Begin the New Year with Brunch (Jan. 1 – Jan. 7)

Start the year with a gathering of neighbors and friends. The New Year is energized with exciting brunch concepts. Try these exciting worldly culinary concepts: Explore The Earth Florentine, Salmon and Avocado Tower, Eggs Benedict, Water Chestnuts Wrapped in Bacon, Grand Mariner Blintzes, Fresh Herb Biscuits, Mini-Blueberry Pancakes, Fresh Fruit and Cheese, Lingonberries and a condiment tray that includes Sour Cream & Preserves. Set up a Cappuccino bar and offer Bloody Mary drinks and Champagne. Toast to a wonderful year ahead! Toast to the Exploration of the World and the Exploration of the Culinary Arts!
Explore the Earth Florentine
This is a brunch/main course selection that is formed by the use of a dome shape (a sphere bowl). Boil a whole chicken and reserve the best bits for this dish. Use about half of the chicken. On the stove, heat 1 cup sliced mushrooms, 1/4 stick of butter, 1/4 cup of flour, 1 cup of strained chicken stock, 2 tablespoons of cream and the reserved pieces of the half of a chicken.
In a separate pot, boil fresh spinach for 30 seconds. Drain by pressing the spinach between two plates. To complete this dish, enough spinach will be needed to line the dome shape and as a layering filler.
Line a sphere shaped bowl with plastic wrap. Carefully, line the bowl with a thin layer of the spinach leaves forming a outer layer for the “Earth.” Next, layer in the chicken mixture. Then, add a layer of chopped spinach. Add another layer of chicken and another layer of spinach until the bowl is filled. This can be refrigerated briefly and then reheated just prior to serving. Pour off any excess juice before unmolding. Unmold the dome by inverting onto a plate or serving platter. It an artful presentation and tastes delicious. The spinach green dome resembles the “Earth” shape for a fun theme. Serve by cutting it as you would cut a cake.
Salmon and Avocado Tower
The ease of the recipe is that the fresh salmon can be baked the night before. Bake a fresh, skinned, salmon fillet at 350 degrees for 30 to 45 minutes. Before baking, sprinkle the fish with a generous about of Balsamic Vinegar & Pepper.
The next morning, crumble the salmon. Line small ramekins with plastic wrap. Put in a layer of avocado (food processed with sour cream) and salmon; then the avocado mixture again. When serving, simple invert the lovely towers on a plate or serving platter. Serve cold.
Eggs Benedict
Eggs Benedict has many variations, but basically it is an English muffin, Canadian bacon, a poached egg and a topping of Hollandaise sauce. When serving buffet style, never but the muffins directly onto the heated tray because the muffins will stick to the pan and dry out. Set the muffins onto hash browns or fine onion rings to lift the bread off of the heat.
* On a personal note, Michael and I experienced a lovely afternoon tea at the Hotel Granduca in Houston. It was a beautiful presentation and the ambience made us feel like we were visiting an Italian villa. We can highly recommend it for a true European oasis.

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