Gale Gand's Brunch!: 100 Fantastic Recipes for the Weekend's Best Meal: A Cookbook

by Gale Gand, Christie Matheson

Every weekend is worth celebrating when you can relax over a good brunch. Food Network host, cookbook author, celebrated chef, and mother of three, Gale Gand has long made brunch a part of her life because it’s the easiest way to gather around the table with family and friends. Now, in Gale Gand’s Brunch! she shares 100 recipes for scrumptious brunch fare, all destined to become household favorites.

Traditional breakfast treats become inspired dishes when Gale shares how to effortlessly enliven the basics, like Iced Coffee with Cinnamon-Coffee Ice Cubes, Baked Eggs in Ham Cups, and Almond Ciabatta French Toast. In five mini-classes, she teaches how to master easy but impressive classic egg dishes–omelets, quiches, strata, frittata, and crêpes–with numerous variations on each. Finally, no cookbook by Gale would be complete without recipes for the wonderful baked goods she’s famous for, such as Ginger Scones with Peaches and Cream, Moist Orange-Date Muffins, Glazed Crullers, and Quick Pear Streusel Coffee Cake.

Special occasion or not, brunch is a cinch with Gale’s irresistible recipes. Start off the day with zesty Breakfast Burritos for the kids, or wow visiting in-laws with Poached Salmon with Cucumber Yogurt. Anyone will find Gale’s salads, soups, and sides delicious and simple, and with 60 color photographs, you’ll be enticed to try a new recipe every weekend. Wake up to a great weekend with Gale Gand’s Brunch!

Genres: Cookbooks, Cooking, Nonfiction, Food, Reference

208 pages, Hardcover

First published April 7, 2009

Reviews

[Robyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG, where in the world has Gale Gand been all my life? Why is it that I am not her child, friend, neighbor... distant relation? I want that invitation to her brunch table!
This is a gorgeous book, so really, really gorgeous! I snatched it out of Overdrive because of the cover.. that egg thing in ham... and now I have to find this book to own it!
Funny, I just loved this book.. wish there were more photos and instructions, but I am going to try several of the receipts... let you know how that works.

5 FAT stars for sure!

Happy Reading and try to brush the crumbs off your book!

[Catherine Woodman]

I loved this cookbook, and coming on the heels of reviewing a book aimed at feeding men, this one does a far better job of breakfast than that cookbook did, for that target audience. I get new cookbooks out of the library and test drive them at home before making a decision to buy, and already 2 of us think this has great possibilities. The area that is not strong here is muffins and other baked goods--interesting, because I have seen Gale Gand do a lot of desserts on the Food Network. The strength is egg dishes (this is the best strata recipe that I have seen, and I think that is a great make-ahead breakfast food. There is also a great sweet version of bread pudding/French Toast as well. A second area of strength is the drinks section--which is an unusual area, but if you are doing a brunch for a special event, this would be a cool addition to the spread.

[Tom Bateman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is September’s entry in the poly cookbook club, and it was a resounding success. We had strata, bacon scones, PB&J turnovers, French toast casserole, and one overachiever made a really good soufflé. I cooked up a batch of savory crepes with a sweet potato and rosemary filling, and it was delicious. No recipe was particularly difficult, and the instructions were simple and easy to read. My only real complaint is that the recipes were a little TOO simple. But overall, a delicious meal and a cookbook I’ll probably go back to.

[(a)lyss(a) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was intrigued by the recipe on the front and wanted to learn how to make it.

There aren't as many pictures as I'd like there to be in a cook book. A lot of these are simple recipes (like an omelet) followed by variations or different things you can add. Others are more complex recipes that require more time and patience. While it wouldn't be my go-to book for brunch recipes some of them sound good.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are many recipes in this book that I look forward to trying.

[LMTZ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice book!

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

100 Recipes, made even more tempting by clean photography.

The menu suggestions just before the index are designed for the reader to pull off tasty, impressive 3-6 course brunches (including specialty drinks/smoothies) for a variety of occasions. Were I spending Mother's Day near mine this year, I would absolutely take Gand's suggestions for: Pineapple-Blueberry Smoothie, Apricot Chicken Salad, Asparagus with Poached Eggs and Parmesan, Quick Pear Streusel Coffee Cake (which, by the way, shipped to Chicago quite nicely!) and Strawberries in Syrup.

I might have to have a Holiday Open House Brunch just so I can prepare the six delicious recipes included in that menu- let me know if you want an invite come December.

Most intriguing recipe: Gooey Camembert in a Box with Cranberry-Black Pepper Compote.
Most guaranteed to please: Cucurumao (i.e. "Eggs in Purgatory".
Recipe I'm most likely to make next: Cranberry-Almond Granola.

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

A superbly written cookbook - with a vast mixture of recipes ranging from simple (smoothies) to complex (home-made pretzels). Lovely, down-to-earth anecdotes prelude each recipe, and gorgeous photos of each finished product show you how it's done. Most meaty dishes are easy to substitute for vegetarian fare, and instructions are clear and precise. Love, love, love this cookbook! and I love brunch!

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Looking for a good book to use for our cookbook club brunch I floundered a while until I found this one. This book was everything I was looking for, savory to sweet, simple to complex. I bookmarked half a dozen contenders and made the Torta Rustica for our get together. The recipes are appealing, clearly presented, and accompanied by lovely full-color photos that do much to inspire. I can see myself going back to this book again and gain when in need of brunch recipes. Very happy with it.

[Yasmeen · Rating 2 out of 5]

In short: if you want to buy a brunch cookbook, get Bobby Flay's new cookbook. I felt like a cookbook about brunch would be a nice addition to my collection. A sort of a go-to whenever I feel like hosting a brunch, however, I feel like this is more for people who have no idea what to serve for brunch and never cooked any brunch dishes. I've made my own versions of most of those dishes really well, so this book is completely unnecessary to me.

[Emily Von pfahl · Rating 5 out of 5]

So far I have already made two of the recipes in this book and they've both been great. (Buttermilk pancakes and Bacon Scallion Scones). The recipes are complete and informative, with easy to follow instructions. Not every recipe has a photograph but many of them do. It is also a very well rounded cookbook in regards to sweets vs savories and breakfast fare vs lunch. Highly recommended.

[Miss Clark · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

LOTS of really tasty, if occasionally tricky, breakfast/brunch recipes. Not quite my ticket, but has nice range if you are looking for some delectable, different fare for your next get-together.

[Tamara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Looks yummy, but too much work. Have fun, non-lazy chefs!

BTW, if anyone wants to surprise me with Almond Ciabatta French Toast or Banana Nutella Crepes, please feel free.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Homemade nutella. Go buy this book. Now.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Iced Coffee with Cinnamon-Coffee Ice Cubes, Baked Eggs in Ham Cups, Caramelized-Apple Crepes...yum! Can't wait to try these recipes:)

[Brenda W. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great recipes for bed and breakfast style meals. Easy to follow directions and colorful photographs.

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty great! It's got the best buttermilk pancake recipe I've tried. The other recipes I've tried out are good as well.

[Beka · Rating 2 out of 5]

A solid book with more than just your usual brunch recipes. The pictures were great, but nothing really popped out at me.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

some great recipes to try

[Mary Kay · Rating 2 out of 5]

I only copied a couple of recipes from this book.