Valerie Bertinelli’s Tips To Hosting Easter Brunch

Valerie Bertinelli, the sitcom star turned Food Network host, says that brunch is the bubble bath of meals — a luxurious meal reserved for when you have time to enjoy it. She recommends treating your guests to a menu that is indulgent and invites them to linger. Here are her tips for the special occasion:

1. Do your prep. Pick your dishes early on and decide which items can be prepared ahead of time, what just needs to be heated up and what needs to be done when guests arrive. Every dish is different.
2. Make something decadent. Bertinelli says her lemon curd pancakes are a go-to dish when hosting brunch. Hers, which are made with ricotta cheese, are tangy and rich, matching the occasion. Find the recipe in her cookbook, One Dish At A Time.
3. Offer a healthy alternative. Even though brunch is a treat, Valerie suggests a lighter alternative, like a frittata, for guests who might be watching what they’re eating.
4. Serve a special drink, like mimosas and/or Bloody Marys. “I like Bloody Marys, those are like a 10 to noon drink for me,” she says. “Anything after noon, then it’s probably time to start on mimosas.”

Get Valerie Bertinelli’s recipe for Eddie’s Favorite Chicken Sambal.