You've heard of charcuterie boards, mezze platters, cheese and cracker boards.....so why not a brunch board? My inspiration was that two friends were coming over for brunch and I wanted it to be fun and casual, so I decided to go with all finger foods. OK, there are a few small spoons and knives for spreading things, but everything is grabbed off the communal platter and eaten with your fingers. For my version, I added:
- Grilled bread
- Homemade ricotta cheese with lemon
- Lingonberry preserves
- Marinated green olives
- Cherry tomatoes
- Hummus
- Deviled eggs
- Smoked Gouda and sharp Cheddar cheeses
- Strawberries
- Watermelon slices
Other options:
- Mini bagels (or toasted bagel slices) instead of bread
- Cream cheese instead of ricotta
- Smoked salmon
- Capers
- Different cheeses
- Different fruits
- Mini fruit tarts
- Etc.
You get the idea - anything you'd associate with brunch that can be eaten with your fingers. Serve with several fruit juice options, good coffee, and maybe some champagne if you're feeling festive. The best part is that anything you actually have to make (like deviled eggs) can be done in advance and the rest is just assembly. Put everything on a big tray or cutting board to serve, which makes clean-up a breeze.
Spring is right around the corner, so there will be plenty of opportunities for a fun brunch for Easter or Mothers Day or just plain celebrating spring. It's a really easy way to entertain.
