Easter Brunch at Home-Our Menu!

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     I am so excited to be hosting an Easter Brunch this year at our house! Traditionally, we have had a big Easter Dinner, but in order to accommodate everyone's schedules this year, everyone is going to attend church with us and then come back to our house afterwards for brunch!  There should be about 18 of us, including children.  That is a lot for our small house, but we have done that before.  But, coming up with a menu and how I want to decorate has been the things I have struggled with. Today I will talk about the food and save the decorating for another day. 
      When I think of brunch, I think of food items that can translate to breakfast or lunch.  They shouldn't be too heavy and everything should look beautiful and appetizing!  I also have had to consider many types of diets with so many people.  I have come up with a mixture of home cooked and also purchased items that I think will provide choices for everyone that they will enjoy and that will make everyone feel like this brunch satisfied their Easter holiday food expectations. I hope that you can find some ideas to add to your menu! These could also translate to a Mother's Day Brunch as well! 

Main Dishes

     I've decided to purchase croissants and crackers and to have 3 choices for fillings: 

• Baked Ham sliced for sandwiches-Ham is just so versatile and such a traditional Easter menu item. But, we have some who don't eat it, so there are alternatives.
• Chicken Salad-Lindsey posted a great recipe for Chicken Salad a couple of years ago.  It is a favorite with grapes and chopped apple. Sometimes I add a little curry to the spices.

• Veggies for the vegans! I will have lettuce, spinach, sliced peppers, tomatoes, onions and probably pickled onions as well!  You can go to the link for the pickled onion recipe. 

     The nice thing about all of these foods is that they can be eaten without bread by those who are gluten-free or low-carb eaters, or with crackers! Of course, there will be condiments on the side as well, like mayo, mustard, ranch and Italian dressings, salt, pepper...you know.

Side Dishes

• Fresh Fruit-melons, strawberries, etc. This is a no brainer, right?  This is something that is easy to ask someone to bring. 
• Deviled Eggs-These are required at any Reynolds' Family eating event!  Lindsey posted a recipe for them last Easter! 
• Cheese Platter-This can be for the sandwiches or just to enjoy with the fruit or alone.
• Vegetables and Dip-I saw a really cute idea that makes your vegetables look like a garden, with carrots in rows in the dip and maybe radish roses and some green onions.  When I get mine made, I'll take a picture and show it to you.

Beverages

      We will be serving a variety of juices and water.  This is one of the things I've assigned out! 

Pastries and Desserts

• Carrot Cake Roll!-Go here to find out how to get this recipe! 

• Coffee Cakes from the Bakery-These are a holiday treat I love to serve at Easter.
• Blackberry-Lemon Bars-To me, these just look like Easter! (or Valentine's Day, or Mother's Day, or any day)! That lemony sweetness is so bright and sunny with the sweet blackberries to set it off! If you haven't tried these bars yet, Easter is the perfect time to do so. 

• Vegan Cookies-Maddy makes these Triple Chocolate Vegan Cookies and they are just so good! you won't know that they are vegan! She tells me that she will be bringing these and another variety of vegan cookie!  Sounds delicious! 

• See's Candy and various other Easter Candy treats-Many of these will be used in my decorating.  Easter and Christmas are good reasons to splurge on See's Candy! 

The Plan!

    My plan is to shop and cook so that everything is finished and ready to put out the day before.  I will also set and decorate my tables.  The platters for food will be out and ready to fill.  Then, when we get home, it will be easy to pop everything onto the platters and serve! We will serve buffet style around our kitchen island and counters. Here are a few tips to help everything to work well: 

• My husband keeps reminding me that it is okay to assign things to others to bring.  That does help a lot with both the budget and your sanity! People usually offer to bring something, so let them! 
• Check in advance that you have enough platters and serving utensils, as well as eating utensils, glasses and napkins. 
• I love to use my nice dishes rather than paper plates, especially when there will be so much food.  But, if you prefer paper, get something sturdy and nice. Don't forget dessert plates as well! 
• Set food out in stations! I put the main choices first and then the sides all around my island.  On a separate counter I have a beverage station. Some things can go on the tables if necessary, such as the deviled eggs and crackers. 
• Don't get so overwhelmed with the details that you forget the real reason we are celebrating. #BecauseOfHim.

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     Those are my ideas! I would love to hear yours and what you are doing for your Easter dinner or brunch! Drop me a line in the comments! Most of all, have a blessed, wonderful, happy Easter! 
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