Since almost any occasion is a good excuse for food and family, we’ve found that babies and brides inspire the best in all of us. In this instance, Chelsea organized a fun baby shower to celebrate the newest addition to our Table For Fifty. (This new one will bring the actual total to 53, but who’s counting these days anyway)? This spring-themed baby shower brunch was planned as a family and friends get-together of aunts, cousins, grandmas, and former roommates, but in fact, it may have been merely an excuse for Chelsea to show the rest of us just how thrilled she is at the prospect of being a new Aunt. Either way, the spring day was perfect, the decor lovely, the food amazing!
Before the party got started, guests helped themselves to a yogurt parfait. Glass stemware held a serving of vanilla yogurt, and then guests added any fresh toppings desired. We enjoyed these as we visited with one another while guests gathered.
Parfait toppings included toasted granola, and fresh strawberries, blueberries, and plumcots.
Baby Shower Brunch Menu
Too pretty to eat? Not around here!
The tablescape was as pretty as it was simple. White terra cotta pots were filled with purple and yellow pansies. Pastel colored pink placemats, sunny yellow napkins, and a decorative paper straw added additional color. The adorable gift bags labeled “BABY SHOWER” were each filled with a small baby-appropriate gift that started with the letter printed on the front of the bag (“B” for Binky and “Y” for Yellow Rubber Duckie, for example). Any guest who could guess what was inside the bag won a prize, and the mom-to-be kept the gift.
Brunch was a mouthwatering display of Chelsea, Mama Jill, and Grandma Joyce’s culinary prowess: Hot blueberry scones, a rolled ham omelet, potatoes O’Brien, and tasty prosciutto-wrapped asparagus.
- Asparagus
- Cream cheese
- Prosciutto (found with specialty meats in your grocery store)
- First, blanch your asparagus in boiling water to bring out its color. Cut off the dry ends of each spear, then boil for 1-2 minutes. Transfer the asparagus into a bowl of cold water, or run cool water over them in a colander to “shock” them – so that they cool and stop cooking.
- Spread each slice of prosciutto with a little cream cheese. Then, wrap up 3-4 asparagus spears in the prosciutto, with the ends exposed.
- Arrange spears on a lightly greased baking pan. Bake at 350 for about 10 minutes – or until the asparagus is tender.
This delicious omelet is baked flat then rolled into a cheesy, flavorful bundle of melted ecstasy. Add a warm blueberry lemon scone (click here for the recipe) and you are in brunch heaven.
Delicious blueberry lemon scones can be made ahead and frozen, then baked at the last minute and served warm.
- 4-oz cream cheese, softened
- ¾ cup milk
- 2 T flour
- ¼ tsp salt
- 12 eggs, beaten
- 2¼ cups shredded cheese
- 2 Tbsp mustard
- ½ cup sliced green onions (optional)
- 2 cups chopped ham
- Line a 10x15 baking sheet with parchment paper and spray lightly with cooking spray.
- Beat softened cream cheese and milk until smooth.
- Add flour and salt and mix until combined.
- Beat eggs until blended and then add to the milk/egg mixture and blend well.
- Pour onto prepared pan and bake at 375 for 30 minutes or until eggs are puffy and set. Remove from oven and immediately spread with mustard; sprinkle on ham, green onions and ¾ of the cheese.
- Starting with one of the short sides, carefully roll up, peeling off parchment as you go.
- Sprinkle with remaining cheese and return to oven to melt the cheese (three to four minutes).
- Slice into rounds about 1.5 inches thick and serve immediately.
In case you wonder what we do with the men while the women are brunching together, and you were afraid that we left them out, please know that we aren’t that cruel. Besides, they know where to find their own preferred “brunch” fare. We did send them out into the back yard, however; although chances are good that they ended up at the hardware store instead.
Why is it that introducing guests to one another is always one of the most awkward parts of any party?
There’s never any shortage of smiles when you create a celebration that’s all about babies and then mix in sunshine and flowers.
The best part of the day was watching Chelsea (left) shower her big sister, Hillary, with the results of Chelsea’s baby shopping spree. Is she the only Aunt that has had to impose a baby clothes budget for herself? This will be one well-dressed infant, and Chelsea can’t wait for the two of them to model their matching leopard print turbans, black leather boots, and fur vests. That will be a post for another day, and we’re sure you are as excited as we are to see it. Stay tuned…
