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Classic Holiday Brunch

Monday, November 28th, 2011

Blueberry

If you’re a novice to entertaining, consider hosting a simplified holiday brunch. Many classic brunch dishes can be made ahead of time to spare you stress on the day of the event; plus the menu can be as elegant or as laid-back as you like. Follow these basic tips to make your brunch a success!

Wake Up to Healthier Eggs

It’s not brunch without eggs on the menu! Lighten up traditional omelets, frittatas and baked goods with Egg Beaters®. This nutritious alternative is made from real eggs, but it’s yolkfree to reduce the calories by more than half and eliminate fat and cholesterol. Simply use one-quarter cup to replace each egg called for in recipes. Egg Beaters® actually contain higher amounts of certain nutrients such as vitamins A, B12, D and E, plus folic acid and riboflavin compared to regular eggs. Try Southwestern and Garden Vegetable varieties that include vegetables, real cheese and special seasonings right in the carton.

Make Ahead

Baked goods like breads, pastries and coffee cakes can be made the day before the brunch. For baked recipes that call for yeast, use Fleischmann’s® Active Dry or RapidRise Yeast. Both types serve to make dough rise, resulting in tender and delicious baked foods. Active Dry yeast has larger granules and requires more time to dissolve, while RapidRise Yeast takes half the time to rise. Both types can be used interchangeably in recipes that call for Active Dry Yeast, however there’s no substituting in recipes calling for the RapidRise variety. For best results, store unopened yeast packets in a cool place and use within three to four months.

Give in to Your Sweet Tooth

For baked goods that are easier on the waistline with the same tender and moist texture of sweet treats baked with sugar, consider using Splenda® Sugar Blend or Brown Sugar Blend. Each variety contains a mix of Splenda® Brand Sweetener blended with white or brown sugar to trim the calories and carbohydrates without sacrificing the flavor of your finished recipe.

Add Fresh or Frozen Fruit

Use fresh, seasonal fruit to create fruit platters or salads and use frozen fruit to make smoothies and baked goods. Dole® Frozen Fruit features the finest quality fruit that’s frozen at peak ripeness for just-picked freshness in every bite. Look for Dark Sweet Cherries, Sliced Strawberries and Mixed Fruit and Berry Blends. No time for a leisurely breakfast? Try new Dole® Smoothie Shakers. Simply add your favorite 100 percent juice to the portable container of all-natural fruit and real yogurt and shake your way to a great-tasting breakfast on-the-go.

Balance the Sweet

A well-balanced brunch menu features a combination of both sweet and savory foods. Offer an array of food choices to please all palates. Instead of high-calorie breakfast meats like bacon or sausage, consider Weis Quality Turkey Bacon. Two slices of turkey bacon contain just two grams of fat compared to twenty grams in regular pork bacon. All bacon contains sodium, so it’s best to eat it in moderation.