Easy Ideas for Hosting a Holiday Lunch or Brunch
Spring is here! Thinking about hosting a lunch or brunch for Good Friday or Easter with a few friends or family?
Take the stress off yourself so you have time to enjoy your guests and actually spend some quality time with them. Here’s some EASY food ideas, most of which can be made or purchased in advance.
Make your brunch or lunch a “help yourself” buffet. Plan on ONE hot dish and plenty of sides that you can make or buy the day before. Limiting the hot dish to just one with plenty of easy cold sides will keep folks more than satisfied and, more importantly, keep you out of the kitchen.
HOT DISH CROCK-POT IDEAS:
A crockpot will not only cook the dish, but can keep it warm as folks come and go. Great for self-serving.
MEATBALLS: Simmer turkey or beef meatballs in a store bought marina sauce or go old-school with swedish meatballs.
SLOPPY JOE SANDWICHES: Still loved by kids and adults alike.
CHICKEN BARBECUE SANDWICHES: Shredded chicken cooks great in a crock-pot. See basic free-style recipe below.
NOTE; A side of Cole Slaw always goes great with Sloppy Joes and Chicken Barbque sandwiches (some people put the slaw on their sandwich). Add a platter of assorted buns next to the crock-pot for folks to make their own sandwiches (yes, people will like meatballs by themselves OR in a bun).
NO CROCK-POT, NO PROBLEM: Substitute a tray of assorted deli meat, cheese and gourmet breads for folks to make their own sandwiches or serve a pre-baked ham. Another idea is to buy store-bought quiches that you bake and serve.
DON’T FORGET THE CONDIMENTS: Pickles, olives, marinated vegetables, horseradish sauce, Thousand Island dressing, honey mustard, etc. (depending on what you are serving).
EASY SIDES: Many stores have good quality sides like you see below. Buy them from your favorite store OR buy some and make the easiest ones yourself.
Cole slaw, potato salad, pasta salad, tuna salad, mixed green salad, bean salad, assorted cheese tray – and my personal favorite and appropriate for Easter: DEVILED EGGS!
DRINKS: Keep a pot of coffee going or easy access to your Pod coffeemaker. Other ideas: Sparkling water, orange juice and soda. For a small intimate gathering, mimosas.
DESSERT: Why spend precious time in the kitchen when local stores and bakeries carry a wealth of assorted mini-pastries, mini-cupcakes, bundt cakes and gourmet cookies. A varied assortment of easy to grab and eat desserts are sure to please everyone walking through your door.
FREE-STYLE RECIPE for SHREDDED BARBEQUE CHICKEN SANDWICHES
Cut the chicken breasts in half lengthwise and place in the crock-pot. In a separate bowl mix together enough equal amounts of water and your favorite thick barbeque sauce to cover the chicken (for a thicker sauce, cut back on the water).
Add diced green pepper and onions, salt and pepper to taste – a dash or 2 of hot sauce optional. Also keep a bottle of extra hot sauce on the table for folks who really want to spice it up! GENERAL GUIDELINE: for 4 chicken breasts, dice 1 green pepper and 1 onion.
Follow your crock-pot directions for cooking time. When chicken in the crock-pot is done, remove the chicken breasts and shred the chicken with a knife and fork. Return the shredded chicken to the crockpot and keep it warm for when the guests arrive.
ENJOY YOUR INFORMAL LUNCH OR BRUNCH – THERE’S NO SHAME IN KEEPING IT SIMPLE AND USING STORE BROUGHT FOOD OR A MIX OF YOURS AND THEIRS! As long as it’s tasty, no one will care!
HAPPY EASTER!