Hosting a Festive Spring Brunch

Are you hosting brunch this spring holiday season? If so, you might be feeling the pressure of all that comes with having guests at your house. In the quest to make everything “perfect,” you might have lost sight of the purpose of the event - a time to gather with friends and family. Of course you want to do the things that help guests to enjoy themselves, but that doesn’t mean perfection. Instead, this “brunch season,” we recommend you focus on keeping things festive and fun. To help, we’ve created a list of ideas, which of course include Once Again, to help live in and celebrate the moment.  

The “Shopping List” for a Festive Spring Brunch

• Start with something delicious - You can assume your guests will be hungry when they arrive, so have something ready for them to enjoy. Muffins, scones, cinnamon rolls and other baked goods are always appreciated. You can also create a simple “spread” of items like mini bagels, fruit and yogurt, and serve with jars of Once Again Almond Butter, Peanut Butter, Sunflower Butter or Cashew Butter for topping. 

• Choose the main dish - There’s always a main dish that’s the star of the brunch meal. Keep it easy by making a casserole. It could be something sweet like baked French toast or sheet-pan pancakes, or it could be savory like a hash brown casserole or easy veggie quiche. Sliced ham, or even smoked salmon, are great options as well. 

• Select the sides - Look to the spring season for inspiration for the meal. Lean into the fresh produce that signifies the coming of warmer weather, foods like lettuces, carrots, asparagus, snap peas and artichokes are delicious options. 

• Enlist help - The best part of a fun and festive brunch is letting others help! Ask guests to bring a dish, beverage or dessert to help lessen your load. If you have things in mind, be direct and give them the recipe or item you’d like them to bring. Most people appreciate being helpful, especially when it comes with a bit of guidance. Save the recipes for friends and family that enjoy cooking, and have others bring everything else, from bags of ice to bags of candy for the kids!

• Prep ahead - Get as much out of the way and set up as you can before your guests arrive. Set the table, mow the lawn and get other tasks out of the way that will help make for a more relaxed “brunch day.” Prepping ahead also applies to the food. If you can prepare all or part of your casserole or side dish the day before, do that. The more line items you cross off means more time you’ll have to enjoy your company the day of your brunch.

• Spend time outside - After enjoying your brunch, tell everyone to head outside to enjoy some fresh air, exercise and hopefully, sunshine. A brisk walk after a meal helps with digestion, and is a great opportunity to connect with people. If a walk isn’t an option, set up some backyard fun with bocce ball or miniature golf, or get out your gardening tools and have everyone get their hands a little dirty with spring planting. You can even have your guests bring a pot to fill with dirt and seeds that they can take home with them when they leave.

• Skip the screens - It might be hard, but consider having guests drop their phones in a bowl or basket at the door when they arrive. Let them know ahead of time this is your plan, so they’re not surprised by your request. Tell them that you’d love for them to consider some “screen-free” time while they’re at your party. Your intention is connection, which is hard to do when everyone is staring at a screen! 

• Send a parting gift - A gift doesn’t have to be something you buy, it can be as simple as a note with a favorite thought or saying. Give your guests something they can take home with them as a reminder of the fun you had together, like the flower pots (or empty jars of Once Again Nut and Seed Butters) mentioned above or a package of flower or herb seeds to plant when they get home. Keep the “gift” simple and useful and offer it as a gesture of love and friendship.

Keep Brunch Fun and Festive

Take the stress out of hosting by creating a brunch that doesn’t require a lot of heavy lifting. Start guests with something small and tasty and serve a main dish that easily feeds a crowd, like a sweet or savory casserole. Have others help with the food and set up, and when you’re done eating, get outside to enjoy some movement and sunshine. Leave phones at the door so that connections can be made and send everyone home with a little “something” to remember the fun they had.