Host a Southern brunch

Get your family and friends together and host a Southern brunch. Now that the weather has warmed up, you can host a family brunch this weekend—indoors or out.

When planning your brunch menu, choose foods and beverages that the whole family will enjoy such as fried eggs, country ham, biscuits, and ambrosia. To drink, you can't go wrong with a pitcher of iced tea.

Highlight the meal with these southern favorites: pecan waffles, bananas Foster French toast, and sweet potato hash browns.

Pecan waffles

Pecan waffles are perfect for brunch.

Ingredients

• 2 eggs
• 1 1/2 cups milk
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• pecan halves

Directions

1. Preheat your waffle iron.
2. Combine eggs, milk, and oil in a large mixing bowl and beat until smooth.
3. Beat in remaining ingredients (except pecans).
4. Pour batter into waffle iron and sprinkle top with pecan halves.
5. Bake until golden brown (according to your waffle iron directions).
6. Serve these Southern waffles with praline syrup.

Bananas foster french toast

If your family loves French toast, check out this recipe from Paula Deen featuring croissants, bananas, pecans, and more.

Ingredients

• 4 large eggs
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 8 tablespoons butter, divided
• 8 large croissants, halved
• 1/2 cup dark corn syrup
• 1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
• 1 cup maple syrup
• 1 cup chopped pecans
• 6 ripe bananas, halved crosswise and lengthwise
• 1 teaspoon rum extract

Directions

1. In a shallow dish, whisk together eggs, cream, and cinnamon. In a large skillet, melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium-high heat. Dip 4 croissant halves in the egg mixture to coat both sides. Using a fork, remove croissants from the egg mixture, letting excess liquid drip off. Place croissant halves in hot skillet; cook 2 to 3 minutes per side, or until lightly browned. Repeat procedure with remaining butter and croissant halves; set aside and keep warm.
2. In a large skillet, combine corn syrup, brown sugar, maple syrup, and pecans; bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat and simmer for 2 minutes; add banana halves and rum extract; coat with the syrup mixture and simmer 1 minute. Spoon over French toast and serve immediately.

Sweet potato hash browns

Your family will love this twist on traditional hash browns.

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 large sweet potatoes, scrubbed and shredded
• 2 onions, chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon chipotle chili powder
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 cup brown sugar

Directions

1. Melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat; add sweet potatoes and onion. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally until onion is translucent and sweet potatoes are tender.
2. Add remaining ingredients and cook uncovered about 5 minutes, or until golden brown. Turn over and let potatoes brown on the other side.

Swiss Tea icy lemon berry blast

Instead of plain iced tea, make this refreshing drink—great for brunch, lunch or anytime.

Ingredients

• 1 cup Swiss tea with lemon
• 1 cup mixed frozen berries
• Ice

Directions

1. Blend ingredients until smooth.
2. Garnish with fresh berries.

Swiss Premium tea offers a variety of flavors your whole family will enjoy, including Southern Style Sweet Tea, Sweetened Iced Tea with Lemon, and even Green Tea with Ginseng and Honey.

More brunch recipes

Traditional maple French toast
Mother's Day brunch recipes
Special Sunday brunch ideas