MAIN Home Life Entertaining Brunch

Brunch is the result of combining breakfast and lunch. Take a little bit of each meal and put them together for a late morning - early afternoon delight. Having a group of friends over for a brunch is one of the most relaxed party ideas imaginable.

There's none of the formality of luncheons or dinners. No invitations and decorations are usually limited to arranging the food attractively for your guests to choose their favorites. You may want to dress the table with a nice floral centerpiece, but keep it simple. No one wants to fuss before breakfast!

What can you serve at a brunch? The choices are endless. Any food that can be eaten for either breakfast or lunch is appropriate for a brunch. Some elaborate brunches even offer carving stations where roast turkey, ham and beef are served. Omelette aficionados have been know to offer at least a dozen fillings to pick and choose -- or combine in delicious pairings. Buttermilk pancakes can be topped with syrup or stuffed with un-breakfast-like fillings such as crabmeat or vegetable medleys -- or with jams and chocolate for the nondieters in the group. Waffles are another crowd pleaser, if anyone has a waffle iron handy. Smoked salmon is a favorite, as in bagels and lox! There are no food rules. Whatever you feel like cooking and serving fits this meal.

Mimosas and screwdrivers are common drinks at brunch time. A Mimosa is a mix of champagne and orange juice. A screwdriver is a glass of orange juice with an ounce of vodka. Both are served over ice. Many of your guests will prefer the orange juice with no alcohol, and any underage guests will have no choice!

One favorite bread at brunches is scones - easy to make and so delicious. Freshly bakes biscuits are a bit less exotic, but always welcome. Many hosts serve French Toast, another simple dish that has many variations to dress it up. This is not really toast, but a moist, mouth-watering distant relative by the time it is done.

Plenty of coffee and tea to make sure the caffeine drinkers wake up by the end of the meal is always important. These should be served with the meal but you can refresh any empties when the desserts are set out.

Of course, the choices will be dictated by the number of people you invite. If the brunch is a holiday or wedding festivity you may want to go all out, but for a simple weekend gathering of a few friends just choose one or two dishes.

Brunches are so much fun that friends often make a habit of getting together every weekend to enjoy this relaxed dining ritual. If you've never hosted one, give it a try and you'll understand why this mixed up meal is such a treat!

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