Summer Brunch
Summertime fresh! This delicious brunch is perfect for anniversaries, showers or any ladies' gathering. The bright colors and fresh flavors of the chilled dishes and do-ahead individual cheesecakes will keep your kitchen cool and your guests refreshed on the hottest of days.
Special Touches
- Use sheets of wrapping paper as place mats on a white tablecloth. Look for beautiful floral or other patterns of wrapping paper sold in individual sheets in gift or specialty paper shops.
- For the centerpiece, embellish a floppy straw hat with silky ribbon and dainty flowers. You can use fresh flowers picked from your garden or picked up at a farmers' market. Or make a permanent centerpiece by using silk flowers. Poke flowers through the holes in the hat's weave, and if necessary, wire securely with florist wire on the inside. To give the hat more dimension, prop it over a white cloth- or napkin-covered coffee can.
- Make attractive fruit spears to garnish the glasses of Banana-Orange Sunrise. Poke a twisted thin slice of orange, a sprig of fresh mint and a maraschino cherry with a stem on each of 8 small, plastic drink spears (look for them in the carbonated beverage aisle, near the straws or cooking utensils, of your grocery store). Place a spear in or across the top of each glass.
Preparation Guide
The Day Before
- Prepare the Chocolate-Dipped Orange Biscotti.
- Prepare the Creamy Honey Dressing for the Smoked Turkey Salad with Strawberries; cover and refrigerate. Cut and measure remaining ingredients for salad; cover and refrigerate (except nuts).
Up to 24 Hours Before
- Prepare the Mini Cappuccino Cheesecakes.
- Prepare the Asparagus Vinaigrette.
- Prepare the Lemon Yogurt-Poppy Seed Muffins.
- Make the coffee cubes for the iced coffee.
15 Minutes Before Serving
- Reheat muffins wrapped in aluminum foil in 350°F oven if desired, or serve at room temperature.
- Prepare the coffee for the iced coffee; assemble.
Just Before Serving