Martha's Christmas Brunch Menu

John Kernick

Martha always has a plan when it comes to her annual Christmas brunch. Read on for Martha's brunch menu, make-ahead strategy, and inspiration on how to plan your own holiday brunch feast. (For more sweet treats for brunch, or anytime, download our complete holiday cookie guide here.)

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Open House at Martha's

John Kernick

A little of this, a little of that ... Martha's Christmas brunch buffet includes plan-ahead recipes, specialty foods, and plenty of fresh, seasonal citrus fruits.

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Baked Country Ham with Honey Mustard & Lingonberry Jam and Angel Biscuits

John Kernick

"I have tried so many methods for cooking a smoked ham -- I used to make one that needed to be boiled in a great big laundry tub and created so much fat I didn’t know what to do with it -- and the version here is the absolute best." promises Martha. She serves the ham in a special stand she bought in Paris years ago, but a carving board would work just as well.

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Get the Angel Biscuits Recipe

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Oysters on the Half Shell with Mignonette

John Kernick

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"I know fresh seafood is a splurge," says Martha, "but people always remember how many oysters they ate. I serve fresh oysters from Norwalk, Connecticut, but you could also do crab claws in the West, or shrimp."

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Creamed Spinach with Poached Eggs and Brioche Croutons

John Kernick

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Decadent dishes like the creamed spinach with poached eggs are mostly cooked in advance before serving.

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Buckwheat Crepes with Mushroom Filling

John Kernick

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Martha loves to spotlight people's talents. As such, her friend and massage therapist Svetlana expertly turned out a few hundred beautiful buckwheat crepes while chatting with other guests in the kitchen.

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Crepes with Smoked Fishes and Dill Cream Cheese

John Kernick

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A few stylish touches elevate the presentation. Three cake stands resting on a platter create an etagere for serving smoked fishes (from top: sable, sturgeon, and smoked salmon) and crepes.

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Citrus Salad with Pomegranate Seeds

John Kernick

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Martha says, "This is just multiple colors of oranges and grapefruits on thinly sliced pomelos -- I'd never done that before, but it just occurred to me how pretty that would look as a base, and I had to try it."

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Mulled Blood-Orange Punch and Bloody Mary Mix

John Kernick

Setting up the bar on an outdoor porch keeps the cocktails cool. (In smaller homes, this prevents a bottleneck around an indoor bar.) Guests customize Bloody Marys with ground black pepper and skewers with caper berries, okra, pickled onions, and lemon.

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Get the Bloody Mary Mix Recipe

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Poppy-Seed Cookies with Meyer Lemon Curd & Swiss Meringue and Mini Chocolate Cakes with Dark-Chocolate Ganache

John Kernick

Since this is brunch -- and not her guests’ last meal of the day -- Martha keeps desserts bite-size (little lemon-meringue cookies and mini chocolate cakes) and mixes in store-bought traditional favorites, as well as Christmas cookies that can be taken home.

Get the Poppy-Seed Cookies with Meyer Lemon Curd and Swiss Meringue Recipe

Get the Mini Chocolate Cakes with Dark-Chocolate Ganache Recipe

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Panettone, Stollen with Marzipan, and Seasonal Candies

John Kernick

"I order traditional Christmas candy and stollen and panettone, and round those out with delicious lemon cookies and mini chocolate cupcakes," says Martha. "That's more than enough, really, for a meal like this, because I also have the citrus salad."

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Martha's Christmas Brunch Menu

1 of 10

Open House at Martha's

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Baked Country Ham with Honey Mustard & Lingonberry Jam and Angel Biscuits

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Oysters on the Half Shell with Mignonette

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Creamed Spinach with Poached Eggs and Brioche Croutons

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Buckwheat Crepes with Mushroom Filling

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Crepes with Smoked Fishes and Dill Cream Cheese

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Citrus Salad with Pomegranate Seeds

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Mulled Blood-Orange Punch and Bloody Mary Mix

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Poppy-Seed Cookies with Meyer Lemon Curd & Swiss Meringue and Mini Chocolate Cakes with Dark-Chocolate Ganache

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Panettone, Stollen with Marzipan, and Seasonal Candies

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Martha's Christmas Brunch Menu

1 of 10

Open House at Martha's

1 of 10

2 of 10

Baked Country Ham with Honey Mustard & Lingonberry Jam and Angel Biscuits

2 of 10

3 of 10

Oysters on the Half Shell with Mignonette

3 of 10

4 of 10

Creamed Spinach with Poached Eggs and Brioche Croutons

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Buckwheat Crepes with Mushroom Filling

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Crepes with Smoked Fishes and Dill Cream Cheese

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Citrus Salad with Pomegranate Seeds

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Mulled Blood-Orange Punch and Bloody Mary Mix

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Poppy-Seed Cookies with Meyer Lemon Curd & Swiss Meringue and Mini Chocolate Cakes with Dark-Chocolate Ganache

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Panettone, Stollen with Marzipan, and Seasonal Candies

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