Quick & Easy Brunch Ideas from Hale Groves

What are the traditional “three square meals” per day? Breakfast, lunch, and dinner…but where does brunch fall in in that lineup?

The word “brunch” is a portmanteau made up of “breakfast” and “lunch,” and is used to describe a meal eaten between 10 o’clock in the morning and 1 o’clock in the afternoon. The concept grew out of the British “hunt breakfast,” a heartier-than-usual breakfast meal served later than a traditional breakfast to satisfy the hunger of those taking part in an early-morning fox hunt. Brunch became more popular with a new concept we now know as the weekend – during the advent of the Industrial Age, a regular workweek usually consisted of five full days Monday through Friday, a half day on Saturday, and Sundays off. In the early 20^th century, Henry Ford, seeking to reduce turnover in his factories, raised his employees’ wages and instituted a five-day work week. Workers were now able to stay up later on Friday and Saturday nights and sleep past the usual early breakfast hour. A weekend brunch grew out of their desire to both satisfy their hunger and extend the celebratory feeling with a heartier, more leisurely meal to start the day.

In much of the Western world today, brunch has become synonymous with relaxation and celebration. Brunch goes perfectly with holidays, Sundays and special occasions, when the demands of daily life don’t necessitate a quick breakfast and we can afford to take our time over a meal, eating, talking and sharing.

What food is good for hosting brunch?

Just as the word brunch combines the words breakfast and lunch, so does the meal itself combine foods commonly enjoyed during both (and sometimes alcoholic beverages as well – in fact, mimosas made up of champagne and orange juice are a popular brunch cocktail). The diversity of foods offered at brunch usually includes both sweet and savory items, usually (but by no means limited to) eggs, bread, pastries and other baked goods, fruit, vegetables, salads, meats and even seafood and desserts.

When is it a good time to host brunch at home?

There’s never a bad time to host a brunch! Putting together a brunch menu is even easier than preparing a company meal and is an appropriate way to celebrate any holiday or event.

Spring especially is a popular time to host a brunch. Easter, Mother’s Day and graduations all are made more special with a special brunch, and with the warmer weather the lighter fare can often be enjoyed outdoors. And with help from Hale Groves, you don’t have to be a skilled chef to pull off an amazing brunch!

Plan a spring brunch with selections from Hale Groves’ Breakfast Collection!

Since fruit is such an essential part of any brunch, you’ll want your brunch to include the best fruit available – and for the best fruit available, you’ll want to shop at Hale Groves. Our premium produce is superior to what you’ll find in your average grocery store. That’s because we source our fruit from the best trees at the peak of the season and inspect it all by hand to ensure each fruit is the best it can be before we carefully pack it up and send it out.

Most importantly, though, we don’t start picking your fruit until we receive your order. You can be sure that when you click on Checkout, your order of sweet, juicy citrus is still on the tree, soaking up as much sweeting sunshine as possible for the best flavor.

• May we suggest: Treasure Coast Trio. Perfect for fruit salads, fresh juice, cocktails or to enjoy fresh out of hand, this popular, highly reviewed collection contains three of Hale’s most beloved citrus fruits: juicy, seedless Grove Navel Oranges, tangy and sweet Ruby Red Grapefruit and easy-to-peel Honey-Sweet Tangerines. We’ve added four FREE grapefruit spoons so you and your guests can enjoy every drop of our plump, vibrant grapefruit more easily!

Gourmet spreads are a great way to perk up toast, English muffins, biscuits, bagels – even waffles and pancakes! Hale’s Orange Blossom Honey (sourced from bees in the Sunshine State) and marmalades are a great way to enjoy bright Florida flavor no matter the season.

• May we suggest: Hale Marmalades. This gift box of three marmalade varieties contains grove-fresh flavor you can’t find in stores. Great for afternoon tea as well as brunch or breakfast, each box includes a jar of our Florida Orange, Florida Tangerine, and Florida Honeybell Marmalades, all containing a freshness of flavor reminiscent of fruit found at a Florida roadside stand.

No need to heat up your kitchen while preparing a spring brunch…Hale Groves offers an assortment of delectable baked goods that bring that just-baked flavor to your spread without the work! Our cakes and cookies are made of premium ingredients and arrive fresh from our own bakeries with a homemade flavor that will elevate your brunch.

• May we suggest: Cinnamon Walnut Coffee Cake. A five-star favorite with your customers, this traditional breakfast cake pairs well with coffee and is moist and spicy with a double layer of buttery walnuts and cinnamon.

If you’re planning a Mother’s Day or graduation brunch in the next few weeks, you can enjoy all three of the above items in one convenient package – Hale’s highly rated Good Morning Breakfast Box contains a selection of sweet Ruby Red Grapefruit and seedless Navel Oranges plus a jar of our Florida Orange Marmalade and a whole Cinnamon Walnut Coffee Cake. Just add coffee and you’ll have everything you need!

Don’t miss our other spring brunch offerings…click below to shop them all.

SHOP the complete Hale Groves Breakfast Collection>>