So we supposedly had an extra weekend this year to prepare for Christmas since Thanksgiving was earlier than usual. But why is it that I'm still frantically searching for last-minute gift items, baking and wrapping like there's no tomorrow (Mayans calendar #epicfail)?  

(Image credit: America's Test Kitchen)

Brunch is my favorite meal, hands down. You gotta love a meal that involves both savory and sweet. Plus an excuse to drink champagne before noon sounds good to me! So it comes to no surprise I jumped at the chance to join the Boston Brunchers for a special Mom brunch with cookbook author Katie Workman at Scollay Square.

Scollay Square is located in the shadows of the State House on Beacon Hill. Some quick online research revealed that the original Scollay Square was located where Government Center now stands. The Scollay Square on 21 Beacon Street pays tribute with old photographs and decor from that era.

Joining me for this Boston Brunchers mom blogger edition were some fabulous women: Jessica from Don't Mind the Mess, Melanie from The Coupon Goddess, Laura from Good Cook Doris, Leah from Boston Family Foodie, Marissa from A Boston Mom, Boston Brunchers host Renee and Katie Workman, author of The Mom 100 Cookbook: 100 Recipes Every Mom Needs in Her Back Pocket.

Three-course brunch menu - so hard to choose with many great options!

Scollay Square had prepared a three-course brunch menu showcasing some of their signature dishes. For the appetizer course, we had a choice of fresh berries with whipped cream or this:

Asparagus wrapped with prosciutto, grilled. Delicious!

No contest. This was my favorite dish. The asparagus was cooked to perfection and grilling the prosciutto was a nice touch. The fresh mozzarella and oven roasted tomato drizzled with a balsamic syrup rounded off this dish. Yum.

Next came the entree course. There was a choice of Flat Iron Steak with Grilled Asparagus, Garlic Mashed Potatoes and Chimichurri Sauce, Butternut Squash Lasagna, Buttermilk Pancakes, or Monterey Jack and Portobello Omelette served with Has Browns and Lemon Dressed Greens. I'm a classic bruncher, so I had to go with the omelette.

Monterey Jack and Portobello Omelette

The omelette was light and fluffy and there was a good ratio of cheese to portobella mushroom. The has browns were okay (a bit on the greasy side) and the greens were kind of dull and overdressed.

As we dined and sipped our drinks, we had the opportunity to hear about what went behind Katie Workman's new cookbook. I'll be posting a review soon, but let's just say rigorous recipe testing, gorgeous photography and years of experience feeding her family and friends leads to a pretty cool cookbook.

The waitstaff was attentive and helpful. My guess is they don't see a lot of kids (dining room was a bit cramped and did not see many high chairs), but they were more than happy to accommodate our youngest Boston Brunchers (a couple of moms brought along their adorable and well-behaved babies).


For the finale, we were served Strawberry Shortcake with Vanilla Ice Cream. It was a nice ending to a great event. It's not often I get a chance to 1) brunch without my kids in tow 2) exchange tips on blogging and 3) commiserate with some talented women on trying to do it all.

Disclosure: Thanks to Scollay Square and Boston Brunchers for hosting brunch, which I received free of charge. As always, all opinions are my own.

If you're like me (world-class procrastinator), you may still be looking for some holiday gift ideas so you can start checking off everyone on your "nice" list. Here are some of my favorites - proven by the dirty, well-worn pages with crumbs caught between pages.


For busy families: Everyday Food: Great Food Fast This is our go-to cookbook for weeknight meals. Organized by season, this cookbook has a recipe for everyone. Simple and delicious meals - 250 to be exact.


For the baker: Flour: Spectacular Recipes from Boston's Flour Bakery + Cafe I have always been timid when it came to baking. But Joanne Chang has changed that with these amazing - or spectacular - recipes. The photographs are drool-worthy. Best Christmas gift I bought for myself last year.


For anyone who hates doing the dishes: Simply Ming One-Pot Meals Every recipe we've tried so far has been a winner with the whole family. Organized by cooking technique, Ming's Asian-inspired recipes are easy to follow, including quick tips and wine pairings that this mom really appreciates. The fact that all of these can be made in one cooking vessel is a bonus.



For the anyone that likes to entertain but without all the fuss: Barefoot Contessa Back to Basics This cookbook has a crowd-pleasing dish on every page. What I really love about this cookbook is how Ina is able to breakdown a dish to be truly simple yet still be sophisticated to make you look like you slaved in the kitchen all day.


For the adventurous home cook: Spice: Flavors of the Eastern Mediterranean Organized by spice, this cookbook is a master class in Eastern Mediterranean cuisine. This has to be the most beautifully designed cookbook in my collection. A must-have for any cookbook lover on your list.

Stay tuned for Pt 2 of "My Top 5 Cookbooks for the Foodie Family" - all new cookbooks I currently covet (and have conveniently left room for on my bookshelf (hint, hint Santa)).