Brunch Help - vegetarian AND no eggs!!

[jenhen2]

I am a new mother and my husband and I are hosting a brunch/playdate for a couple we met and their 8 month old son. The catch is that the guests have requested (because I asked) something vegetarian where "eggs are not the main ingredient". So I was thinking a yogurt parfait and coffee cake might work, but that seems pretty sweet. Then I saw a recipe for a ricotta and leek tart made with puff pastry that might be good. Pancakes or waffles might be OK, but I would rather make as much as possible in advance given I will have to tend to my 3 month old baby that morning. Any other ideas for me? I'd like it to be nice, but don't need it to be over the top. Thanks so much!!

[MoCoMe]

how about some bagels and a variety of toppings?

or dim sum?

here's an old thread http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/390029

[blinknoodle]

What about baked oatmeal?
This one is delicious:
http://www.sevenspoons.net/blog/2009/...

Smitten Kitchen's oatmeal pancakes are also really good, but I agree that pancakes are labour intensive but maybe muffins could be easier to make?

[piccola]

Baked oatmeal is a great idea!

If you're into pancakes but don't want the effort of making individual ones, why not a Dutch Baby or two? You just shove them in the oven and wait.

[cathyeats]

I just made a baked oatmeal with fresh blueberries, and it was so delicious. Easy, too, because you put it together the night before. I had never made baked oatmeal before and was surprised by how much I like it.

Here is the recipe. Note the no-egg variation using ground flax. You can see what it looks like here: http://www.whatwouldcathyeat.com/2011...

Baked Blueberry Oatmeal

2 cups old fashioned oats
½ cup unsweetened applesauce
1 large egg, beaten
1 tablespoon canola oil
1 cup nonfat milk
½ cup yogurt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons turbinado sugar, or other sweetener
½ teaspoon vanilla
1 cup fresh blueberries
½ cup walnuts or pecans, chopped

Vegan variation: substitute 2 tablespoons ground flax seed whisked with ¼ cup water for the egg; substitute 1 ½ cups almond milk for the yogurt and milk.

Combine all ingredients except blueberries and walnuts in a medium bowl. Cover and refrigerate overnight. In the morning, preheat the oven to 350. Lightly oil an 8-inch square baking dish. Place the blueberries on the bottom, and cover with the oatmeal mixture. Sprinkle the walnuts on top. Bake, uncovered, for 35 minutes. Slice and serve, either plain or topped with warm milk.

[Diane in Bexley]

What about a strata casserole? You can make this the evening before and pull from the fridge to cook in 45-60 min. The structure is basically some kind of bread, cheese, cooked veggies, meat (optional), and an egg/milk custard to bind. If you are interested, let me know I have lots of variations.

[CocoaNut]

I realize you're in NY and grits don't typically appeal to "y'all!", but.... if cheese is allowed, there are some great brunchy grits recipes used as a vehicle for most any other meat/veggie ingredient you fancy.

[MellieMag]

CocoaNut, I was scrawling down here with the idea of suggesting grits recipes. I obviously agree with youl

[piccola]

How about some kind of veggie hash? I'd include either beans or tempeh for protein (tofu tends to scramble instead of keeping its shape). The ingredients could be precooked, you'd just need to reheat before serving. Maybe serve with some biscuits and veggie gravy...

[Quine]

"vegetarian where "eggs are not the main ingredient"

Are you sure that cheese would be OK? Worth asking to be clear.

I think the breakfast burritos/soft taco idea is great! Nice whole grains and beans with some salsa, chilis etc. Nothing that really needs prepping ahead other than some tomatoes and lettuce. Fact the salsa and beans would get better if served a day or so after. Plus, if there are leftovers they are easy to freeze for later.

[margib]

or a make your own breakfast taco buffet-eggs optional

[rjlebed]

Ina Garten's Paris cookbook has a great recipe for Spinach in Puff Pastry. It always gets rave reviews. http://www.grouprecipes.com/66616/spi...

I highly recommend it!

[Euonymous]

You can cook some raised waffles the day before your brunch, freeze them, then reheat them in the oven on brunch day. I do this all the time and they really reheat beautifully.

[jenhen2]

I have always wanted to try yeasted waffles! Unfortunately, I don't want to spend so much time hovering over the waffle iron, even the night before. But this is a great reminder to make them for myself soon - thanks! Do you have a recipe you like?

[Euonymous]

Here is a link to the recipe I have always used:
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Raised-Waffles-40050

I used to feel the way you do about hovering over the waffle iron, but I recently got a new one by Cuisinart that makes six (admittedly smallish) traditional waffles at a time and they don't take long at all. I can be done cooking a batch of them in 15 minutes or so.

http://www.cuisinart.com/products/waf...

[monavano]

I'm guessing that "eggs not the main" will leave room for eggs being part of the ingredients, not the center of the dish, as is scrambled or over easy. That said, a Spanish Tortilla might work.

[jenhen2]

Thanks so much for the great ideas. They were pretty clear that eggs not the main means no fritata, quiche, etc. so I think that rules out a tortilla. I have some new individual trifle cups, so I might do a berry and greek yogurt parfait with toasted nuts, home fries and the ricotta tart. The brunch is actually at 9am due to children's nap schedules, so I think the tart with salad might be too lunch-y. I think with coffee and juice this will work. Thanks again for the inspiration!

[Fiftyishfoodie]

I'm hungry right now so forgive me - pan roasted potatoes (with onions and garlic). Gently mix in black beans and chopped cilantro. Can be kept warm in oven. Add a crude salsa, sour cream or crema on top. Serve with whole grain bread or tortillas. Fruit salad would go great with it.

[tzurriz]

Why not make a bread pudding? Either sweet or savory. You can prep it the night before, and just pop it into the oven. Add a fruit salad to that, and you are all set.

[milklady]

As a (mostly) vegetarian who really dislikes eggs, I belive that bread pudding is likely to be too eggy. But for others it would be a big hit!

[milklady]

That tart sounds delicious. I also love to make tofu scramble, with lots of veggies. With either one, serving green salad, and/or fruit salad, and or some type of muffin or scone would be wonderful.

[katecm]

I think the ricotta and leek tart sounds lovely, actually. Like a quiche but not a quiche. I'd just still keep some fruit around so it's still a bit breakfasty - maybe even serve it with a green salad with a bunch of berries and a poppyseed dressing?