Food for thought: Brunch at Work

It happens: sometimes you need to make food with only a microwave and things you can lug on the Metro.



For some reason, brunch is a great meal to put on at work. With only a microwave,fridge, maybe a toaster, some simple implements and a lot of imagination, you can hook it up at work!

Smoked salmon plate
Smoked salmon (Scottish or Irish is best) is available in most markets. For an elegant first course, arrange two or three slices (depending on size) of good smoked salmon on individual plates. Sprinkle some chopped red onion or scallions, a few capers, and, if you like, some diced cucumber on top. Finish with a few dashes of extra-virgin olive oil, and serve with a lemon wedge, a few sprigs of dill of fennel, and buttered black bread. From Jacques Pépin's "Fast Food My Way" show

Soft Scrambled Eggs with Fresh Ricotta and Chives--in the microwave! Just cook for 8-10 minutes, depending on how many eggs (I'd recommend 10-1 dozen for 20+ people). Scrape and gently mix every 2 minutes. I love making fresh ricotta--using fresh lemon juice is a must! But cream cheese is also delicious. I added some Pecorino at the end of cooking to give some depth to the flavor. Would also be good with asparagus tips.

Semifreddo fruit salad and Smoothies
I rarely bring fresh fruit to events anymore. One can buy huge bags of frozen fruit at many stores and can make sorbet, smoothies ad baked desserts with leftovers. Simply combine fruit in a large bowl and let thaw for a few hours. Add melted jam, fruit juice concentrate, liqueur or flavored sugar if desired. For fruit smoothies, use an immersion blender in a pitcher with some fruit juice, yogurt or soy milk. Make enough for three or four people at a time. Also great for mango lassi.


Chocolate Fondue
With the addition of pound cake, madeleines and fruit, one can make a welcoming self-serve station. This makes a lot (24 ounces if you are using a bag of chocolate chips), but it keeps for a long time. In a glass bowl, add chocolate chips or evenly chopped solid chocolate. Microwave at 50% power for 3 -4 minutes for a 12-oz bag of chocolate chips. When chocolate is uniformly glossy, it's done. Stir it for five seconds, then slowly add an equal amount of heavy cream and/or half-and-half. Add any of the following for enhanced flavor: 2 tsp. Grand Marnier or Amaretto; 1 tsp. vanilla extract; 2 shakes cinnamon or nutmeg; a dash of sea salt; 2 tablespoons honey. Be prepared to make this again!

Photo by Lisa Hubbard