We are remembering the look and scent of a busy, busy kitchen. The tinkling and jingling of glasses and silver. Anxious voices whispering orders, and guests joining in to prepare the dishes on the Brunch Menu...everything was cooking! All the merriment of friends greeting friends after a long interlude. Glee and excitement when the children arrive...how much they had grown since the last party? Passing out the Champagne and sparkling juice to toast a reunion...the memory is so precious and the blueprint for a festive, easy brunch is right here!
The centerpiece of the Table was the giant Croque Monsieur from a great website called 5 Star Foodie. We did her recipe with a few changes due to what we had on hand. We had left over carne asada so we chopped that and added to the ham. We also used muenster cheese in addition to the gruyere, so as you can see, this recipe can be very flexible. The important thing here is that it feeds a big crowd with ease. We made our Old Masini favorites, the apple pie and flan, in advance. We had a dip of sour cream and brown sugar and a huge platter of giant strawberries so we put that out with a glorious garden salad. We added some favorite biscuits, hash browns and it was a fine party. Sometimes the best times are uncomplicated...easy!
Please find recipes at the links below...
Brunch Menu
Croque Monsieur Baked with Tomato & mint by 5 Star Foodie
Hash brown potato patties
Biscuits ~ honey butter
Garden salad ~ Strawberries with Brown Sugar dip
Meyer Lemon Apple Pie
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Posted by: Ralph Lauren | August 14, 2011 at 08:18 PM
The recipe is simply great... I'm very much thankful to you for making table full of recipes...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrSTQDVc0tc They look very colorful and Delicious. I'm glad to visit your blog... Well done..
Posted by: New recipe | April 08, 2011 at 01:08 AM
You're amazing!
Posted by: coachmimi | July 21, 2009 at 05:26 AM
What a feast and wonderful selection of items for the menu. I would have made a 'b' line to the biscuits with honey butter. :) mmmm
Posted by: Pink Foodie | June 01, 2009 at 03:17 PM
Yum! Looks like a great menu -- and a great bunch of people.
Posted by: lo | June 01, 2009 at 10:33 AM
Your guys are amazing & the feast looks awesome! Well done!
Posted by: Blackswan | June 01, 2009 at 02:50 AM
Wow food looks deliciously yummy!!
Posted by: Arlene | May 31, 2009 at 08:00 PM
So glad to hear the fires have ended and you are feeling relaxed. Looks like you had a wonderful day with friends!
Posted by: Debi | May 28, 2009 at 05:04 PM
Glad to know you escaped unscathed! Great looking brunch!
Posted by: LisaSD | May 28, 2009 at 02:00 AM
Have you ever heard of the Croque Madame?
Great posting!
Feel better for reading it!
Cheers,
Robert-Gilles
Posted by: Robert-Gilles Martineau | May 27, 2009 at 06:55 PM
Sounds like the best reason to be celebrating and what better way to do it than with family, friends and wonderful food. 5Star's croque monsieur sounds divine, but then so does everything else.
Posted by: oysterculture | May 27, 2009 at 03:53 PM
I would eat brunch for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and snacks if I could. What a feast! I love every recipe from 5 Star Foodie's blog. She is amazing!
Posted by: Sophia | May 26, 2009 at 07:00 PM
Fantastic brunch - everyone looks quite happy and satiated! 8-) I'll have to try 5 Star's Croque Monsieur for the next time we have family over.
Posted by: Tangled Noodle | May 25, 2009 at 08:15 PM
Looks great! I love brunches. I wish my family would have more of them...
Posted by: Kamran Siddiqi (The Sophisticated Gourmet) | May 25, 2009 at 08:03 PM
What a fun brunch - everything looks awesome and it sounds like it turned out great!
Posted by: Danica | May 25, 2009 at 02:50 PM
Great spread, a big croque monsieur wow! I would have never thought of that.
Posted by: Kip @ The Porky Gourmand | May 25, 2009 at 12:51 PM
That looks incredible; what a feast!
Posted by: Julia Parsons | May 25, 2009 at 11:15 AM
This looks like a wonderful brunch! Thank you for sharing!
Posted by: Terecita | May 24, 2009 at 10:04 PM
What a gorgeous spread of food! A lovely brunch! And I'm so sorry for the loss of homes. But good to hear the fire is out now.
Posted by: Reeni | May 24, 2009 at 06:58 PM
This is a fabulous spread, but I dont envy the person who had to do the dishes :)
Posted by: Heavenly Housewife | May 23, 2009 at 01:40 PM
So glad the fires are out! We have family in San Diego and there have been some scary times. What a lovely celebratory brunch. Something for everyone and the crowd at the dinner table looks happy and ready to feast.
Posted by: Claudia | May 23, 2009 at 01:10 PM
I would consider anyone helping with the fire family. I lost everything in a fire when I was ten and it is still a vivid memory.
Posted by: Miranda | May 23, 2009 at 10:16 AM
First of all, I would like to thank you for being such an amazing supporter of my blog.
Secondly, your pictures are so great!!!
I moved away from my family three yrs ago and it is so hard. I love seeing family oriented cooking!!!
Posted by: Miranda | May 23, 2009 at 10:12 AM
wow! that looks like a delicious brunch!
Posted by: mrs lavendula | May 23, 2009 at 10:12 AM
I'm glad to hear the fires are out and everyone is safe & sound! Your meal looks fantastic! Good for the soul.
Posted by: Cookin' Canuck | May 23, 2009 at 09:55 AM
what a wonderful brunch menu and I'm so glad that the fire is out and everybody can now laid back and relax :)
Posted by: Jessie | May 23, 2009 at 06:41 AM
The charm of your written word fills me almost as much as the sensuousness & taste of your food!!
Posted by: Michal Mitchell | May 23, 2009 at 03:41 AM
Looks amazing!
Posted by: Ruth | May 23, 2009 at 02:35 AM
Nice spread! So glad the fires are out and the firemen are well fed.
Posted by: curiousdomestic | May 22, 2009 at 06:24 PM
Everything looks wonderful! What a great brunch menu!
Posted by: Jen Schall @ My Kitchen Addiction | May 22, 2009 at 04:52 PM
What a great brunch - everything sounds delicious and I am so glad everyone liked the Croque Monsieur! Thanks!
Posted by: Natasha - 5 Star Foodie | May 22, 2009 at 03:15 PM
What a great brunch - everything sounds delicious and I am so glad everyone liked the Croque Monsieur! Thanks!
Posted by: Natasha - 5 Star Foodie | May 22, 2009 at 03:15 PM
Sounds like a fantastic brunch! So glad the fire is out.
Posted by: lisaiscooking | May 22, 2009 at 02:20 PM
Wow!! That's definitely a feast of a brunch. Looks wonderfully deicious. I wish I was there. hahaha...
Posted by: jenn | May 22, 2009 at 12:56 PM
The menu and the food sound so good-I love brunches:)Can we join in the next time there is a feast;)
Posted by: Sweta | May 22, 2009 at 11:49 AM