Who doesn't love brunch? With looming restrictions ahead given the uncertainty with the new Omicron variant, I am mentally preparing for yet another quiet Christmas celebration. That doesn't mean I am not going all out for finding a creative way to mark the holidays. I will be creating the ultimate Christmas Day brunch. Please follow along for ideas and how you too can create a memorable brunch for your loved ones.
Now Christmas mornings are already super special...am I right? If you've been nice, Santa will have left you a present or few under the tree for Christmas morning. Oh the joy of opening presents, and seeing the delight on especially little ones faces. I live for these days!
Do you open presents before breakfast or after? We like to open ours before! Frankly otherwise we might have a mini riot in our hands!! :D
I make a point to wrap each individual present as one. Certainly extends the fun of opening presents. I also like to package presents in as BIG, large a box as I can. Works like a charm with my little one whose eyes just go BIG and round when she sees presents!
Following presents, it's time for a brunch feast! I go all out and deck out our dining table with as much delightful surprises as I can. Waffles, Pancakes, Eggs Benny, Potato Waffles, Mashed Potatoes, Potato Latkes, Huevos Rancheros, garden salad, maple beans, and freshly squeezed orange juice. Mmm.. this blog is making me hungry! I know what you're thinking, when do I get time to make all this! I don't. It's the one day I give myself a break and cater the meal. We pick up the meal the day before or even the morning of (if we have the brunch a day before instead of Christmas morning. Of course we hold off on the presents in that case).
The table is set in our finest tablecloth, and a runner along the middle. I love to add fresh green fir foliage to add lovely aromas and decor. Our Meri Meri Festive Motif Plates, Cups and Napkins are one of my favourites. I love to add an accent plate like the Meri Meri Reindeer with Bow Napkins. Christmas meals must have crackers, and I love the beautifully crafted Meri Meri Christmas Elf Crackers for this one.
The weekend before Christmas, we love to bake shortbread cookies shaped in beautiful Christmas characters like the ones in our Meri Meri Festive Icons Cookie Cutters. The brunch is a perfect time when we decorate the cookies as an activity and enjoy them together!
On a side note, OKAY.... you have got to try these melt in your mouth easy to make 5 ingredient shortbread cookies. I have shared the recipe here, a favourite I picked up from Martha Stewart. Trust me, you'll be thanking me for this one.
Set up a beautiful festive hot chocolate station for drinks of choice, spiked if you like with some Bailey's Irish Cream for the grown ups. I talked about this one in my blog post Set up a Holiday Hot Chocolate Bar. This year I am also including these adorable reindeer macarons from Jac and Jill's Bakeshop.
In the background and sometimes this makes for a great occasion to bust out our dance moves, I play our favourite Spotify playlist for Christmas party.
The stage is set for a fantastic brunch to be cherished and remembered for years to come!
What are your Christmas morning rituals?
xoxo
Sam
p.s., for inspiration, I am also sharing some of the photos from our Christmas brunch last year! Thinking back to that morning warms my heart... I wish the same for you and yours!
