By Holly Brown

Easter brunch is one of my all time favorite food holidays. I love the fresh spring fruits and veggies that add color and texture to any Easter spread. Asparagus, citrus, fennel, berries, and cauliflower are fresh and fragrant this time of year! Of course, Easter Brunch is also a great excuse to share three of my favorite dishes from childhood with my friends and family. Stuffed Eggs Au Gratin, Strawberry Crepes, and Banana Bread were always on my mother's Easter table and they remain on mine!

Like many home cooks, I frequently fall into the trap of preparing a dish the way my mother did, without ever questioning why she used a particular ingredient, or prepared something a certain way. Ever since I can remember, my mom made Stuffed Eggs Au Gratin with a can of prepared white sauce and cheddar cheese. While I still love my mom’s classic version, I’ve upped the ante this year with a homemade Béchamel sauce and Gruyere cheese. What a difference! Once you make this Béchamel sauce at home, you’ll find a million ways to use it again in your recipes. The stuffed eggs on their own are also pure decadence!

Another classic Easter Brunch favorite is the hot Cross Bun. Who doesn’t love the tender dough, lightly crunchy crust, sweet raisins, spices and icing! Rather than spend time standing in line at the bakery this year, try making these wonderfully easy yeast-based buns yourself. Get the kids involved, and share the baking love with your friends and family.

Hot cross buns are not only delicious, they have a storied past full of folklore. Sharing a hot cross bun with another is supposed to ensure friendship throughout the coming year. Because there is a cross on each bun, some say they should be kissed before being eaten. If taken on a sea voyage, Hot Cross buns are said to protect against shipwreck. It is also said that Hot Cross Buns baked on Good Friday would never spoil throughout the following year. Some bakers believed that holding on to one Hot Cross Bun and hanging it in the kitchen meant that all yeast products in the coming year would rise successfully. And friends who gift one another with Hot Cross Buns every year are said to remain friends for life.

Have a wonderful Easter whether you’re hunting for eggs, or brunching with friends and family.

Try some of our Easter Brunch Menu favorites if you’re cooking at home!

• Stuffed Eggs Au Gratin with Béchamel Sauce
• Hot Cross Buns
• Best Banana Bread Ever
• Cheesy Cauliflower and Fennel Dip (Gluten-Free)
• Asparagus and Prosciutto Wrapped in Puffed Pastry
• Grapefruit Fennel Salad
• Caramel Apple Bread Pudding (Gluten-Free)
• Strawberry Crepes

Find more delicious recipes on Holly's site The Brown Lounge.