Breakfast!

If you're having family over for a big breakfast or brunch, but don't have a lot of room for cooking to-order, here are some options you do have.

• Use your oven/toaster-oven for an egg casserole. It's easier than making eggs to-order and won't get dry and crumbly like a big bowl of scrambled eggs would. Here's a super simple recipe: Egg casserole
• Make a few breads and scones. I like to offer Irish soda bread, lemon-blueberry scones, and either banana, zucchini or pumpkin bread. These are all acceptable at room temperature, so you won't have to worry about warming them up like you would with toast, but you can always pop them in the toaster oven for a minute or two once the egg casserole comes out to make them even better.
• Fruit platters! People seem to love fresh fruit. Mix berries,pineapple, grapes, and maybe some sliced melon. If your family isn't big on fruit, offer a combination of nuts, cheeses, vegetables, or even dried fruits. That's the great thing about brunch -- it doesn't have to be specific breakfast foods.

• You can still prepare breakfast meats (bacon, sausage, ham) in a skillet and only use one burner on your range. Do it last minute, though, so you don't have to worry about keeping it warm. 

A big part of planning a large meal is time management. The great thing about this menu, though, is that half of it can be done the night before (fruit, breads). The casserole can also be prepared the night before and just put in the oven about an hour before you want to serve it. All you'll have left to do is the breakfast meat, which won't take more than ten minutes. That will give you plenty of time to spend with your family!