Sunday, April 24, 2011

Great Easter Brunch Recipes

Happy Easter everyone! It's such a beautiful day so, I figured why not take a break from going to brunch and make brunch at home to celebrate this glorious holiday! Here are a few different recipes to create for today or for whenever! 



apple butter hotcakes

ingredientsPrep: 25 min.Cook: 4 min. per batch
 
  • 1/2  cup  butter, softened
  • 1/4  cup  honey
  • 1/4  teaspoon  ground cinnamon
  • 1  12-ounce package  frozen pitted light or dark sweet cherries
  • 1/2  cup  cherry jam or cherry preserves
  • 1  teaspoon  finely shredded orange peel
  • 1-1/2  cups  packaged regular or buttermilk pancake mix (not complete pancake mix)
  • 3/4  cup  milk
  • 2  tablespoons  cooking oil
  • 2    eggs, lightly beaten
  • 1/2  cup  purchased apple butter

directions

1. For flavored butter, in a small mixing bowl, use a small whisk to combine butter, honey, and cinnamon. Whisk until well combined; set aside.
2. For cherry sauce, in a medium saucepan, combine frozen cherries, cherry jam, and orange peel. Bring to boiling over medium heat, stirring frequently; reduce heat. Simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes or until sauce has thickened slightly. Cover and set aside; keep warm.
3. In a medium bowl, stir together pancake mix, milk, oil, eggs, and apple butter. Stir just until moistened (batter should still be lumpy). For mini-size hot cakes, spread about 1 tablespoon batter into a 1-1/2-inch circle onto a hot lightly greased griddle or heavy skillet. (For standard-size hot cakes, spread about 1/4 cup batter into a 4-inch circle.) Cook over medium heat about 2 minutes on each side or until hot cakes are golden brown, turning to second sides when hot cakes have bubbly surfaces and edges are slightly dry. Serve warm with flavored butter and cherry sauce.
4. Makes 32 to 40 mini-size or 8 to 10 standard-size hot cakes

Recipe from http://www.bhg.com/holidays/easter/recipes/an-easter-brunch-that-dazzles/


Salmon Roll

Two 6.5 oz. pouches salmon
1/2 cup chopped pecans
8 ounces softened cream cheese
3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
2 drops liquid smoke or Worcestershire sauce
crackers for serving

Combine salmon, cream cheese and liquid smoke or Worcestershire; mix well. Shape into ball or log. Roll in mixture of pecans and parsley. Roll up in plastic wrap or wax paper. Chill to blend flavors. Serve with crackers.
Makes 2 cups.

Recipe from http://www.razzledazzlerecipes.com/easter/brunch-recipes/salmon-roll.htm


Eggs Benedict  
eggs-benedict.jpgFor the Hollandaise Sauce:4 egg yolks
½ cup very hot water
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
½ teaspoons salt
1 ½ cups 
clarified butter

Over medium heat, in the top of a double boiler, add egg yolks, cayenne, salt, and ½ of the water. Stir until mixture reaches the consistency of mayonnaise. Remove from heat. Alternating the water and butter, starting with the water, slowly add the remaining hot water and butter, whisking constantly, until gone. Adding more water will thin the sauce, adding more butter will thicken the sauce. The sauce will get thicker the longer it sits. Keep the sauce warm until ready to serve.
For the poached eggs:
2 large fresh eggs
1 teaspoon distilled white vinegar
Fill a large saucepan with 3 inches of water. Bring water to a gentle simmer, then add the vinegar. Carefully break eggs into simmering water. Cook for about 3 minutes. Yolks should still be soft in center. Remove eggs from water with a slotted spoon and gently place them on a plate. Keep eggs warm until serving.
To finish the Eggs Benedict:
2 pieces Canadian bacon
1 English muffin
Softened butter, for spreading on English muffin
1 tablespoon chopped chives
Brown the Canadian bacon in a medium skillet over medium-high heat and toast the English muffins.
Spread toasted muffins with softened butter, and top each muffin half with a slice of bacon and one poached egg. Drizzle with Hollandaise sauce and sprinkle with chives. Serve immediately.
Serves 1 with leftover Hollandaise sauce
Enjoy your Easter!! 

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Brunch at Carlyle

4000 Campbell Avenue
Arlington, VA 22206
(703) 931-0777
Hours: Saturday Brunch 10:30am-3:00pm Sunday Brunch 9:30am- 3:00pm; Regular Hours: Monday- 11:00am-10:30pm; Tuesday-Thursday 11:00am -11:00pm ; Friday- 11:00am-midnight; Saturday-10:30am-midnight; Sunday-9:30am-10:30pm

Neighborhood: Shirlington
Nearest Metro Station: N/A

Brunch Prices: A la carte $5.50-$20.00
Featured Brunch Cocktails:
 Sparkling Virginia Cider $3
Mimosa $6
Grand Mimosa (with Grand Marnier) $8
The Bellini Cocktail $7
Absolut Peppar Bloody Mary $7


Yes! I finally found another location with Saturday brunch, although I went on a Sunday. This time I decided to venture away from the metro line and go to Shirlington. I have heard a lot of good things about Carlyle and decided the Brunch Club needed to make a trip over there. Carlyle is one of the Great American Restaurants, which in my opinion they never disappoint.  Just like the rest of their restaurants Carlyle gets just as busy so for brunch you will most likely not be able to do a reservation, but you can call ahead while you are on your way to make the wait shorter.

Sesame Crusted Seared Rare Tuna Salad
Mango Chicken & Spiced Pecans
The food is amazing! Although, if you are looking for a more breakfast food, this may not be the best place for you, but if you want more of a lunch type of menu this is a great place.  They have small salads like the Traditional Caesar or Warm Goat Cheese & Spiced Pecans. If you’re looking for a bigger salad they have a Short Smoked Grilled Salmon Salad or Mango Chicken & Spiced Pecans. There are a few breakfast type dishes like the BBC Brioche French Toast or the Stake & Eggs Benedict.  The deserts looked amazing, but we were to full to eat them, but they had (yummy) Vanilla Bean Crème Brulee, Warm White Chocolate Bread Pudding or even a Best Buns Dog Biscuit to take home to Rover if you really wanted to! I decided to get the Crab Cake Sandwich without the bread… and it was great! The French fries and coleslaw were awesome. (I am getting hungry just thinking about it right now!)   
My Crab Cake " sandwich"

The mimosa were good, but they were nothing to write home about. Compared to other places I have gone, having one mimosa for $6 is not that appealing.

I would have to say Carlyle is a great place to go to brunch after church or with family and friends if you are looking for a classy place for brunch. This would not be a good location to starts a Sunday or Saturday Funday.  

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Brunch at Caribbean Breeze


4100 Fairfax Drive
Arlington, VA 22203-1678
(703) 812-7997
Hours: Sunday Brunch 10:00am- 3:00pm; Regular Hours: Monday-Thursday 11:30am -10:00pm ; Friday- Saturday 11:30am -12am; Sunday- 10:30am -3:00pm and 4:30pm – 10:00pm

Neighborhood: Ballston
Nearest Metro Station: Ballston-MU

Brunch Prices: All you can eat buffet: $19.95 
Featured Cocktails: $5 UNLIMTED Mimosa with different purees ( mango, guava, passion fruit, orange and peach); Build your own Bloody Mary Bar (Prices depends on Vodka chosen)


(Not a great location for children)


Well, its’ close to summer time and it’s time to get out of Arlington! Unfortunately, time does not permit me to travel back to the Caribbean, BUT Caribbean Breeze is a great choice if you need a little kiss from the Caribbean!  I have to say that I love the atmosphere with the bright colors, the floral shirts and when its nice out there is even a volleyball court and a Corn Hole game area! But because of the great sunny (not!) weather we are having I did not have a chance to experience the greatest of their outside. I would have to say that it really does feel like a resort when you walk in the door. (At least to me it did! )
 
When you first walk in your immediately see a large buffet in front. It not only has traditional brunch food (such as waffles, sausage, create your own omelet, bacon, etc) but they have food that you would usually find in the Caribbean (hence the name Caribbean Breeze). There were floral skins, a separate salad bar with different types of salads (potato, chicken, tomato and mozzarella, tuna, cucumber and tomato….)  a roast beef caving station, smoked salmon, plantains, black beans ( they are awesome), jerked chicken and rice and beans.  Lastly, there is a chocolate fountain!  Of course there is more, but I have to leave some to the imagination! 

Overall the food was amazing! I have been to Caribbean Breeze many times and every time I go I am never disappointed.

On a scale rating one through ten I will have to give Caribbean Breeze a nine.  It is a great location if you want to bring your parents that are visiting in town, go to brunch with a few friends or even start a Sunday Funday there when the weather is nicer.  Stay tuned for another review very soon!




Monday, April 18, 2011

Brunch at Front Page


4201 Wilson Blvd # 103
Arlington, VA 22230
(703) 248-9990
Hours: Sunday Brunch 10:00am-3:00pm Regular Hours: Monday-Friday 11:30am - 2:00am; Saturday-Sunday 10:00am to 2:00am
 
Neighborhood: Ballston
Nearest Metro Station: Ballston- MU Station

Brunch Prices: All you can eat buffet: Adult $18.99  Children ( 12 and under) $8.99 A la Carte ranges $10.00 and below
 Feature Cocktails:$1 Mimosa (with buffet) ; Create your own Bloody Mary Station $5.

Restaurant Website: Front Page Arlington 

Frontpage Arlington is one of the Caps’s (Washington Capital’s hockey team) bars, which many people (include yours truly) like to watch the games at , little did I know that they serve Sunday brunch there!

When you first walk in you are immediately greeted with a create your own Bloody Mary bar and the beginning of the brunch buffet.  The prices on the Bloody Mary can vary depending on the type of vodka used, but they seemed to be running about $5 per drink.  If a Bloody Mary is not your cup of tea they also have $1 Mimosa that go along with the brunch.  (If you could not tell from previous post I love Mimosas!)

The buffet I felt had a great selection of both breakfast and other foods.  The first part of the buffet consisted of salads, smoked salmon, tomatoes and mozzarella, and baked goods such as muffins, croissants, bagels, etc.  Next were combination of lunch food and breakfast such as sausage, Belgian Waffles, pancakes, French toast, Blacken Chicken Fettuccine and scrambled eggs.  I will have to say the Blacken Chicken Fettuccine was awesome! I was not the only one going back for seconds! There was also a carving station and create your own omelet station which included shrimp! Many places I have gone to in the past had an omelet station, but they did not include shrimp! The buffet had many more items, but its best to leave that secret until you go there!

If a buffet is not quite what you want, they also have an A La Carte menu, which runs between $7.00 and $10.00.  A lot of the same items are featured on the menu but for a cheaper price than the buffet.


My Plate
Front Page is a great place to have brunch if you want to catch an early game on TV or have a low-key brunch with friends.  You have the option of sitting in a dining area or at the bar.  The only thing that was a little disheartening was the service that was provided to us. It was very hard to get the servers attention ( his may have been because they were watching a game on TV) I had to do addition research to find out the prices of the drinks for brunch because they were not marked any where and when I asked about them  I could not get a complete answer. It was like pulling teeth to find out what the drink specials were and how much they cost!

All in all we had a great experience there,  I would rate this brunch on a scale ranging from one to ten as a seven.  If you wanted to start a Sunday Funday their it would be quit easy due to the $1 Mimosa, $5 Bloody Marys and you are already at a bar with some sort of sport game on. 

Try it out and enjoy your brunch! Stay turned for more brunch reviews!

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Stay Tuned...

Hey Brunch Clubbers! I know it has been a while since I have blogged but stayed turned! In the next few days there will be two new blogs posted!