Break out the Brunch – Part 2

Now if you're really serious about this brunch, make a fruit compote – really useful, it can be used to top the pancakes, the pain perdu or you could treat everyone to some posh granola – I mentioned Daily Bread Co-operative in Northampton in “Outside the box – take II” they have a great selection of cereals.

Whilst on the sweet side, scones would be wonderful – served plain or with fruit and fresh fruit from the bowl with a spoonful or two of yogurt.

Cheese scones would make a great savoury contribution to a brunch. Most of you will have your own favourite scone recipe. Mine comes from Nigella's “How to be a Domestic Goddess” p67 – Lily's Scones.

Eggy bread. This can be made with white bread or brioche. 4 eggs, vegetable oil, 4 slices of bread. Crack eggs into a bowl and beat. Heat a drop of oil in a frying pan. When the oil is hot, coat one slice of bread in the mixture – once again a square foil tray works really well – place the bread in the pan and cook for 2 mins, turn and repeat. Repeat.

If you've any leftover mashed potato and any remnants in the grated cheese bag/box, potato cakes are a great way of using up leftovers, can be made ahead and very popular. You can add whatever you like including cooked veggies needing to be used up. Apart from seasoning with salt and pepper, try adding garlic or spring onion.

Corned beef hash. A great “houseful” suggestion. Two tips here, use tinned corned beef and keep it in the fridge – it's easier to cut into cubes when it's cold and, back to the old faithful, the jacket spud – bake ahead and then peel and cube. Personally I'd add onion, peeled and diced and in addition to salt and black pepper, a spice or two – a sprinkle of ground cumin and ground coriander works really well, but you know best the likes and dislikes of your family/guests. You can poshify (I know it's not a word - it is now) if you want – put it in serving rings and top with a poached egg.

A large can of corned beef is 340g – as a guide you'd probably use the same amount of potatoes but I really don't think it matters – live dangerously, fly by the seat of your pants!

If you want the easy route, serve bagels with smoked salmon and cream cheese, always a hit in my house.

Recently, enhancing the bacon butty, I topped and tailed cooked jacket potatoes, cubed and popped on a baking tray – salt and black pepper and a drizzle of rapeseed oil, in the oven 30 minutes – turning after 15, they vanished – it's good fun feeding teenagers!

All of the above and the previous post without mentioning bacon, sausages, mushrooms, tomatoes and baked beans – I hope you find some combination that will tempt you and yours!