Christmas brunch

[tcufrog]

Since we're travelling on the morning of the 27th, we decided to have a fun and easy Christmas brunch. DS10 is in charge of the hot cocoa bar and DS14 is in charge of the waffle bar. We're also going to have a cheese plate. Any other ideas?

 

[dazedx3]

How about some fresh fruit?

 

[luvnwdwgal]

Doughnuts

 

[karmic]

Breakfast casserole
Bread pudding
Definitely a fruit salad
Sausage, bacon, and/or ham

 

[prairie_girl]

Muffins/doughnuts

 

[evilmommie]

Love your ideas of the cocoa and waffle bars! So fun!
Maybe some kind of protein in addition to the the cheese plate. Breakfast links, bacon, maybe a cold cut tray or charcuterie.
There would be a mimosa bar as well at my house. Cheers!

 

[mjkacmom]

We do an egg casserole, monkey bread, fruit salad, bagels (bagel stores are open Christmas Day here).

 

[sksjasams]

I used to make a breakfast egg bake, but found something easier that my family loves more.

Do you have Kwik Trips near you? They sell a breakfast sunrise pizza. They have a croissant crust and they are so tasty. I go in before Christmas and buy two frozen ones, then they are on hand and ready to go Christmas morning.

 

[prairie_girl]

Love your ideas of the cocoa and waffle bars! So fun!
Maybe some kind of protein in addition to the the cheese plate. Breakfast links, bacon, maybe a cold cut tray or charcuterie.
There would be a mimosa bar as well at my house. Cheers!

Our mimosas are known as Grandmas orange juice because years ago she had one, not knowing they had champagne and kept saying they were sooo good lol

 

[Praying Colonel]

Last year we did a baked ham, breakfast casserole, cheese grits, fruit salad, yeast rolls, cinnamon buns, broccoli salad and a cheese plate.

 

[TwoMisfits]

Since we're travelling on the morning of the 27th, we decided to have a fun and easy Christmas brunch. DS10 is in charge of the hot cocoa bar and DS14 is in charge of the waffle bar. We're also going to have a cheese plate. Any other ideas?

Since you want fun and easy (and I'm assuming decadent and balanced), I would add a protein.

Which one depends on what your boys' like. If you're bacon folks, buy 2 boxes of microwave bacon - done in 2 minutes and the spouse can take on the challenge of the microwave.

If you're chicken and waffle folks, pick up grocery store deli fried chicken tenders the morning before - again, done in 2 minutes in the mocrowave.

If you're nuts fans, in your waffle bar, get some almonds, some candied pecans, or even peanuts and have that on the tray.

Then, I'm assuming you want a fruit. Now, when I do Belgian waffles, I normally make my own fresh fruit sauce, which can be done ahead and just warmed up (in the microwave) the next day. Depending if you pick nuts, that's how I'd pick fruit. But my go-to-Belgian waffle fruit sauce (when I make it plain) tends to be a berry based one or a pina colada one...and then of course, whipped cream (and even chocolate syrup). You can keep some of the fruit as fresh, so you can have differing textures the next day, too...

If this was my house, we'd do the microwave bacon, Belgian waffles, a strawberry raspberry sauce with fresh strawberries and raspberries, whipped cream, and chocolate sauce. And then we'd have coffee (adults here can't handle morning total sugar bombs) and the hot cocoa bar which would borrow the whipped cream and chocolate sauce, and might have some cherries and marshmallows and some candy canes for stirring. And if adults are going hot chocolate, get some whipped cream vodka, b/c that makes the best "adult" hot chocolate mixer...

 

[Dan Murphy]

Oatmeal, grits?

 

[evilmommie]

Our mimosas are known as Grandmas orange juice because years ago she had one, not knowing they had champagne and kept saying they were sooo good lol

ohhhh...what a darling memory! Grandma is my girl!

 

[tcufrog]

Great ideas. DS10 offered to make sausage and cheese rolls and I think I'm going to make a strawberry sauce for the waffles. It's easy to make a day ahead and super yummy. I like the idea of an alcohol for the adults and nuts for the waffles. I think I'm going to look into some sort of breakfast casserole I can make in advance.

 

[neverlandsky]

Our tradition is Cinnabon, Bacon, Deviled Eggs, & Fruit.

 

[Bianca and Bernard]

Our family tradition is usually those Pillsbury orange and cinnamon rolls. Mom and dad started that way back; every holiday has them for breakfast. It was twofold, I think; one, because mom was going to be so busy cooking the big dinners that she didn't want kids or dad underfoot while she was doing so; and two, because if we were all sugared up and hyped up for the presents, we'd crash sooner, and they could have a few hours of peace and quiet. LOL

If we were doing a big brunch, I would do waffles (optional toppings: Nutella or peanut butter; blackberry, blueberry, or strawberry 'syrup' with corresponding fruit; maple syrup; and a side of chocolate chips to throw in the batter if someone wanted); ham (sliced ham, quick sear, easy peasy) and sausage (easier to do batches than bacon, plus can do in the oven); scrambled eggs (can keep hot in a bowl set on another bowl of hot water); fresh fruit (slices, salad, whatever); mimosas or oj; coffee; hot chocolate if the kids want. OR instead of the eggs, I'd do a frittata or a quiche; maybe go veggie on it so if you have a non-meat eater, they can have it. Instant oatmeal or grits if anyone eats them.

 

[DisneyHardin]

We are doing a "Christmas" Brunch next Sunday at my sister's house. The plan is an egg/sausage casserole, a French toast type casserole and Mimosas.

 

[TwoMisfits]

Op, one more thing, since you are seeking low stress and you are leaving 36 hours later and you don't have a huge crowd, just remember less is more.

One reason I started my Christmas Chinese tradition is that we traveled out of town for a week after breakfast on Dec 26, so I could order enough that I knew we could finish it by breakfast the next day, so no old food would sit in my trash on the trip.

It's why I suggested protein, carb, fruit sauce, drink...and no more. If you make extra waffles or have extra protein, you'll be able to easily finish it on the 26th, and head out with an empty fridge on the 27th...if you make a ton of things, you may not have those luxuries.

So, think pricey and decadent over amounts - aka, quality over quantity...

 

[smilie]

We made something new on Thanksgiving morning, it is now part of Christmas morning breakfast:

Brown sausage links and wrap in cinnamon buns, then bake.

Amazing!!!

 

[tcufrog]

Op, one more thing, since you are seeking low stress and you are leaving 36 hours later and you don't have a huge crowd, just remember less is more.

One reason I started my Christmas Chinese tradition is that we traveled out of town for a week after breakfast on Dec 26, so I could order enough that I knew we could finish it by breakfast the next day, so no old food would sit in my trash on the trip.

It's why I suggested protein, carb, fruit sauce, drink...and no more. If you make extra waffles or have extra protein, you'll be able to easily finish it on the 26th, and head out with an empty fridge on the 27th...if you make a ton of things, you may not have those luxuries.

So, think pricey and decadent over amounts - aka, quality over quantity...

Exactly, I'm planning stuff that's easy to make and takes few dishes to prep, cook and bake.