Champagne Brunch

I have been given the important task of planning my sister’s upcoming Kitchen Tea.   The thought of a champagne brunch immediately sprang to mind as my sister is a huge fan of going out for a long lunch, or brunch, with friends and family.  And she loves a glass of bubbly at any time of day!

My initial thought was to have a catered breakfast, and although I have used some excellent Brisbane catering companies before, I have decided to go the extra mile and prepare the menu myself (with some help from the wonderful women in our family).

This is a special occasion, and I know my sister will really appreciate having her family prepare the breakfast.  Our mother, grandmother and aunts are all wonderful cooks and certainly the process of spending the morning in the kitchen, creating a lovely spread for my sister, will only add to the day.  Like many families, the kitchen has always been the perfect place to catch up and share a laugh.  No doubt on this occasion there will also be some age-old marriage-advice sharing, as is the tradition of the kitchen tea.

I feel there is something special about hosting a lovely girly event, such as a kitchen tea, at your own home.  I have a lovely back deck at my house, and I envisage it dressed lavishly with pink and white oriental lilies and pink paper lanterns.  I will compliment the flowers and lanterns with pink and white table linen and champagne flutes.  With a clear vision of how I want the environment to look, it is now time to plan the menu.

Fresh fruit has always been a staple for our family, and of course strawberries go perfectly with sparkling wine.  So my mum will pick up a selection of fresh in-season fruit from the farmers’ markets on her way to my house and she will create one of her impressively large platters of fruit.  The fruit will be served with yoghurt as an entrée for our guests, and it will also be left on the table for grazing throughout the morning.

Softly poached eggs, served on toasted sourdough and accompanied by steamed asparagus and hollandaise sauce will be the main course of the Brisbane Breakfast.  My sister is watching her weight in the lead up to the wedding, so she will be able to replace the hollandaise with Dijon mustard if she prefers.  I find a little salt and cracked pepper is the only dressing that softly poached eggs require – they are decadent in themselves.

My grandmother’s scones will be the final feature of the meal, and will be served with plunger coffee and an assortment of teas.  My grandmother has a recipe for scones that was passed down to her from her mother and my whole family relishes the fluffy, creamy scones.  For those of us not concerned by calories, some lovely whipped cream and my aunt’s homemade Rosella jam will accompany the scones.

With the satisfied stomachs, from here we will relax and enjoy the company of the wonderful women that make our family what it is.

Cheers to celebrating women and their important roles within the family.

World Cuisine

The funny thing about food is – it’s all about a number of basic, recognisable ingredients that are cooked into the food that we know and love. It is but natural that the most popular meals in the world are the ones that are almost ingrained in the cultures they are made in.

This article is about ten of the most popular meals in the world.

Paella

Originating in the south-western region of Valencia in Spain, paella is essentially a rice dish with a lot of herbs, olive oil and saffron. Seafood and meat can be added to this mixture for some variety.

Pasta

Each one of us has our very own favourite Italian joints for digging into some great pasta. Ranging from fusilli, lasagne, spaghetti and macaroni, pastas have been adapted by different cultures worldwide, but the most famous form certainly is from the heart of Italy.

Pizza

It feels plain strange to even start describing a pizza, but here goes – a flat, baked piece of bread that has a number of toppings that make this one of the most universally loved dishes you’ll ever find.

Chicken Tikka

This is a chicken dish from the Indian subcontinent that is wildly popular both over there and in the UK. It is made using skewers that are baked with boneless chicken (which has been marinated with yoghurt and herbs prior to baking). This may not be the best option around for the health conscious, but it is wildly popular nonetheless.

Janssons frestelse

This popular Swedish dish is also known as Jansson’s temptation, and with good reason! It is a traditional casserole made with onions and anchovies, which are sandwiched between some potato slices. It can be stored and had at your convenience too, all day long.

Sushi

Sushi is simply the most famous Japanese culinary export ever! It is basically a mix of rice, vinegar, raw fish and tangy vegetables. It is traditionally consumed as a mound or rolled up in its Westernized avatar.

Chow mein

Chinese food is consumed by a third of the world’s population every single day, apparently, and with good reason. The Chinese specialise in making relatively simple and economical dishes which taste very unique as well. Chow mein is the Chinese name for stir fried noodles. Onions and meat are also added in more contemporary variants of this dish.

Falafel

A very common food in Israel and the Middle East, Falafel is a mixture of ground chickpeas and fava beans that is made it into a ball-like dish. It is notable in its versatility, as you can snack on it or have it as part of a larger meal.

Thai Curry

Native to Thailand, but exceedingly popular worldwide, Thai curry is a spicy curry paste that is served with rice and coconut milk. Meat and/or vegetables can be added to suit localized tastes.

Cheese Fondue

This is a Swiss dish whose popularity has endured through the ages. It requires using melted cheese that is made specifically in Switzerland. Large pots are used to add pepper, wine, etc. to the cheese. What you need to do next is dip fresh bread into this delicious hot concoction, and let your taste buds experience bliss!

You may fiercely love the meals that you’re used to, but in case you are ready to experiment, the world does have a number of delectable meals for you to enjoy!

This is a guest post on behalf of Crunchlunch.co.uk –

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