The Accidental Chef

KENDRA BAILEY MORRIS DEAR ACCIDENTAL CHEF: This year (or should I say next year?), I am hosting a New Year's Day brunch for about 12 people. We plan on celebrating the night before, so I'm looking for easy recipes I can make ahead. I don't want to do too much cooking that morning, especially after a late night. Can you help? - Too Pooped to Party in the West End

DEAR TOO POOPED: First off, there's no need for you to do much of anything the day of your brunch except sleep in. Theoretically, all the cleaning, cooking, and much of your party's set-up can be done in advance.

You'll also have several factors working in your favor. First, your attendees will want to sleep in, so feel free to start the party after 11 a.m. or even closer to noon.

Second, and call me crazy, but I'll bet you a dozen party favors that you'll have an exceptionally hungry, semi-hungover group of guests heading your way. This actually makes recipe planning much easier (i.e. put anything on a plate and they'll eat it), so when it doubt, go for starchy, fatty foods along with lots of coffee and adult beverages.

With careful planning, all you'll have to do the morning of the brunch is brush your teeth, throw on a pair of jeans, and enjoy yourself.

Here are a few crafty brunch ideas that will satiate the masses and keep you out of the kitchen on party day.

A week or so in advance, whip up a couple of quick breads. Quick breads are the perfect brunch accompaniment, and for those of us born without the "bread gene," they are often imperative. Note: the elusive "bread gene" is that rare combination of DNA that gave your grandmother (and perhaps your mother) the ability to create beautiful loaves of bread and rolls from a yeast packet while yours end up resembling hockey pucks.

Unfortunately, some of us were born without it, but we can make up for things by whipping up delicious, nonyeast based breads such as zucchini bread, carrot bread or banana bread. Not only are these breads perfect for breakfast, but they also can be made ahead and frozen.

Quiche is another quick and easy brunch option, and it, too, can be frozen a week or so before your party. Grab a couple of refrigerated pie crusts to make life even easier and avoid the hassle of tinkering with homemade dough.

Go back to your roots with the Southern breakfast casserole. In my opinion, this has to be the holy grail of simple brunch dishes. Whip up some eggs with milk and a can of cream of mushroom soup. Pour in a casserole dish and then layer with sliced bread, cooked sausage, cheese and green onions. Place it in the fridge overnight and then bake it the day of. What's not to like? It's a self-contained meal that is cost-effective and super-easy.

Set out of a couple of do-it-yourself bars. Setting up a breakfast burrito bar (or soft tacos) is a great way to involve guests in the assembly process. Set out a chafing dish (or large foil container) of scrambled eggs along with shredded cheese, cooked sausage or bacon pieces, fresh tomatoes, salsa and warm tortillas and let your guests have it. This is a great one for the kids, too.

Speaking of serve yourself, don't forget the beverages. Along with a pot of coffee, have a variety of juices (orange, grapefruit, tomato) or go all out and create a Bloody Mary bar where guests can make their own signature cocktails. Along with vodka and Bloody Mary mix, set out small bowls of cocktail onions, celery salt, olives, lemon slices and a few bottles of hot sauce and Worcestershire.

Lastly, don't be afraid to get some outside help. Arrange to pick up a platter of bagels and flavored cream cheeses or hit the bakery for a collection of cheese Danish and some cream-filled doughnuts. Your guests will be just as happy to eat a few of these standard goodies as they would a platter of the homemade stuff.

For recipe inspiration, check out http://www.breakfast-and-brunch-recipes.com/.

Kendra Bailey Morris is a Richmond-based food writer, culinary instructor and author of "White Trash Gatherings: From-Scratch Cooking for Down-Home Entertaining" (Ten Speed Press). Send ideas, tips or culinary questions to or visit http://www.theaccidentalchef.net.