Way back in episode five, we revealed the inconvenient truth about eating out with kids. Take all of that — dealing with the mess, feeling obligated to tip more to compensate for your children’s behavior, worrying about that any-second-now-meltdown, setting your money on fire because it’s holy expensive to eat out — and let’s do it early in the day so that you can go home buzzed and have to CONTINUE PARENTING FOR HOURS.
Sound fun? We don’t think so either. But if you insist, we have some tips for how to survive brunch — or maybe even make it fun. Or at least easy and delicious.
Not Here for it
Is it just us, or do you feel like crap after eating brunch out? Tired, over full, buzzed, and now that we’re parents, STILL ON DUTY. And all that after having spent lots of money to manage our kids while waiting on line (or is that just in NYC?) and sitting at a table where we attempt adult conversation.
No, thank you.
Also, FYI people: Brunch is a racket! Both Stacie and Meghan have worked at restaurants and we’re telling you that brunch food is the cheapest food that a restaurant can make. Even the champagne is the cheap stuff and cut with orange juice. But the prices that customers pay? So expensive.
We will give brunch one thing: at least the menu is packed with kid-friendly choices. Doesn’t that make you feel better, leaving the restaurant two mimosas down, with a kid hopped up on chocolate chip pancakes and six shots of pure maple syrup?
Sweet.
So, is it Really Over?
Listen: We’re not saying it’s completely over. We love breakfast food, too, and Meghan even loves day drinking. (Go figure!) All is not lost.
Even more than that, we love the idea of entertaining, and believe that it’s important for our souls and also for our kids to see us getting friends and family together over food.
SO, NO: BRUNCH IS NOT COMPLETELY CANCELLED.
But if you ask us, the only way to do brunch right is to host at home. And, yes, there is a way to do it easily. Hosting brunch can be simpler, easier, and even more affordable than going out for brunch. We promise, and even give all the ideas in this episode.
But quickly, before we do, we take a few minutes to deconstruct this (ahem) “Earth Mother” Brunch idea. You MUST look. Then you MUST listen. I know you’ll assume that we just hate, but it’s actually more complicated than that. And in the end, this post strangely speaks to how and why hosting brunch at home is a way better idea than going out.
Some other links that we mention in our conversation about how to host a simple, but delicious, affordable brunch at home:
French Toast Bar (and other party bars at What’s Gaby Cooking)
Spinach and Cheese Strata (with a whole make-ahead brunch menu perfect for Mother’s Day and Easter)
Maple Yogurt Mousse (I call it Panna Cotta in the episode – oops!) topped with Apple Cider Gelee (aka jello)
Chilaquiles (if you want to make the salsa from scratch) and a version of Chilaquiles using green salsa that Stacie makes using her favorite jarred salsa verde from Trader Joe’s
Cereal Bar (we love this fun, easy idea for serving up mini boxes of cereal too) or you can get more refined — and healthier — by setting up a hot cereal bar
Store-bough quiche embellished with easy homemade toppings like roasted cherry tomatoes or fennel salad
80 Make Ahead Brunch Recipes at Taste of Home (with tons of casseroles and more)
What are your favorite easy brunch recipes (bonus points if they are make-ahead or good for pot lucks)?
Let us know on Facebook, where you can find us as @didntijustfeedyou. If you’re a listener and know the answer to the secret question, you can also join our Listeners’ Group to get exclusive tips, recipes, giveaways, and more!
The 100 Day Project
Meghan has recently started the 100 Day Project and, as part of that, is committed to moving her body every day, whether taking a walk, going to her local YMCA or a bounce class, or doing yoga. She’ll be sharing some of her experience on her personal Instagram, @stirandscribble, but she also posed this question to Stacie — and we want to pose it to you too:
What can you do everyday for 100 days to fuel your creativity?
Stacie is going to try to read a little bit everyday, starting with a bestseller (to keep her engaged), then moving on to a historical fiction book to expand her reading horizons (have any good book suggestions?!).
Join us in doing something just for yourself over the next three months. Tell us what you plan to do for your #100dayproject on our Facebook page or, even better, in our Listeners’ Group, where we’ll have an extended conversation about it all. Yay for accountability!
You can also use this 100 Day Project tracker that Meghan is using, or follow the #100dayproject hashtag on Instagram to see what others are doing. It’s quite inspiring!
Follow Us On Instagram
This week we’ll be sharing a little bit of what we’re doing for the 100 Day Project and, in Meghan’s case, probably also all the Easter candy that she’s starting to collect (and eat?) in preparation for Easter Sunday. Follow Meghan at @stirandscribble and Stacie at @staciebillis .
And of course, together, we are @didntijustfeedyou. Follow along!
