By Leigh O’Connor.
As someone who wakes up and doesn’t like to eat immediately, brunch is Amelia Wasiliev’s perfect mealtime.
A combination of the best of breakfast and lunch, brunch encompasses sweet and savoury and can be enjoyed at any time of the day.
"Sharing food over morning tea and coffee with friends is one of my favourite styles of entertaining,” she explains. "Unlike a formal dinner party, brunch has a casual nature.
"In my mind, it creates a relaxed and social atmosphere allowing guests and hosts to unwind, indulge and spend wholesome time connecting while enjoying a leisurely meal.”
Amelie’s latest cookbook, ‘Last Minute Brunch Party’, helps take the stress out of entertaining.
Don’t panic if guests arrive unannounced, this book will have you prepared to be a carefree, fabulous host in minutes. Set yourself up by stocking the pantry and having a few of these recipes already made in the freezer.
From now on, you’ll always be prepared for simple fuss-free entertaining from the showstopping crepe layer cake to sweet potato frittata muffins and brunch grazing boards.
A food and prop stylist and author of ’28 Days Vegan’ and ‘The Zero Waste Cookbook’, Amelie lives in Long Jetty in NSW and owns the boutique Plain Janes.
Throughout this new book, you will find simple tips and tricks to style your food, learn which recipes can be made ahead and find substitution options if you haven’t got an ingredient on hand and don’t have time to rush to the store.
The more you make these recipes, the easier they become and before long you will be adapting them and adding your own touches too!
We have three recipes for you to try at home:
"If you don’t have a good bagel store nearby, it’s easy to have some always on hand in the freezer. I prefer to toast bagels once they’ve been in the freezer, as it helps to bring the freshness back. Pop them straight into the toaster and use the defrost setting."
"This salad is my go-to when I’m looking for something light, fresh and easy to prepare and it’s perfect for brunch in the garden on a Spring morning. If you can’t find smoked trout, you can use smoked salmon or any other flaky smoked fish. Add extra greens and a variety of fresh herbs if you have them and you can also add soft-boiled eggs to the top, yum!”
This rich and creamy dish is very nice and warming on a cold day. Serve it with a leafy salad and your party is ready to go. The potatoes need to be very thinly sliced, so use a mandolin if you have one.
‘The Last Minute Brunch Party’ helps you to utilise everyday pantry items, refrigerator and freezer staples to create delicious, quick recipes your guests will love!
