Sunday Brunch Menu

Southwestern Breakfast Casserole

Cinnamon Raisin Pull-Apart Muffins

Roasted Marinated Vegetables

Fruit Platter with Honey Yogurt Dip

Quiche - 2 ways

Crab Cakes

Raspberry Cream Cheese Breakfast Buns

Mimosas

Bloody Marys

Lemon Pound Cake

Brownies

Southwestern Breakfast Casserole

This is a healthy alternative to a standard breakfast casserole.  I made this up myself after going through multiple breakfast recipes.  I was not sure how it was going to turn out but each time I have made it everyone has loved it!  It has turned into my go-to dish for brunch.

Ingredients

light wheat bread

1 pound Jennie-O breakfast turkey sausage (I bought the breakfast turkey patties and broke them up while I cooked them)

1-2 cups 2% Mexican style shredded cheese

1/3 cup chopped sweet onion

1/3 cup chopped bell peppers

2 cups southwestern egg substitute

4 egg whites

1 1/2 cups skim milk

1/2 tablespoon spicy brown mustard

salt and pepper

Directions

Coat 9x13 inch pan with vegetable cooking spray.  Tear bread into small pieces and cover bottom of pan with bread pieces (it should be about 9 pieces of bread).  Also, be sure to use LIGHT wheat bread because regular wheat bread will not soak up the egg mixture enough.  Cook turkey sausage in skillet; drain fat and let cool.  Once cooled, layer on top on bread in pan.  Layer onions and peppers on top of turkey sausage.  Finally, spread cheese on top of pan.  Combine egg substitute, egg whites, milk and mustard in bowl.  Whisk until well combined and salt and pepper to taste.  Pour egg mixture in pan.  Let sit in refrigerator overnight (this is very important).  In the morning, take out of fridge and let sit for one hour.  Then bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes to 1 hour.  Let sit for 30 minutes before cutting and serving (it will be very puffy when it comes out of the oven but will settle while it sits).  Serve and enjoy!

Cinnamon Raisin Pull-Apart Muffins

Although I have never made these muffins, they look SO yummy!  I am waiting for the perfect occasion to make them...and so is my roommate!  I found this recipe on Annie's Eats, one of my favorite blogs that I follow.  As soon as I make them I will let you know how they turn out; I have no doubt that they will be delicious!

Roasted Marinated Vegetables

Having vegetables when hosting a brunch is a must.  You need choices that will satisfy everyone's liking.  I like to use a variety of vegetables; assorted bell peppers, onions, carrots and asparagus.  This combination is simple for brunch and colorful enough for a pretty display.  I do not have an exact recipe because I just use whatever is in my refrigerator when making a marinade.  However, some staples I use are balsamic vinegar, olive oil, garlic and fresh herbs.  Slice all the vegetables and toss with marinade and refrigerate overnight.  Bake at 350 degrees until vegetables are tender; approximately 30-40 minutes. 

Fruit Platter with Honey Yogurt Dip

Another must-have at a brunch is fruit.  This honey yogurt dip is a nice way to dress-up a fruit platter.  It is simple but delicious!  Be sure to have a wide variety of colorful fruit that will stay fresh when cut.

Quiche - 2 ways

Quiche is the perfect dish to serve at brunch.  Two recipes that I found are a Bacon, Mushroom and Broccoli Quiche and Chicken, Olive and Cheddar Quiche.  It's a good idea to serve different types of quiche.  You want to be sure to have different meats in each one as well as different vegetables.

Crab Cakes

Since brunch is a combination of breakfast and lunch, be sure to serve a lunch dish!  Crab cakes are an easy way to dress-up any menu.  They are easy to make but they also add a wow-factor to the table.  William-Sonoma has a great recipe for crab cakes.

Raspberry Cream Cheese Breakfast Buns

Source: More from Magnolia Recipe Book, Allysa Torey - Magnolia Bakery 

Yields: 9 buns

According to this recipe book, these breakfast buns are Magnolia Bakery's most popular breakfast item.  Which means that they must be incredible considering that EVERYTHING from that bakery is amazing!

Ingredients
BUN:

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 pound (one 8-ounce package) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
1 cup sugar
2 large eggs, at room temperature
1/4 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

TOPPING:

1/2 cup raspberry preserves

GARNISH:

Confectioners' sugar

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Grease and lightly flour 9 bun pans or large muffin cups.

In a small bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.  Set aside.

In a large bowl, on the medium speed of an electric mixer, beat together the cream cheese, butter, and sugar until smooth, about 3 minutes.  Add the eggs and beat well.  Add the dry ingredients in two parts, alternating with the milk and vanilla.  Spoon the batter into the bun pans or muffin cups, filling them about two-thirds full.  Drop 3 small dollops (about a teaspoon each) of raspberry preserves onto the top of each bun and, using the tip of a sharp knife, swirl the preserves into the batter, forming a decorative pattern.  Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a cake tester inserted in the center of the bun comes out clean.

Allow the buns to cool for about 30 minutes before sprinkling with confectioners' sugar and serving. 

Mimosas and Bloody Marys

These drinks are pretty self-explanatory for an adult brunch!  Besides the obvious, coffee; mimosas and bloody marys top off the brunch.  Mimosas are half orange juice an half champagne.  The Food Network has a great bloody mary recipe.  Serve these drinks in fun glasses and enjoy your brunch!

Lemon Pound Cake

Dessert is a must!  It doesn't matter what time of day it is, I am ALWAYS ready for dessert!  Just be sure to keep it light since it is brunch.  Lemon pound cake is the perfect crowd-pleaser.  JoyTheBaker has a great lemon pound cake recipe.

Brownies

Last but not least, the best chocolate brownies ever!!  These are the perfect ending for this delicious brunch menu.  Maggie posted this recipe a couple of weeks ago and if you haven't made them yet, here is your chance!  There are no words to describe these brownies, they are just that amazing.

So now that you have your brunch menu all planned out, it's time to get started in the kitchen!  Enjoy :)