I love to do brunches. They are the perfect party medium. There is a structure to them that makes brunch easier than a lot of other parties you might throw. Breakfast food, drinks, people. Yum.
This is my winter brunch:
- Winter Potato Hash with Salmon and Eggs Skillet
- Frisee Salad with pear and carrot cake dressing.
- Pastries and Breads, with Butter and Jam.
- Strawberry Bellini’s and Bloody Mary Bar.
Recipe
Winter Hash with Smoked Salmon and Eggs
This recipe serves four. Adjust the listed ingredients as necessary for smaller or larger groups.INGREDIENTS
- 1 cup sweet potatoes, 1” cube
- 1 cup red skin potatoes, 1” cube
- 1 cup purple potatoes, 1” cube
- 1 cup red onion, 1½” cube
- 1 cup red bell peppers, 1½” cube
- 1 tsp. each: salt, pepper, smoked paprika, garlic powder
- 3 tbsp. olive oil, divided
- 6 oz. dry smoked salmon, in large flakes
- 8 eggs
- 1 lemon cut into wedges
- 4 tbsp. finely chopped chives
INSTRUCTIONS
- Preheat oven to 400.
- In a small bowl, mix together salt, pepper, smoked paprika, and garlic powder. In a large bowl, toss the potatoes, onions, and peppers with olive oil and spice mixture.
- Heat 1 tbsp. oil in large cast iron skillet over medium high heat and then add the potato mixture to the pan.
- Brown the potatoes rapidly to get a bit of color on them and a bit of crust, about 4-5 minutes. Then pop the whole skillet into the oven for about 12 minutes until the potatoes are cooked. Remove skillet from oven, fold in the salmon.
- Move aside potatoes creating 8 little hollow nests to crack eggs into. Sprinkle with a little salt and pepper and then return to the oven for 5-6 minutes until eggs are done to your liking. Sprinkle with chives and serve with lemon wedges.
Recipe
Frisee Salad with Pears, Shredded Carrots, Candied Walnuts
This recipe serves four.SALAD INGREDIENTS
- 2 cups Frisee
- 2 cups butter lettuce
- 1 cup shredded carrots
- ½ cup candied walnuts
- 1 pear
CARROT CAKE DRESSING INGREDIENTS
- ¼ cup Olive Oil
- 2 tbsp. apple cider vinegar
- Pinch of cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger
- 1 tbsp. sugar
- Salt and pepper to taste
INSTRUCTIONS
- Preheat oven to 400.
- Assemble the salad ingredients and, in a jar, shake up the dressing ingredients. Drizzle over the greens before serving.
- Cut up the pear right before serving, to minimize oxidation and browning.
Recipe
Bloody Mary Bar
Set this up and let your guests make their own drinks. Let the options be plenty!EQUIPMENT
- Ice bucket and tongs
- Highball glasses
- Vodka
- Long bamboo skewers for guests to assemble their drink additions
BLOODY MARY MIX
A big chilled Pitcher of Bloody Mary mix – I LOVE the spicy tomato juice from both Bay Area Capay Organics and Happy Girl Kitchen but in a pinch I use a 50/50 blend of spicy reduced sodium V8 and regular V8. Everyone has a favorite…you just do you.ALL THE FIXINGS
- Hot sauces: Crystal, Tabasco, Siracha, and any favorites you have
- Celery salt, smoked sea salt, garlic salt, pepper salt, Old Bay seasoning
- Prepared horseradish, for even more spice
- Olives – stuffed with pimentos, garlic, blue cheese, jalapenos, whatever floats your boat
- Picked veggies, beans, onions, pepperoncini’s, jalapeneos, onions, okra, peppadews, etc
- Celery ribs
- Steamed asparagus, firm and cold blanched
- Lemon and lime wedges
- Worcestershire sauce
- Crisp bacon
- Cocktail chilled cooked peeled shrimp