I am excited to share sensational brunch-worthy healthy recipes that are perfect on the Mediterranean Diet. All of these recipes are already on the Olive Sunshine website. Last week Thursday, I realized one of my best friend’s did not have firm plans for her birthday on Saturday. She had several activities planned around the weekend, but nothing specific for her actual birthday day. Starting off with a surprise brunch with the girls is a great way to start your day, right?
Easy enough right? The problem is that I am a planner. I had no grocery, no menu and no plan. Hosting a unplanned brunch in 36 short hours (with a full day of work in-between) is a challenge. I was more prepared than I thought. Why? Little did I know, Olive Sunshine Breakfast Recipes already has the the perfect brunch-worthy Mediterranean Diet recipes. Typically, when I host guests, I try new recipes, or complicated concoctions. To pull this unplanned brunch off, and make it look effortless, I knew I needed to stick with what I knew. The fact that Olive Sunshine’s healthy recipes are perfect on the Mediterranean Diet makes it even better. I find my guests love to enjoy delicious food even more when they know it is good for them!
The Menu for a Sensational Brunch
- Poached eggs in Goat Cheese and Fresh Chives
- Fresh Berries with Mint
- Nova Lox, Almond Cheese, Goat Honey Cheese, Tomatoes and Capers
- Mediterranean Farro Breakfast Bowl
- Easy Homemade Wheat Bagels
- Crustless Sweet Potato Quiche
- Sourdough Wheat Waffles
- Virginia Style Crab Cakes
A Beautiful Brunch Table Setting
Traveling in Italy, I love to see the emphasis given to meals. Sharing meals with others, using nice plates, and glassware and taking time to savor the meal and enjoy company is very Mediterranean. The Mediterranean Diet is more than a list of preferred foods, but also an approach to see eating special enough to gather around the table. A birthday brunch with healthy recipes is the perfect time to set a beautiful table. Using my new linen tablecloth from Sicily for my dear friend’s birthday made me happy!
The Timeline to Make Several Brunch Worthy Healthy Recipes Happen
Thursday night, I was able to reach out and invite my guests, create my menu and list for the grocery. Fortunately, my Sweetheart was up to making the trek to grocery store on Friday while I was at work. He does sound like such a dream doesn’t he? But believe me, it is not without ulterior motives. He knew that all of these dishes would provide him fabulous leftovers for the rest of the week.
To keep peace in our home, we still kept our traditional date-night Friday night, enjoying a glass of wine and shrimp cocktail on the intercoastal at an island restaurant. We did make it an early night so that I could set the table once we got home. I find it is best to do that first so the day of the event the focus can be on the food. Determining the linens and glassware are my favorite part of hosting. Selecting the serving dishes for the buffet also takes away the stress the day I am plating items. Before going to bed, I prepped a few things, like baking off the sweet potatoes to use for the crust of the quiche and making the farro.
An 11 a.m. start time is perfect, because you have plenty of time to put everything together. The warming drawer of my oven is my best friend. While the quiche was baking off, I was making the bagels. Shaping them and letting them do a slow rise in the fridge was ideal. It was easy enough to pop them in the oven 20 minutes before my guests arrived. While the crab cakes were broiling, I put together the nova lox and fruit platters. Pouring the batter on the griddle while the bagels baked made sure the house smelled like a bakery when the guests arrived. Once the guests arrived, I turned on the pot of eggs and allowed guests to enjoy coffee, fresh squeezed juice or mimosas as they poached.
The Brunch Worthy Healthy Recipes
Mediterranean Farro Breakfast Bowl – Save one dish with feta and the other without to accommodate vegan guests. Place this warm savory dish next to your perfectly poached eggs letting them decide if they want to top it with an egg.
Sourdough Wheat Waffles – One of my first-ever Olive Sunshine Recipes, these are healthy and fluffy. Cut each square in half to encourage your guests to indulge. They need to save room for everything else. Do not forget the real maple syrup and place the fresh berries nearby.
Easy Homemade Wheat Bagels – These mini bagels are just perfect on any brunch table. Make sure these are served warm. Easy to make with only five ingredients and they are baked instead of boiled.
Crustless Sweet Potato Quiche – Everyone’s favorite dish of the day. This super simple sweet and savory dish is easy enough for a weekday breakfast but sensational enough to be a brunch-worthy healthy recipe. I use 1.25 of the recipe in one quiche when hosting a crowd to ensure a big, fluffy quiche that is big enough to share with all of my guests. This one will not last.
Virginia Style Crab Cakes these delicious crab cakes are perfect for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It stands to reason a big platter of mini-crab cakes would be the perfect addition to your healthy Mediterranean Diet brunch!
Whether you use one or all of these Sensational Brunch Worthy Healthy Recipes that are perfect the Mediterranean Diet, I hope you take the time to slow down, savor and enjoy with those you love.
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