Make Ahead Brunch Ideas

If you have been a reader of this blog for any amount of time you know I’m all about family and community. I love gathering people around my table and practicing hospitality.

I find it interesting that there was a table with food and drink in the temple. That one of the sacraments of the Church is around a communion table. Jesus often used the gathering around food to teach and satisfy. One of the last times He spoke intimately with his disciples was around a table.

We were created to be fed physically, emotionally and spiritually.

Food and fellowship are important!

Because half of our children are adults now and we have grand-babies and everyone has conflicting schedules I am doing our Resurrection Day brunch on Saturday, rather than try to hurry a breakfast in on Sunday morning (our church meets early). Why We Must Celebrate

The family table is one of the most important places in the home. It can be a place to be fed physically, emotionally and spiritually.

The family table should be a priority. Not a priority in elegance or gourmet food, although both a nice, but a priority as a place to gather together, to break bread together and reconnect. You may not be able to do this every day, but on a regular basis it should be something the family looks forward to.

Be careful not to set the bar so high that you and your family are miserable. There are seasons of life that we are doing good just to get food cooked and on the table. Those seasons may be filled with paper plates, spilled cups and fussy babies and that is OK.

At the same time I would like to encourage you to set a few days a year aside as something special around the table. It will take some planning and extra work but it will help foster a love for the table and for special family times. Part of what we love about Christmas is the food, family gatherings and decorations. It creates memories that all of us carry fondly (and sometimes not so fondly).

The Key is to Plan Ahead

Plan your menu early in the week, don’t get overwhelmed with trying a bunch of new things.
If you are new to making the family table special keep the menu simple.
Cook anything you can ahead of time and freeze it. Casseroles and most desserts freeze well.
Prepare table decorations a couple days ahead and set them out of the way.

Involve Your Children

It may be as simple as picking some flowers, folding napkins, making special place-cards or being responsible for one of the foods to be served.
Make sure everyone cleans up. even little ones can do simple things like helping clear the table, wiping off the chairs, etc…
Coach them during the week what is good table manners and pleasant conversation.
Encourage the children to say thank you to whoever cooked.
Involve them, they need to be a part!

Here are some great brunch ideas:

Waffles can be made ahead of time and popped in the toaster that morning. Top with chocolate or fruit and whipped cream.

Biscuits (video tutorial) can be mixed up, cut and frozen a week before. Thaw them out a few hours before baking.

Muffins, mix up the night before, place in the refrigerator, pour and bake the next morning. Or bake them and warm them up in the microwave.

Fresh fruit, washed and in a pretty bowl the day before.