Betty Hosts A Brunch

Brunch or breakfast seems to be one of the more difficult meals to prepare for guests. Perhaps because the ingredients need such precise timing.
We recently had friends over for brunch and with some pre-planning, everything got on the table perfectly cooked.

The menu consisted of Eggs Benedict, with a crab cake in place of the usual Canadian bacon, spinach salad, a choice of juices, coffee and cake.

To pull this off, I started the day before.

1. Set the table and arrange flowers.
2. Poach eggs. Yes, you can do these a day ahead. Simply drop them in a bowl of ice water the minute they are cooked and refrigerate.
3. Prepare and cook crab cakes. I broiled them on a sheet pan, cooled and covered them and refrigerated.
4. Slice English muffins.
5. Separate egg yolks for Hollandaise sauce. (Freeze whites for another use.)
6. Squeeze lemon juice, add water, cover and refrigerate.
7. Clean and stem spinach.
8. Slice mushrooms.
9. Prepare salad dressing.
10. Take a nap!

The morning of the brunch, it was a simple matter to make coffee, toast the muffins, reheat the crab cakes and eggs, toss the salad, pour juice, and make the Hollandaise just before our guests were expected.
Dessert was easy - my sister brought it!

Recipes for the crab cakes, spinach salad, and Hollandaise are all here on the website together with how to perfectly poach eggs.

English Muffin Pizza

A quick lunch or an afternoon snack, this easy-to-prepare recipe fits the bill!

Cooks are usually very sociable people.  After all, you don't prepare a delicious meal just for yourself - you want to share it with others.  And because of that you find you have a store of wonderful food associated memories.  This particular very simple recipe has two very fond memories for me.  One - it's first thing I taught my grandson to cook for himself and two - when my favorite aunt and uncle from Scotland were visiting us I prepared this one day for lunch.  My uncle enjoyed it so much I had to make it every day thereafter for the remainder of their visit!

1 English muffin, split and lightly toasted

two thick slices ripe tomato

two slices aged cheddar cheese

pinch of salt

a few grindings of black pepper

a sprinkle of mixed Italian herbs

On a foil lined pan, place a slice of tomato on a muffin half, sprinkle with seasonings and top with cheese.  Place under a broiler for two or three minutes or until the cheese is nicely melted.    WATCH THE VIDEO



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