5 Dishes for a Memorable Brunch
Photo: Christopher Baker; Styling: Philippa Brathwaite
Bring Spring into Your Celebration!
No matter how you serve it, this is one party that even your most straitlaced friends will leave with some spring in their step. From
Poached Salmon Fillets to dainty
Tea Sandwiches to
Vanilla Cupcakes, this spring buffet is light and easy.
Short on prep time? You can make the dishes in advance so you'll be ready to host anything from a friend's bridal shower to Mother's Day brunch.
Use this handy guide for what to make when.
To get things started, plan on passing around flutes of Champagne (or add peaches to make
Peach Bellinis). For nondrinkers, you might also offer a fruity
Iced Tea or
Lavender Lemonade.
Photo: Christopher Baker; Styling: Philippa Brathwaite
Dainty Tea Sandwiches
Tea Sandwiches, easy for standing guests to handle, usually evoke raised pinkies and lowered voices. But here they're spruced up with an edging of chopped herbs, which gives them an especially spring-like dash. To keep last-minute prep to a minimum, you can assemble the sandwiches a day ahead and store them in the fridge (trim the edges and dip the sandwiches in the herbs just before you're ready to eat).
Photo: Christopher Baker; Styling: Philippa Brathwaite
Poached Salmon Fillets
The centerpiece is
Poached Salmon Fillets, paired with a
Green Sauce brightened by capers, herbs and garlic. Use wild fish rather than farmed, since it "has a truer salmon flavor and a firmer texture," says Susan, who recommends poaching because it's simple and avoids the risk of overcooking. Best of all, the fish can be prepared in advance and served at room temperature.
Photo: Christopher Baker; Styling: Philippa Brathwaite
Chopped Salad
Add a pop of color to your table with a fresh
Chopped Spring Salad featuring the season's best vegetables and greens.
Photo: Christopher Baker; Styling: Philippa Brathwaite
Mashed Potatoes
A perfectly simple side, these
Puffy Mashed Potatoes get a surprising lift from egg whites.
Photo: Christopher Baker; Styling: Philippa Brathwaite
Vanilla Cupcakes with Assorted Toppings
What really makes this meal memorable is the DIY (Do-It-Yourself) dessert. Susan suggests setting out a naked batch of
Vanilla Cupcakes and a selection of toppings and fillings—and letting your guests get creative. Because the cupcakes are sliced in half, there's extra room for
Chocolate Ganache,
Lemon Curd filling,
Vanilla-Bean Buttercream frosting, toasted nuts and coconut—or anything else you can imagine.
Prepare your feast with this guide on what to make when.
From the
Spring 2005 issue of
O, The Oprah Magazine
