffins.

I personally would start the menu over and go with ONE real show-stopper of a breakfast. We like Filet Mignon Hash (topped with a runny egg) or Chicken-and-Waffles or Eggs Benedict. But, yeah, that's not brunch, and you may have your heart set on that.

 

[MrsPete]

a breakfast casserole and an apple cinnanmon French toast casserole

Which have the benefit of being make-aheads.

I would also do a light dessert...or maybe just a few small sized cakes/pies so people can have a little sample of something sweet to end their meal.

Cheesecake is easy and can be made ahead of time.

nice spiral ham instead.

Ham is brilliant. It's so easy, and it meshes nicely with breakfast.

 

[jdb in AZ]

MAKE AHEAD SLUSH

12 oz can frozen pink lemonade
Make as directed on can.

Add: 8 c water and 3 c sugar. Stir til dissolved.

Freeze in 1/2 gallon milk cartons (or similar containers). Take out about 2 hours before serving. Break up. Add 2 liter bottle of Sprite per frozen container. Serves about 25.

 

[jdb in AZ]

I would suggest another main dish. Maybe something sweeter since you have savory in the quiche. When I do a holiday brunch my two main dishes are a breakfast casserole and an apple cinnamon French toast casserole.

I would also do a light dessert...or maybe just a few small sized cakes/pies so people can have a little sample of something sweet to end their meal.

I second the idea of the apple cinnamon French toast casserole. I don't bother to add the nuts. https://deliciouslysprinkled.com/apple-streusel-french-toast-bake/

 

[NYCgrrl]

2 breakfast casseroles: the quiche (great dish to incorporate the asparagus) and a French toast casserole. You can make individual with or without crust quiches in your muffin tin. Several make ahead recipes on the 'net to just heat and serve for both dishes.

Agreeing with a PP: ham over the prime rib roast; seems like a good meat to bridge the breakfast/lunch time. It can start hot and still be served room temperature later in the day.

Biscuits over rolls if possible; great with the ham and thin slices of the quiche.

Fruit salad

A Christmas tree shaped crudite platter w/ your favorite dip; I'm partial to Green Goddess but you know your family best.
https://www.google.com/search?q=chr...gqTfAhUFhOAKHc9PALEQ_AUIDygC&biw=1339&bih=624

Make it the night before, wrap in plastic, and take it out of the fridge first thing in the morning so it becomes room temp.

Should you want a second meat how about thin slices of sopresetta, salami, mortadella, and whatever nice deli meat you can find at your local shops. You can intersperse with cheese if you like.

Virgin mimosas and/or some with sparkling wine:

http://cocktails.foodviva.com/mocktail-recipes/non-alcoholic-mimosa-recipe/

Definitely a plate of Christmas cookies (and maybe some ice cream over the pasterieswhich can be had for other holidays or special occasions.

 

[eeyoresmom]

Great ideas everyone, thank you. The only reason I was thinking prime rib is because that is what we always have for Christmas dinner. This being the first year we are doing brunch instead, I wanted to keep some tradition in there. Love the idea of the deli meat/cheese platter and we will have Christmas cookies, I didn't list them since they are a constant

 

[Wendy31]

I'm another one that prefers ham to beef for brunch, but I know that there are people who like steak & eggs.

When we hosted a Christmas brunch, we served the following:

Spiral-Sliced Ham
Pineapple Dressing - which is actually more like a Pineapple Bread Pudding - it goes really well w/ ham & would be similar to a baked French toast
Sausage & Wild Rice Casserole
Hash Brown Casserole
Baked Frittata
Sweet Potato Souffle - which was served in individual orange cups
Roasted Asparagus
Cheese Grits
Cinnamon Pear Compote
Fruit Salad
Biscuits & Gravy

And, then, for "dessert", we had the following:

Cranberry Orange Tart
Egg Nog Coffee Cake
Hot Chocolate Tiramisu
Christmas Cookies

 

[aristocatz]

We are doing a brunch for our family this year instead of the usual dinner and need some ideas for easy menu items. This is what I'm thinking:
Quiche
hashbrown casserole
bacon
fruit salad
cinnamon rolls
mini muffins
prime rib
asparagus
rolls
Its just my immediate family ( all young adult kids) so no need to impress but I think I'd like to add a few items. Any ideas?

I would add a field greens salad.

 

[2goofycampers]

Garlic parmesan bacon knots.

https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/recipes/a58662/garlic-parm-bacon-knots-recipe/

 

[NYCgrrl]

Great ideas everyone, thank you. The only reason I was thinking prime rib is because that is what we always have for Christmas dinner. This being the first year we are doing brunch instead, I wanted to keep some tradition in there. Love the idea of the deli meat/cheese platter and we will have Christmas cookies, I didn't list them since they are a constant

There is an easy way to keep the prime rib on the menu but it really depends on how many hours you want to host. Serve the brunch type food earlier in the day (say around 11:00 AM ish) and then somewhere between 2 to 4 o'clock remove most of the breakfast type food and place a heated platter with pre-sliced prime ribs out, a bowl of roasted/steamed or sauteed asparagus, a salad with a vinegary dressing to cut the lovely fat of the prime rib and a potaoto dish. Less choices on the table directs people to eat what is in front of them and while it's hot with no back and forth re-heating duty for you. This works especially well if you take an after breakfast walk to see the neighborhood's holiday display, take a hike in a nearby forest, play touch football or similar in the backyard. Makes space in the tummy for the next round. Should your crowd be more interested in watching a holiday parade and/or something on TV, cut out as many hevier dishes from breakfast and they'll be good to go for the prime rib dish on the day w/o feeling the need for elastic pants.

 

[disykat]

I think it sounds like more than enough, but if you want to add sweet how about chocolate covered fruit?

We do one of those little chocolate fountains every Christmas and it's considered a "must do" by all the young adults. We have three families that get together and we were trying to change things up a bit this year, the chocolate fountain was deemed irreplaceable.

 

[jiminyC_fan]

I see no reason not to keep the prime rib. It really cooks itself like ham and is easy to fix. Some families prefer beef over ham and since it is tradition, keep it. There is a point where there can be too much food, also. I think your menu looks great.

 

[Micca]

hashbrown casserole

Make a double batch. It's awesome and the leftovers are delicious.