Brunch Menu Ideas

Brunch is quite possibly the most perfect meal involving friends, food, and drinks and with a few brunch menu ideas you can pull together the perfect brunch.

Brunch Menu Ideas

Brunch is generally a Sunday meal that starts later than breakfast but earlier than lunch, hence the name. Foods that can be cooked ahead of time and served family style, with the food placed in the center of the table and everybody helping themselves, generally make the best brunch menus. Ideas can range from Quiche to empanadas to Shepard’s pie but I like to make Torta di pasta. Torta di pasta can be described as a baked pasta pie and makes a fantastic brunch idea because it can be served cold and pre-sliced allowing you to spend time relaxing with your guests.

To make Torta di pasta you will need a 10-inch pan that is broiler safe. I like to use my cast iron pan but if you don’t happen to have a 10 inch cast iron pan handy use a non-stick pan and just be careful to keep the handle away from the flames.

Ingredients

• ½ pound of spaghetti cooked
• 4 eggs
• 1 teaspoon of salt
• ½ teaspoon of pepper
• ¾ cup of Parmesan cheese
• ¾ cup of Fontina cheese
• ¼ cup of Pecarino Romano
• 1 tablespoon of butter
• 1 tablespoon of olive oil plus a little extra to toss with the pasta
• ½ cup of chopped sun-dried tomatoes (if you can find oil packed then use them and just drain them, if not just soak your dried sun-dried tomatoes in a half a cup of warm water until they are soft.)

Instructions

1. As the pasta is cooling toss the spaghetti with the sun-dried tomatoes and a splash or two of the olive oil just to keep the pasta from sticking and clumping.
2. Put the pasta aside and let it cool completely.
3. While the pasta is cooling whisk the eggs, salt, pepper, and the cheeses together.
4. Toss the egg mixture with the pasta until it is mixed well.
5. Preheat your broiler.
6. Melt the butter in your pan over a medium heat.
7. Pour the pasta mixture into the pan and press it down firmly.
8. Cook over a medium heat until the bottom is a golden brown, about four minutes.
9. Place then pan in the broiler and let it cook until the top is golden brown.
10. Remove the pan from the broiler and let it cool to room temperature.
11. Place a cutting board or platter over the pan and flip the pan/board over.
12. Take the pan away and the Torta will remain on the platter.
13. Cut like a pie into servings.

Served with an Ambrosia salad, a broccoli casserole and some breadsticks and a lemon mousse you can base your brunch menu ideas along these lines.