1st Brunch!

I've been scheming about brunch menus since we first found out we got the place. Something about the big windows, and the location (walking distance to the farmer's market, good coffee). But today was the first time we actually made it happen though, and it was wonderful!

Beautiful rainy day outside. Great company. Also, our puppy, Elmo, just came home with us Friday night. She's learning quickly and spent the whole meal sleeping contentedly in her crate. She's a chihuahua-jack russell mix (we think), and a total sweetheart.

The menu:
- Alderwood smoked salmon & pita crackers with a range of topping options: creme fraiche, fresh dill, chopped chives, capers.
- Asparagus & Crab egg cups: fresh asparagus, canned crab, spring onions, beaten egg, paprika, salt & pepper in little ramekins (about one egg per cup). Baked 30 minutes with the crisp.
- Roasted potatoes (following this Chow recipe, but parboiling the potatoes before roasting)
- Strawberry-Apple Crisp, again based on the maple-wanut apple crisp with half strawberries, (though it takes more than 30 minutes to brown!)
- A double recipe of white sangria with the addition of a granny smith apple & Grand Marnier (in addition to the brandy mentioned in the recipe), soaked overnight. This was my first time making this, and I did half the simple syrup called for, which was perfect. If I were doing it again in the spring, I would probably use lemons & strawberries, instead of lime & raspberries (which were delicious but more summery). I used frozen raspberries this time around.
- Fresh coffee!

Yum!