See You Later 2016!

December 31, 2016 by Brunchographers in At Home

Well brunchers, 2016 has finally come to an end. This year, we're grateful for our amazing friendships, the support of our families, our brunch adventures, and of course, all of you, our honorary Brunchographers! Thank you for letting us geek out over our love of eggs, lattes and pancakes and for following us on our quest to find the best meals between the hours of 9a and 2p! We thank you for coming along for the ride and can't wait to see what 2017 will bring.

As for next year, rather than set specific resolutions, we're looking forward to continuing to lead healthier and happier lives every day. To take time to identify the people and things in our lives for which we're grateful; to move our bodies as often as possible, whether we're sticking to our daily yoga routine or just finding 15 minutes to walk around the block; and to fuel our bodies with healthy food... most of the time! We're going to take it easy on ourselves this year and see where that leads us. Brunch is good for the soul, so we believe everyone can, and should, have a big plate of French toast or eggs benedict if the moment calls for it! Good meals bring us together and make our hearts and bellies happy, so let's celebrate with lots of memorable brunches in 2017 :)

Have a safe and happy New Year's Eve, and we'll see you next year!

Xo
Johnna + Veronica

Eggnog Coffee Cake Muffins

December 24, 2016 by Brunchographers in At Home

Do you remember that feeling you'd get as a kid, waking up on Christmas morning, knowing there was a little bit of magic waiting for you underneath the Christmas tree? It was pretty much the most exciting moment of the year; you'd rush to wake your parents, then run to the living room as fast as your little feet could take you. Then, of course, you'd savagely rip into your gifts, scraps of paper flying through the air like a tornado, while your parents sipped their coffee and silently cursed the clock for the early hour (sorry, Mom and Dad).

As an adult, there's still something a bit magical about Christmas morning. Even if there's not a rush to rip open gifts, it still feels special to laze around in pajamas and enjoy some coffee (or tea) with your family. And having a pre-prepared, simple breakfast to enjoy together always helps.

This year, we found a few great options for delicious, make-ahead breakfasts for Christmas morning. The first was the blueberry cream cheese French toast casserole that we made for our Yuletide brunch. Another is a recipe for eggnog coffee cake muffins that we found on a blog called Two Peas in Their Pod.

These muffins were perfect for enjoying with a cup of coffee on a lazy morning. They're dense, crumbly, and have the perfect balance of sweet and salty. The eggnog flavor is subtle, but adds a little extra something perfect for Christmas morning.

You can also top them off with a bit more eggnog flavor by adding a drizzle of some eggnog glaze. The glaze is super easy to whip up - just whisk a couple tablespoons of eggnog into some powdered sugar to your desired consistency, and voila! Drizzle to your heart's content. They're delicious either way.

Thank you for stopping by, and spending a little bit of your holiday with us! We hope you have a warm and wonderful holiday, full of fun, joy, and love. Happy (holiday) brunching!

Festive holiday table setting for our Yuletide Brunch!

A Yuletide Brunch with Friends: Drinks & Décor

December 17, 2016 by Veronica Kablan in At Home

With just a little over a week away until Christmas, it feels like magic is in the air! Lines at the post office are out the door and around the block. Neighbor's doorsteps are stacked high with Amazon packages. A once drab, familiar street now glows bright with thousands of tiny twinkle lights, and the She & Him holiday album is playing in pretty much every store you go in to.

This year, we learned that holiday decorating doesn't have to be expensive to be pretty. In fact, for our recent Yuletide Brunch, we did most of our decorating using office supplies, found and pre-owned objects, and a few key pieces from the Dollar Store (yeah, you heard me!) - and the end result was just as impactful as if we had spent hundreds at a high end store!

Cocktails and new friends at our Yuletide Brunch

We wanted our decorating scheme to reflect the overall theme of the brunch - simplicity. We chose a few straightforward, handmade tasks to take on, and got crafty with how we used some inexpensive, festive storebought additions. For our color palette, we kept it bright: mostly white in the form of paper snowflakes, twinkle lights, and taper candles, with hints of the most classic holiday colors, green and red.

To begin, we started with a base layer of existing Christmas decorations: a tree decked out in white lights and a mish-mash of ornaments amassed over many years, a faux pine garland and knit stockings above the fireplace, and a set of white-and-silver snowflake pillows and a throw blanket from Target.

Next, we added the most time-intensive of our decorating endeavours: the paper snowflakes. For a few weeks before the party, we kept a stack of printer paper and a pair of scissors nearby so we could craft a snowflake or two whenever a free moment appeared. The first ones looked a lot like the ones you may remember making as a kid - skinny lines of not-quite-round holes intersecting each other with a scalloped edge and a lot of white space. But after some practice, the snowflakes became more and more intricate and interesting. They are actually a lot of fun to make, and can leave you feeling like a Picasso when unfolding each tiny masterpiece.

To attach the snowflakes to the windows, we employed some scotch tape and fishing line, and very simply strung them in rows of four. It would be even lovelier to make double the amount, and create more of a blanket of snowflakes, like this beautiful tutorial we saw. Goals for next time!

Festive table setting for our Yuletide Brunch

Finally, we added some inexpensive finishing touches. For napkins, we repurposed white and red placemats we picked up in the bargain section at Target. As a charming place setting, Johnna created little Christmas wreaths out of rosemary sprigs tied into a loop with twine.

Little wreaths made from rosemary and twine

To add a natural, rustic feel, we picked up some cut greenery and pinecones and laid them down the middle of the table. We had a mix of different types of pine, holly, and greens with red berries for a pop of color. To add a some height and a warm glow, we mix-and-matched candle holders from the dollar store and our local craft store, and arranged them throughout the greenery. The end result was a bright, festive, and welcoming space that was perfect for celebrating the season!

Also helpful for celebrating the season? A nice brunch cocktail. We wanted to go with something lively, fresh, and bright, with a holiday twist - a Cranberry Mimosa was the perfect solution!

Adding the Prosecco to the Cranberry Mimosa

This vibrant, fizzy tipple is layered with orange juice, real cranberry juice (not the sweetened "cocktail" stuff), and prosecco, and is garnished with sliced oranges, pomegranate seeds, and whole cranberries. How festive and beautiful is that? We especially loved how gorgeous it looked before we stirred it to combine - almost like a sunset!

For a little extra "something," we made some pretty snowflake ice cubes using a molded tray, and added pomegranate seeds and a touch of cranberry juice to the water before freezing. This kept our drinks cool and added a bit more visual interest in the wide champagne coupe glasses.

Snowflake Ice Cubes with Pomegranate Seeds

The measurements for this drink are flexible, so you can adjust it to your own taste. We used approximately 1 part orange juice, 1 part cranberry juice, and 2 parts prosecco. Garnish with as much fruit as you like, and stir gently before serving.

We hope these suggestions offer some inspiration for your next holiday event! We learned that even just a little bit of holiday cheer can go a long way, and you don't have to spend big bucks to bring a some holiday magic into your home. And, simple can be beautiful!

Drippy wax on our candlesticks as we savor some delicious brunch!

Happy Holidays, Brunchers! We wish you a wonderful holiday season, full of friends, family, and lots of delicious food!

Baked brie with blackberry compote and spiced pecans

A Yuletide Brunch with Friends: The Food

December 14, 2016 by Veronica Kablan in At Home

That magical time of year is upon us: trees and homes are lit up with tiny twinkling lights, fireplaces are festooned with swags of pine and ribbon, and old friends gather to make merry and share fond memories of Christmases past.

December is a month in which you really don't need an excuse to host a fête. There is so much to celebrate this time of year, you'd be a bit of a Scrooge if you didn't attend a holiday party or two. So, it's really no surprise that the Brunchographers assembled once again to hold a festive brunch for our wonderful gang of thoughtful ladies.

Our theme this time around, you ask? Well, I'm going to let you in on a little secret. Our motto was "the simpler, the better." Throwing a party can be a lot of work, especially amidst a season that is exhausting in and of itself - so we thought, why put more stress upon ourselves? Let's keep it simple, keep it yummy, and have some fun.

Perhaps the most effective way we enacted our "the simpler, the better" rule was through pre-preparation. By breaking down our recipes and identifying tasks that could be done in the days leading up to the party, we were able to keep our day-of preparation to a minimum. This gave us plenty of time to focus on the details without feeling rushed or overwhelmed, and the food was just as delicious as some of our more ambitious brunches have been.

Topping off the Overnight French Toast with powdered sugar

We kept the decor bright, simple, and classic (and we'll be posting more on those details later this week), and chose an casual buffet-style setup for the food. This allowed guests to pick and choose which dishes they wanted to sample, and made it easy to come back for seconds if desired.

As a light and sweet treat to start, we set out some cranberry scones with whipped herb butter. Friends could nibble on them while they chatted and waited for everyone to arrive (or, cough, waited for us to stop photographing them). These were just the right amount of sweet, with a light, buttery texture. The herb butter - deceptively simple and rich in flavor - offered a perfect compliment to the sweet pastry dough and the tart cranberries.

Next, a warm and wonderful indulgence: baked brie topped with blackberry compote and toasted pecans. Can you imagine a prettier appetizer than this? The cheese absolutely liquefied into a warm cheesy pile of heaven, and it was perfect atop those incredible rosemary crackers from Trader Joe's (you know the ones). This recipe, which we found on a blog called Foolproof Living, is so simple yet looks very impressive - definitely one to bookmark for your next gathering!

baked brie topped with blackberry compote and toasted pecans and crackers

If you recall, we have a very important brunch rule that we take quite seriously: whenever possible, include some greens with your meal. Winter is the perfect time for greens, as the nutritious, dark leafy varieties are in season. For this salad, we started with a base of roughly chopped kale, layered on slices of roasted acorn squash, sprinkled the top with slivered almonds, pomegranate seeds, and ricotta salata, and finished with a light vinaigrette. The end result was a wonderful combination of vibrant winter flavors that looked just as festive as it tasted - and doesn't it look a bit like a Christmas wreath dusted in snow?

Salad with kale, roasted acorn squash, pomegranate seeds, almonds, and ricotta salata

The first main dish was the epitome of easy - overnight french toast casserole with cream cheese and blueberries. There is nothing more wonderfully lazy than waking up in the morning and popping a casserole in the oven while you sip your coffee and read the paper. And after about 45 minutes, you get this ooey-gooey, custardy, sweet mess of a reward. Yeah, it's not the prettiest thing we've ever made. But it tastes so good, it really doesn't matter. Make this. Preferably for Christmas breakfast. You won't regret it.

Blueberry Cream Cheese Overnight French Toast with a pecan streusel topping

Check out that sweet slice action on the Overnight French Toast with blueberries and cream cheese!

Next up, another make-ahead gem. These beautiful Eggs in Purgatory only look like you were slaving over the stove all morning - by pre-making the sauce, you'll only need a few minutes of hands-on work to put these together for your guests. These are also an ideal egg dish when cooking for a group, as many of them can be prepared at once in single-serving ramekins, rather than having to individually poach or fry eggs on the stove. This sauce is bright and flavorful with a spicy kick, and it's absolutely sinful when combined with runny eggs and soaked up with a thick slice of toast.

Individual Eggs in Purgatory and thick-sliced toast

Gettin' saucy with some Eggs in Purgatory

No good brunch would be complete without some side dishes, and we wanted to offer a few choices for our guests' varying tastes without over-complicating things. So, we (liberally) took some advice from our culinary idol Ina Garten, who taught us "you don't have to make everything from scratch," and headed to our local Whole Foods. There, we were amazed to find a bacon bar, which included the incredible sweet and savory blueberry bacon. We also picked up some of our favorite roasted baby potatoes, and a package of turkey bacon to fry up for guests who prefer something a bit lighter.

Shortcut sides: turkey bacon, blueberry bacon, and roasted baby potatoes

This menu offered a blend of festive flavors while remaining simple and fun to prepare (no stress-inducing over-complication here!), so we could enjoy our friends' company and laugh together over a delicious meal. The moral of today's story is that sometimes, it's OK not to be superhuman. Trust us, those pre-cooked potatoes from Whole Foods will not make or break your party - so go for it, sit back and enjoy yourself a little bit more.

Stop back in on Saturday for details on a delicious winter cocktail we whipped up and our simple-yet-impactful decorating strategy - much of which can be accomplished with things you already have (hint: we are now perennially covered in tiny shards of printer paper)! Until then, happy holiday brunching!

Recipe Index:

Cranberry Scones
The herbed butter was simple to whip up: soften two sticks of butter and mix with some chopped rosemary (about 1 tbsp) and honey (about 3 tbsp) to taste.
Baked Brie with Blackberry Compote and Spiced Pecans
The salad was inspired by this recipe, though we switched up the squash, cheese, and a few other little details.
Blueberry Cream Cheese Overnight French Toast
Eggs in Purgatory, which was adapted to omit pancetta as a vegetarian option

A Harvest Brunch with Friends

October 11, 2016 by Veronica Kablan in At Home

As is clearly evidenced by the title of our blog, we are very serious brunch enthusiasts. We love going out for brunch at restaurants, cooking brunch at home, and sometimes even eating brunch for dinner. What may not be known is that we are also very enthusiastic about entertaining. We love sharing a meal with friends, and sometimes the coziest place to do that is at home!

When entertaining guests, it’s always nice to have something to celebrate. It doesn’t need to be a major holiday, either; sometimes something as simple as a change in season can be cause for celebration. In this case, we wanted to host a brunch for some close friends in honor of that most nostalgic and heart-warming of seasons: autumn.

I use the term “nostalgic” for a number of reasons; mainly that here in Los Angeles, fall doesn’t really exist. The past few years, it’s been so hot that September through November have really just been an unwelcome extension of summer. We grew up on the East Coast, in cities up north where boots, thick socks, and scarves are actually useful. So, every year we find ourselves looking longingly at our East Coast friends’ Instagram feeds full of freshly fallen leaves, cozy sweaters in pretty autumn colors, and apple picking in cute flannel shirts and knit caps. We each separately even tried out that apple picking bit, and we just wound up sweaty and sunburned with a bunch of apples we didn’t know what to do with (it was too hot to make applesauce). Folks, you can’t force cute and cozy fall clothing here in Southern California; trust us. You’ll just wind up a hot mess.

I digress.

In honor of this nostalgia - of flannel and apples, of actual seasons and new beginnings, of cider and freshly fallen leaves - we celebrated the best way we knew how. With brunch.

There were yummy treats a’plenty. To sip, a simple spiked cider with bourbon and hot coffee (we turned on the A/C).

For the creative souls, a build-your-own toast bar with endless possibilities. Perhaps the most exciting topping was Johnna’s homemade ricotta in its perfect creamy glory. Paired with simple oven-roasted tomatoes and some fresh basil, it was heaven. Meanwhile, fresh farmers’ market figs and local honey satisfied those with a sweet tooth (me).

The centerpiece was a homemade quiche filled with roasted sweet potatoes, caramelized onions, baby kale, thyme, and gruyere.

Hearty accompaniments included chicken-apple sausages and simple roasted potatoes with garlic. And because we love to have greens with just about every meal, we couldn’t forget a big beautiful salad with arugula, roasted beets, candied pecans, pomegranate seeds, and avocado.

No brunch is complete without something sweet, so we celebrated the fruits of the season with some beautiful pastries that are deceptively simple to make: apple and cream cheese rosettes, hand pies with plums and thyme, and mini peach galettes.

More photos and event details in the gallery below!

Pretty Place Settings

Johnna hand-calligraphed the guests' names on to dried apple slices, and used twine to make a simple napkin ring. To get the color scheme just right, we chose fabrics from our local craft store and sewed the napkins and table runner ourselves. To add a touch of luxe and offset the deep green tones, we used gold flatware and chargers.

Seasonal Treats

We picked up a lot of the ingredients for our brunch spread from our local farmers market. It's always so exciting to see the produce selection change with the seasons!

Autumn Salad

One of our favorite fall veggies to add to a salad is delicata squash - unfortunately they hadn't arrived at the markets yet on the day of our party. Instead, we roasted up some golden beets, which added their own unique sweetness to the salad that we really enjoyed!

Autumn Salad with Spiced Maple Pecans

For a sweet and crunchy addition to any salad, try adding some simple candied pecans. We tossed ours in a little maple syrup, sprinkled them with salt and cayenne, and put them in a 375 degree F oven for about 3-5 minutes. Delicious!

A Quiche for Fall

This quiche was a riff on Smitten Kitchen's version; it's easy to customize a recipe like this to make the most of the flavors of the season.

Mini Nectarine Galettes

These are hands down the easiest to make, especially since we used store-bought puff pastry rather than making it from scratch. This shortcut saves tons of time, and still tastes great!

Plum and Thyme Hand Pies

These hand pies are super simple and have a really lovely flavor. We added elderflower liqueur to add a floral note to the filling.

Apple Cream Cheese Rosettes

These rosettes are so. pretty. And believe it or not, they're incredibly simple. Check out this video for step-by-step instructions (the narrator is pretty entertaining)! We edited the recipe a bit by spreading some cream cheese inside the pastry before rolling it up.

Homemade Ricotta

With just a few simple ingredients, you too can make delicious homemade ricotta! It's easier than you might think, and the results are absolutely delicious.

Toasts for Days

With just a handful of simple toppings, guests could make a variety of different types of toasts! We offered a few types of bread to choose from as well - these were made with a par-baked loaf we picked up at Trader Joe's.

A Sweet Twist on Toast

Depending on which toppings were chosen, guests could go sweet or savory with their toast! This one is built on a sprouted sourdough bread with ricotta, figs, and local honey from the farmers market.

A Pretty Plate

Looking at this plate still makes me hungry! We chose simple white plates for this brunch because we knew the food would be bright and colorful, and we wanted it to really pop!

A Simple Bar

To keep things easy, we chose to serve just one simple cocktail, along with the basics: water, coffee, and tea if requested. This made for a simple, no-fuss bar area! We decorated the window with a garland we made out of dried apple slices and twine.

To Spike or Not to Spike

We wanted our guests to have the option of having alcohol in their cider or not, so we added bourbon to the drinks upon request. And since my family's from Kentucky, I of course always keep more than one type of bourbon in the house - so guests could pick their poison!

A Spicy Garnish

To add a bit more flavor to our cider, we floated cinnamon sticks and apple slices in the glasses and in the serving pitcher.

Keeping it Cool

We wanted to make sure that the cider stayed cool throughout the brunch, so Johnna made ice cubes with some extra cider the night before. This way, our drinks were cold and undiluted even by the second round!

Gold Straws and Mason Jars

Yes, Mason jars used as glasses are a perennial hipster favorite. We couldn't help ourselves. To add a little shine and tie the jars in with the rest of the color scheme, we added some adorable gold straws that we picked up on the cheap from Target.

Recipe Index:

Homemade Ricotta
The sweet potato, caramelized onion, and gruyere quiche was created using this recipe as a guide.
The hand pies were an amalgamation of this preparation method mixed with a riff on this filling (plums instead of peaches; elderflower liqueur instead of bourbon; addition of finely chopped fresh thyme... what can I say? I'm a baking rebel).
Apple Cream Cheese Rosettes
The salad was greatly inspired by this one, with a few additions and subtractions.