A Simple Christmas Brunch: Keeping it Simple
Well… this didn’t end up being quite the post I thought it was going to be. It turns out that trying to take photos with everyone at home is a bit more tricky than anticipated. There were a lot of outtakes of kids hanging off of the doorways, purposely jumping in the photos as the timer got closer to zero, and a certain 7-year old attempting to train our 2-year old boxer in the background. We’ll be laying low (and apparently going stir crazy) this Holiday Season. While we likely won’t have an elaborate Christmas dinner, we do plan to have a nice Christmas Brunch in the Dining Room. Last year, I set the table with a Red and Blue color scheme. The year before that was quite traditional and even a bit nostalgic with reds, greens, and plaid. This year, I decided to go with a copper and white table setting (with some red and blue and green accents too).
What the kids are most looking forward to is our traditional macaroni and cheese Christmas Eve dinner at this table (likely in the same copper and brass mini dutch ovens this year!)- Home Alone style. We started this a couple of years ago, and it has been a requested tradition ever since. We also may add a cheese pizza night this week, making it a Home Alone kind of week.
I kept the centerpiece similar to the Thanksgiving Table for Four with the linen tablecloth draped over the table runner. For the Holiday Tablescape, I added an old garland. I remember buying it from Crate and Barrel in Chicago about 10 years ago. It is still one of my favorite garlands, and, by now, you know that I am quite the collector of garlands. I then placed the taper holders back but grouped them a bit more closely and switched out the black tapers with white ones.
I also bought some Bosc and red pears and sprinkled them in the centerpiece garland.
For this muted palette, I used linen napkins, white plates, and mugs for coffee. It felt like it needed a little something more so we layered in some plaid napkins too. A pitcher with orange juice, a bottle of champagne for the adults to mix up mimosas, and a plate of dried fruit and almonds to go with an egg dish make this a simple but elegant Christmas brunch setting. I also toasted some sliced baguettes and put out an accompanying board with butter, goat cheese, and hummus. There is a speckled honey pot on the table for a sweeter spread option. Speaking of sweet, I am considering learning how to make Poached Pears. They sound delicious! The brass and copper individual mini Dutch ovens could be the perfect way to serve this warm dessert.
Oh! And the lovely Georgetown print at the end of the table…. My parents had this print for much my childhood and then gave it to us. R and I love Georgetown. I love it for the cute and curated shops. R loves it for the St. Elmo’s Fire Bar, The Tombs (we may or may not have celebrated some of Father’s Day there one year). To each his/her own- haha! Either way, it brings back good memories and “look forward to”s for 2021.
There you have it! A Simple Christmas Brunch for our Family of Four.
Wishing you all the best this Holiday Season!!!
Brunch Links:
Here are links to some of the recipes I am considering.
Barefoot Contessa Raspberry Baked French Toast
Barefoot Contessa Potato Basil Frittata
Barefoot Contessa Herbed-Baked Eggs
Giada De Laurentiis Poached Pears in Honey, Ginger, and Cinnamon Syrup
My mom and her close friends made a cookbook of family recipes for all of the kids. One of the recipes in there is the easiest baked eggs recipe. I’m leaning toward making the baked eggs, Barefoot Contessa’s french toast (linked above) and throwing some bacon in the oven. That, with the baguette platter and fruit & almond tray should be plenty for the 4 of us!
Source List:
This list contains affiliate links, meaning that if you click and purchase, I may receive some compensation. Thank you!
White plates (Similar)
Linen Napkins (Similar)
Plaid Napkins (no longer available)
Taper Holders- inherited from my Nana
Wall color- Benjamin Moore Coventry Gray
Trim Color- Decorator’s White
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