LesTout: Host a Christmas Morning Brunch

Who has time to host a Christmas brunch on the busiest morning of the year?

You do.

Right after the Christmas morning excitement, unwrapping, picture taking, assembling, trying on, oohing and aahing, you’ll be pulling together the last minute details of the perfect party.

You’ve done all the work ahead of time, planned everything perfectly, and your friends and family are looking forward to a delicious and festive brunch to help celebrate the holiday.

So gather up the torn Christmas wrap, preheat the oven and get ready: You’re about to host a Christmas brunch and kick up the holiday cheer a notch or two.

The Presentation

There’s no better time to get out your good Christmas dishes, the Santa mugs and anything sparkly, red and green.

If you’re looking to add to your holiday dishes this year, check out what Crate and Barrel, Target and WalMart have this year in party ware that is as affordable as it is fun.

Keep it casual. Instead of sitting at a set table, curl up in front of the fireplace, the Christmas tree, or in front of the TV with old holiday home movies playing. Set a large coffee table and put seat cushions on the floor.

Christmas Music

No matter what your musical tastes, there is a Christmas album just for you. This year, Josh Groban has a new album titled "Noel," and Patti LaBelle has "Miss Patti's Christmas". You can listen to a sample the new album "Carol of the Bells" on Emmy Rossum’s MySpace page. If instrumental is your thing, Mannheim Steamroller has a new Christmas album, "Christmas Song".

Or check the $1 bins for an old classic like Johnny Mathis singing "Winter Wonderland" or Bing Crosby crooning "White Christmas."

Christmas Brunch Food

You’ll want to serve something easy but delicious, something you can put together the night before, so your Christmas morning will be free for merrymaking.

Here are some recipes to consider for your Christmas brunch. Sausage Egg Strata is easy and a crowd pleaser. I like to serve a vegetarian alternative, so I’ve included a recipe for Southwestern Breakfast Casserole. Pecan Coffee Cake is a delicious complement to egg dishes. And doesn’t everybody love fruit? A plate of cut-up fruit with a bowl of fruit dip in the center is just what your party needs.

Serve this menu with coffee and eggnog or Christmas punch. After brunch, pass a plate of Christmas cookies you made earlier in the week.

Sausage Egg Strata

1 pound sausage
1 pound hot sausage
9 eggs, slightly beaten
3 cups milk
1 teaspoon salt
3 slices of bread, cubed
1 1⁄2 cups grated cheddar cheese

Cook sausage, crumble and drain off grease. Combine all ingredients and pour into a 9x13 baking dish. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Uncover and bake at 350 degrees until solid and slightly brown, about 1 hour.

Southwestern Breakfast Casserole

1⁄2 cup melted butter
10 eggs
1 pint cottage cheese
1 pound Monterey jack cheese, shredded
1 7-ounce can chopped green chilies, mild
1 teaspoon baking powder
1⁄2 teaspoon salt
1⁄2 cup flour

Melt butter in a 9x13 baking dish in a 350 degree oven. Beat eggs well and mix with other ingredients. Pour over melted butter in baking dish. (May be covered and refrigerated overnight at this point) Bake at 350 degrees until set and slightly browned, about 30 minutes. Let sit for 30 minutes before serving.

Overnight Pecan Coffee Cake

18 frozen bread dough dinner rolls
1⁄2 cup pecans
1 small box butterscotch pudding (not instant)
1⁄2 cup brown sugar
1⁄2 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1⁄2-1 stick butter, melted

Grease a Bundt pan and sprinkle pecans in the bottom. Put frozen rolls in pan on top of pecans. In a small bowl, mix together pudding mix, brown sugar, white sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle mixture over frozen rolls. Pour melted butter over all. (I sometimes use only 1/2 stick butter) Cover with a tea towel and let sit overnight. In the morning, bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes. Let cool for 5-10 minutes before turning over onto plate.

Fruit Dip

1 pint sour cream
1 small box instant vanilla pudding mix

Mix together until well combined. Serve with cut up cantaloupe, honeydew melon, strawberries, sliced kiwi and other fruit.

Christmas Punch
Combine 1 quart chilled cranberry juice, 1 quart chilled pineapple juice and 2 quarts ginger ale and stir gently. Serve with a mint sprig and a melon-baller scoop of pink sherbet.