Mimosas and Muffins

It's time for a post-holiday get-together with the neighbors since we weren't able to find time in the holiday rush. They have two little ones and we're always invited to their house for dinner so they can put them to bed before we sit down to dine. It's long overdue to have them over to our house, and I figured the best option was for a Sunday brunch so we could avoid "bedtime" altogether. Plus, I find that brunch is always a good option for anyone on a tight budget. A simple egg-dish and some veggie sides and you're in business!

Of course brunch isn't complete without the mimosas - let's get real. And I like to mix it up a bit with different variations in the "mimosas" depending on the time of year, the menu, and the guests. Since it's just after the holiday, I was thinking mimosas with pomegranate juice would be appropriate. Of course you could always just do Pomegranate Champagne - but for a brunch I find the mimosa mixture more festive. There are plenty of recipes to chose from, and while I don't have a favorite, I do like the following recipe from Epicurious.com:

2 cups chilled pomegranate juice
1 cup chilled fresh orange juice
1/2 cup orange-flavored liqueur (preferably Cointreau)
1 (750-ml) bottle well-chilled Cava or demi-sec Champagne
Note: You'll want to buy more than one bottle of cava/champagne. Trust me on this one. And I usually opt for less of the juice, and more of the champagne than the recipe calls for.

Combine juices and liqueur in a large pitcher. Slowly add sparkling wine and stir.

I'll buy a little extra OJ and pomegranate juice to serve to the kids, or to anyone who doesn't want a mimosa. Regular coffee will be in abundance, and I keep a stash of decaf coffee in case guests prefer decaf. So we're set with the drinks...now on to the good stuff. I'm planning the following menu:

-Orange mini-muffins
-Vanilla-pear mini muffins
-Roasted asparagus
-Egg casserole

I've got all I need except the egg casserole recipe from mom. She's got a knock-out recipe that she used recently, and we're all about sharing great recipes together. Right, Mom?

--the daughter