Need brunch menu help

[rizzo0904]

I'm having a meet the baby brunch next weekend and need some menu help. Here is what I've got so far.

For drinks we will have coffee, tea, punch, and mimosas.

Breakfast food: apple cinnamon muffins, blueberry coffee cake, banana bread, quiche, and a fruit salad that has a sour cream/yogurt/honey sauce.

Lunch foods: mini chicken salad sandwiches and that's where i'm stuck

Dessert: brownies, pecan bars, maybe my rum cake since my in-laws LOVE it

[appycamper]

don't forget the cheese straws (pretty much a legal requirement in the south). cherry tomatoes stuffed with goat cheese. fruit salad with a side of yogurt mixed with vanilla and sweetener. romaine or endive leaves with shrimp salad. devilled eggs.

[Cherylptw]

Sounds wonderful; have a great time

[rizzo0904]

Thanks for the input. I think I'll drop the muffins and just do the coffee cake and banana bread. I have a TON of bananas so I need an excuse to use some of them up :) My aunt is bringing a quiche...I believe it has bacon and spinach in it. Since she's bringing only one, I may add a breakfast casserole of some sort with sausage, eggs, etc. We are having about 20 people so one quiche won't cut it. And I'll keep the fruit salad for those who just want something light.

For lunchy stuff I'll have the mini chicken salad sandwiches. I also got a recipe for BLT tartlets that sound really good so I may give them a shot...it seems easy to make as well and with 2 babies under 1.5 years old, I'm going for easy! And I think I'll do a tortellini salad with onion, grape tomatoes, olives, etc. I'll add another mini sandwich...just not sure what kind.

I changed my mind on desserts. I found a recipe for a sopapilla cheesecake pie that has great reviews and I want an excuse to try it. I'll make brownies for the kids since they like those. My mom is also bringing a dessert but I have no idea what it is. So that should be enough in that department.

I'll do some picky items as well like chips and dip (my grandmother's favorite) and a cheese and cracker platter with grapes, etc.

Does this look better?

[pamd]

I suggest a noodle kugel-- there are so many other types though if you prefer.

I make a great standard one that is ALWAYS requested for brunches (prep night before which helps). I also make a cinnamon pecan one if you'd like the recipes.

[rizzo0904]

I'd love the cinnamon pecan one...sounds yummy!

[pamd]

1 c chopped pecans
1/2 c pkd dark brown sugar
1/2 c margarine melted
16oz pkg extra wide noodles
6 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 c sugar
1 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350
combine pecans, brown sugar & margarine- put in heavily coated (with cooking spray) Bundt pan. Cook noodles according to pkg, drain & place in large bowl.
Add eggs, sugar, salt, & cinn, mix well. Pour into noodles & mix well, then pour into pan. Bake 1 hr, remove & cool on rack 10 minutes. Turn over onto plate.

[rizzo0904]

sounds yummy...thanks!

[LaLa]

I think it sounds perfect...have fun!

[sweetTooth]

What I want to know is how you plan to cook and bake all this when you have a new baby in the house! Shouldn't friends and family be the ones bringing you food? Well I guess some of them are.. You have my deepest respect. Congratulations!

[just_M]

I'm with you sweetTooth. Someone after my second child (I think my MIL) said to me "OK, Wonder Woman can do it all; but even she can't do it all at the same time!"

On the day of; when the loving hoard descends, the little's have a tendency to pick up on your level on anticipation/stress and start acting up in ways you had not planned, like suddenly becoming needy (your a Mom I'm sure your aware). Anyway in this instance purchasing a few items or truly doing ahead is not the worst thing when trying to graciously juggle so many needs, personalities and wants all while trying to maintain some semblance of sanity. You know KISS (keep it Sanely simple).

Have a wonderful "welcome to the family", I hope your day is as joyous as it deserves to be.

PS I did an open house for my 2nd child and really wish I had fallowed my own advise, regardless of what anyone expected. Actually I don't think anyone would have dared suggest I question my expectations. ;-} Again joy to you and yours M

[Cherylptw]

I agree that you have a lot of sweet bread items...I'd pick two out of the three (between the apple muffins, coffee cake & banana bread) and add a savory bread.

Herb scones, sausage & gravy biscuits or a biscuit with a meat is good and can be one of the lunch themed items. Pulled pork or turkey BBQ served with dinner rolls & cole slaw is usually well received. I'm also in favor of a salad of some sort, perhaps a grilled greek potato salad with grilled onions, olives, feta cheese & a light red wine vinagrette or a nice green salad with thinly sliced red onions, cucumbers & mandarin oranges with orange balsamic vinagrette.

IMO, I think the brownies & pecan bars are too much with the rum cake, especially after having the muffins, coffee cake, banana bread and blueberry cake. I'd do one cake and go for something like a fruit tart or pie or even a trifle, which is one of my favorite large crowd desserts. I also like Ina Garten's Lime Meringue Tart recipe.

[cookie44]

If you want to go with sandwiches, I'd keep the chicken salad and some more along the lines of tea sandwiches - cucumber, ham, tuna etc. and keep them small.

Maybe consider a savory baked good instead of muffins or cake or banana bread to help add some balance? Cheese scones, biscuits with bacon bits, etc.? When I look at this I'm seeing lots of sweets but only quiche and chicken salad as savory items.

[CocoaNut]

Get some color going with condiments..... Add small bunches (individual servings) of seedless red grapes, a couple of varieties of both pickles (b&b, sweet, hot, etc) and olives, maybe some cocktail onions, juliennes of bell pepper, carrots.....

In keeping with the sandwich theme, fresh made pimento cheese - using small, baked puff-pastry rounds are great. An old, standby finger food of boiled shrimp "cocktail" with traditional red sauce and/or a white remoulade.

Giada did an app of Artichoke Pesto on Ciabatta that I've been wanting to try, but according to the reviews, while very good to excellent..... it doesn't hold well over night AT ALL!!! Probably obvious, but I'd let the guests do the "spreading" so the bread doesn't get soggy.

[LaLa]

mini biscuits with ham, tomato pie, maybe some type of potato dish?

[JungMann]

It's not brunch without eggs? You could do a wilted winter greens quiche or perhaps a souffle or strata.

[joaniesl]

A blintz soufflé is always a favorite at my brunches. It can be prepared the night before and baked in the morning.

[southernitalian]

What kind of quiche and how many? How many people? If you made a variety of quiches, you might be good to go.

[valerie]

How many people are you having? Just curious because as much as I like all the breakfast foods, it sounds like a lot with the muffins, coffee cake and banana bread if it's a smallish crowd.

I was also thinking a pasta salad. Or, maybe something with smoked salmon.

[fmcoxe6188]

What about some sort of a greens salad with lots of fresh vegetables or even a pasta salad may do...