Inspire Me with Brunch

I'm a big fan of breakfast. In our home, we don't eat the same thing morning after morning. I just think it's such a great opportunity to gather together before the start of a day and enjoy something so delicious you can't help but feel happy. On weekends and school holidays we change down a gear and everything slows down a little. Breakfast slides into brunch and in the summertime, the family slips out of the pool to enjoy a mid morning feast.

In raising a family, one of my objectives is to create an atmosphere my family members really enjoy being in. Even better when they want to include their friends. Now that we've entered the teenage years and my cute little boy has morphed into a (taller than me) young man, not only do I need to keep up with his monstrous appetite, but I want him to want to be at home, so I use food to keep him here!

Short on Ideas?

These days you don't even have to make everything from scratch - except maybe eggs. Plan out your menu and you can pick up most brunch items from your local supermarket: English muffins, pancakes, crumpets, raisin toast etc.

Try French toast with sauteed sliced bananas in a little maple syrup; pancakes topped with berries and Greek-style yoghurt or ice cream (even better, put out a sliced fruit platter and let the children decorate their own pancakes); easy Eggs Benny with a poached egg resting on a few fresh baby spinach leaves on a toasted English muffin, a drizzle of ready-made Masterfoods Hollandaise Finishing sauce, a crack of black pepper and a few shavings of parmesan - oh so good.

If you want to skip the traditional bacon and sausages, saute field mushrooms in a tsp of butter with a crack of black pepper and serve with oven roasted cherry tomatoes and luxurious pan-fried Haloumi. Trust me - you won't miss the bacon!

Where to dine? Eating at home is so cost effective. If the weather's good, cook it all on the BBQ. I don't know anyone who doesn't own a BBQ here in Australia! Here in Brisbane even our winter days are sunny and gorgeous. Make the most of everything you have.

So whether you opt for a warmed bagel with cream cheese and decide to climb back into bed with a dreamy novel or you invite friends over to dine alfresco - either way you look at it, brunch is a beautiful start to any day.