Easter Brunch Ideas

L.,
If you need another idea, let me know if you'd like the sausage star recipe. It's a filling of sausage, cheese, ranch dressing, olives and diced red pepper. The filling is then put into the phyllo cups found in freezer section at the grocery store. I put the cups right back into the plastic tray they came in, wrap in plastic wrap and freeze until I need them. Make about 5 boxes (15 cups in a box) Reheat in about 8 minutes.
I've used this at brunches and dinner parties as an appetizer. My sister alway omits the olives and red pepper but they do add flavor - just cut back if you don't care that much for it.
M.

L., Hey im a SAHM with 3 1/2 twins, you are almost in the same boat! Not to mention the child for a hubby! Anyway, I had a brunch for that many people a few times and I love the Breakfast casseroles! You can make them with Bacon or Sausage (ground Sausage is so good in this). So yummy!!! Heres a link to a recipe very similar to what I used. You make it the night bofore and It is always a hit!!! http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Christmas-Breakfast-Casserol...
Good Luck!! B.

Here is one of my favorite dishes for brunch. Fast, easy and enjoyed by all.
Brunch for a bunch

1lb sausage
3 cups thawed frozen hash browns
½ tsp. salt
3 cups shredded cheddar
½ cup chopped green peppers
12 eggs beaten
2 cups milk

Cook sausage until brown
Put has browns in bottom of 13 X 9 X2 baking dish
Sprinkle salt on
Layer sausage, cheese and green pepper
Combine eggs and milk stirring well
Pour over mixture and bake at 350 for 50 minutes.

This is a great one because part of it is prepared the night before.
Oven French Toast

1 (1 Pound) loaf French bread, cut into 1 inch slices
1 pint half/half
2 cups milk 1 (16 ounce) container egg substitute
2 teaspoons vanilla
½ teaspoon cinnamon
¼ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
2 large apples, peeled and chopped
¾ cup packed dark brown sugar
¼ cup light stick butter, melted

Spray 9 X 13 inch dish. Place 3 rows of the bread lengthwise, overlapping the slices slightly to fit.
In a bowl, combine half/half, milk, egg substitute, vanilla, ¼ teaspoon of cinnamon, and the nutmeg, beating with a whisk until blended. Pour over the bread, cover and refrigerate overnight.
Preheat oven to 350. Uncover dish and with the back of a spoon press the bread into the mixture.
Combine the apples, brown sugar, melted butter and the remaining ¼ teaspoon of cinnamon in a medium bowl. Top the bread mixture evenly with the apples. Bake until puffed and golden and a knife inserted in the center comes out clean, about 1 hour. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

Serves 12

The scones can be made ahead of time and put out with fresh fruit for those who want something light. It is also something you can freeze if you have leftovers(I never do)
Scones

4 cups flour
1 cup sugar
½ tsp. salt
4 tsp. baking powder
2 sticks margarine (soft don’t melt)

2 eggs
1 cup milk

1 ½ cups fruit(I usually use dried cranberries)
½ bag white choc. chips (optional)

Mix the top four ingredients together. Cut up the margarine and add it to the dry mixture. I find it is best if done by hand but it is very sticky! Whisk the eggs and milk together and then add to the mixture (again best by hand). Finally mix in the fruit and chips if you want. Craisins are very good in them but you can use any fruit you want. Drop onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Before putting in the oven brush them with an egg wash(1 egg & 1 tsp. milk whisked together). Bake on 350 for 20-23 min. (less time if you make them small).

This is great for something sweet.
Cinnamon Pull-Apart Bread

3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 Tbsp. ground cinnamon
3 cans (7.5 oz. each) refrigerated buttermilk biscuits
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine, melted
4 oz. (1/2 of 8-oz. pkg.) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 to 2 Tbsp. milk

PREHEAT oven to 350°F. Mix granulated sugar and cinnamon in medium bowl; set aside. Cut each biscuit into quarters; roll in cinnamon-sugar. Place half of the biscuit pieces in greased 12-cup fluted tube pan; drizzle with half of the butter. Top with remaining biscuit pieces, then drizzle with remaining butter. Sprinkle with remaining cinnamon-sugar.
BAKE 40 to 45 min. or until golden brown. Cool in pan 5 min.; invert onto serving plate.
BEAT cream cheese and powdered sugar in small bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended. Add 1 Tbsp. of the milk; beat until well blended. Beat in enough of the remaining milk until glaze is of desired consistency. Drizzle over warm bread. Serve warm.

Quiche's
homemade muffins or sweet breads
a fruit salad.
Orange Juice
and Champagne on the side for those liking Mamosa's.:)

Quiche and muffins can be made in advance and put into the freezer until your ready.
Fresh except for like apples and banana's can be precut in advance and assembled into a bowl for buffet serving.

And the Mamosa's make the crabby campers a little less crabby.

This is what I did for a brunch at my house the day AFTER my wedding for 40+ people. I made everything weeks in advance and showed up at 10:00 am with my newlywed husband at our home for the fun. My family came an hour early to pop in the stuff into the oven to warm. I had already set the linens and centerpieces and all the hospitality set up a couple days in advance of the wedding.
It rounded off a wonderful 3 day celebration having a final blowout of food and family before everyone departed to home. And noone went away hungry.
Good Luck.

Quiche's are easy, and you could use almost anything in them. Also I have egg casseroles that you can prepare the night before and just pop in the oven the next morning. How about a ham for heavenly ham or bake your own. The frozen fruit in a bag is good,defrost the night before. crossiants, muffins, bagels with different flavored cream cheeses. Hope that helped.

Hi L.,

I always make this frittata recipe I have attached below. You have to make it the night before so it settles, so that is one thing I have already done. I have made it with bacon, ham, pork roll, you name it. I also usually use sharp cheddar cheese, I like the bite it gives it. Just use the recipe as a guide really, and add whatever you and your family enjoy! Happy Easter!

4 c. bread, cubed
3 c. ham, diced
1/2 lb. grated American cheese
6 eggs
4 tsp. flour
1 1/2 tsp. dry mustard
Dash of Tabasco sauce
4 c. milk
4 tbsp. melted butter
Salt to taste

Layer bread, ham and cheese in a 9"x13" greased baking pan. Pour over
the remaining ingredients which have been beaten together in order
given. Refrigerate in covered pan. Bake 1 hour at 300 degrees.

Family Fun Magazine dedicated the whole March issue to an easy Easter Brunch- I tried the recipies, and they are AWESOME. Particularly the Ham, Cheese, and Spinach Strata- you can make the night before, and it used croissants as the base, which was too good. You can go on-line at FamilyFun.com and get their recipies- its a terrific magazine. Good Luck!

deviled eggs(easter eggs),ham slices,salad greens with manderin oranges and roasted almonds, angelfood cake (in memory of the angels at the tomb after the resurrection) with raspberries and whip cream on top.

fritattas are easy - you can make them to accomodate all kinds of dietary requests (vegetarian, etc, fruit salad, bagels/lox/spread,
bloody marys to take the edge off of hosting. Smoothies (plain non-fat yogurt, frozen berries, oj and honey to sweeten) are good for kids and adults

a great "appetizer" is ham and asparagus bruschetta:
thinly slice baguettes - on each slice spread a mixture of grainy dijon mustard and butter (you can mix and melt in the microwave), then top each with a slice of ham/canadian bacon - 2-3 blanched asparagus spears (cut in half) and top with a small piece of swiss or asiago cheese - run them under the broiler on low for a few minutes and you're done. 1-2 per person is plenty.

I see lots of great recipes listed here, the easiest brunch recipe I do are mini quiche:
phyllo cups (filo) (in the freezer section)
cut up bacon (make it yourself, get pre-made micro type, whatever) put a little in each cup
then fill with beat eggs with a splash of milk or egg-beaters
sprinkle a little shredded cheese on top and bake at 350 for about 15 min (until done)
You really can fill those little cups with anything, they're great for parties.
Good luck!

L., there is a place on the web called Allrecipes.com , they have a bizzillion recipes and they can be adjusted to serve as much as you need. Great place to find what you want to make. From soup to nuts and even traditional. I just made a pork tenderloin with a delightful mustard sauce. My husband loved it. I use this site for everything. L. G

We have Easter breakfast every year for my husbands family and we do egg cassaroles(sp?)
15 x-lge eggs
1/2 loaf of bread tore up
1 lb of shreaded chedder cheese
1 qt 2% milk
mix in a large disposable tin ( what you would bake a turkey in)
put in oven at 350 degrees for 1 hour and 15 min
then take out and let it set for 15 min and serve.
You can make different variety with bacon or sausage in it.
Easy to make for a large crowd.

L. - I have an awesome recipe for French Toast that you make the night before and refrigerate overnight. It is very simple and everytime I make it, I get RAVE reveiws. I will send it to you tomorrow.

d.

I usually make eggstrata with mimosa's for Easter brunch. You can put it together the night before and add what you like. I use egg bread, green pepper, onion, cheddar cheese, ground browned sausage. That would be good with ham too.

If its more lunchish, ham and pittsburgh potatoes are really good together or ham and potatoe salad.

I always do quiches when I have my in-laws over on Christmas morning b/c I can prep all the ingredients the night before and they can bake while we open gifts (they take an hour) and even the kids love them. Here's my favorite recipe:

Ham and Cheese Quiche:
1 cooked ham slice, diced (about 2 cups)
1 cup shredded swiss cheese
1/2 c diced onion
2 c milk
4 eggs
1 cup Bisquick

The night before, dice your onion and ham and store. In a separate container, mix the last 3 ingredients and store in fridge. Day of, preheat oven to 400 F and layer cheese first, then onion and ham into greased 9 or 10 inch pie plate. (Note: if you use 9", it will be very full so put a cookie sheet under it to make it easier to move in the oven.)

Give the Bisquick mix a stir and pour it in. The ham and Bisquick will make it salty, but if you want to add some pepper do it now and then bake for 1 hour uncovered.

However, if you are doing a ham or another type of meat, I would cook and have it sliced before your guest arrive and keep it warm in the oven so that you can get that mess taken care of before they arrive. I also suggest doing a nice assorted bread basket like croissants, muffins, maybe some boxed quick breads that you can slice up ahead of time like orange and cranberry. Save yourself time and go to a wholesaler like BJs or Sam's- BJs has great croissants and muffins! Also, I always have fresh fruit and veggies and when time is a constraint and I'm cooking for a lot of people like this, I spend a little extra and have small trays made at a local store. It gives people something to eat right when they get there and keeps them out of the kitchen while I'm frantically trying to finish last minute details! ha ha Try Kraftfoods.com for side dish recipes that are easy and have only a few ingredients. I also swear by Taste of Home magazine and their website. Most of my cooking ideas come from there. Have a wonderful Easter!

Mini muffin egg omlete. Spray mini muffin pans with oil/ or non-stick spray. Mix eggs, milk, cheese, chopped ham, or chopped onions, or chopped vegetables.

Pour into mini muffin pan and bake in the oven at 350 degrees. Pull when the tops have puffed and are brown and do not jiggle.

(sorry, my recipe is very loose. I'm not a great one for following strict recipes and instead I often wing it).

Here was the original inspiration for this recipe but i found it too work intensive http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/108480

Johnsonville Fresh Sausage had a coupon and a recipe in the Sunday newspaper coupon section.
It's called "Sunrise Breakfast Casserole
Yield 12-15 servings.
2 pkgs. (12moz. each) Johnsonville Breakfast sausage links
9 eggs
3 cups milk
1-1/2 tsp. groumd mustard
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
2 pkgs. (20 oz. each fegrigerated shredded hash browns
2 cups (8 oz each) shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cuo diced sweet red pepper
1/3 cup thinly sliced green onions
2 cups salsa or picante sauce, optional
Bake sausage at 375 degrees for 15 -20 min. or until it is
no longer pink, turning once; drain & slice into 1/4 in. slices. In a large bowl, combine eggs, milk,mustard,salt & pepper. Add hash browns,sausage,cheese,sweet red pepper & green onions; mix well. Pour into greased 13"x9" baking dish, cover & refrigerate overnite.
30 minutes before baking, remove from frig. Bake uncovered at 350 deg. for 65 to 70 min.or until set and golden brown. Let stand 10 min. before serving. Serve with salsa/picante sauce if desired.

I think this is like a souffle, so inserting a knife in the casserole and if it comes out clean, IT'S DONE! I hope this works for you, I'm going to try it myself

If you are having traditional ham, pineapple filling is a nice addition, (Kids and adults like it) 8 to 10 slices of bread, cubed, 1 can crushed pineapple unsweetened, 1/2 stick butter or substitute melted, 1/2 cup sugar, 4 eggs, mix together put in casserole dish, spray dish. Bake 350 for 45 to 1 hr. Enjoy!! My kids now grown still want this at the holiday. J. W. Sellersville, PA

We always host Easter brunch. I usually make a couple of quiches or a french toast casserole. I also do a hash brown casserole that everyone seems to love.

French Toast
INGREDIENTS
5 cups bread cubes
4 eggs
1 1/2 cups milk
1/4 cup white sugar, divided
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon margarine, softened
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly butter an 8x8 inch baking pan.
Line bottom of pan with bread cubes. In a large bowl, beat together eggs, milk, 2 tablespoons sugar, salt and vanilla. pour egg mixture over bread. Dot with margarine; let stand for 10 minutes.
Combine remaining 2 tablespoons sugar with 1 teaspoon cinnamon and sprinkle over the top. Bake in preheated oven about 45 to 50 minutes, until top is golden.

Hash Brown Casserole
INGREDIENTS
1 (2 pound) package frozen hash brown potatoes, thawed
1/2 cup melted butter
1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of chicken soup
1 (8 ounce) container sour cream
1/2 cup chopped onions (I usually don't put this in, my family is not a fan of onions)
2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 cups crushed cornflakes cereal
1/4 cup melted butter

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
In a large bowl, combine hash browns, 1/2 cup melted butter, cream of chicken soup, sour cream, chopped onion, Cheddar cheese, salt and pepper. Place mixture in a 3 quart casserole dish.
In a medium saucepan over medium heat, saute cornflakes in 1/4 cup melted butter, and sprinkle the mixture over the top of the casserole.
Bake covered in preheated oven for 40 minutes.

Hope this helps!

Hi L.. I have always had success with my Breakfast Bake at Christmas. You make it the night before, and bake it the next morning. There are lots of different variations you can find on the internet, but here's my recipe.
Cut 8-10 pieces of bread into quarters and layer them in the bottom of a 13 x 9 pan. Fry up about 1/2 pound each of bacon, ham and sausage and after draining sprinkle onto the bread. Sprinkle a little over 1/2 cup shredded cheddar over meats. Beat 6 eggs with a teaspoonful dry mustard, 1/4 cup milk, and salt and pepper to your taste. Pour this over, then sprinkle another 1/2 cup cheese over top. Cover with aluminum foil and refrigerate. The next morning bake it at 350 for 45-50 minutes. Yummy!!

I have a great recipe for a french toast casserole. I made it for Christmas breakfast and it was so good! Let me know if you would like that.