Brunch Ideas for
your Bridal Shower Party

Mary Corpening Barber and Sara Corpening Whiteford are masters in the kitchen. They can help you throw a party in style and wow your guests with savory and flavorful dishes no matter what the occasion. Serve up orzo salad, roasted asparagus and a smoked salmon platter at your next get together to really impress your party guests.

Orzo Salad with Lemon, Feta and Pine Nuts

Orzo Salad with lemon, feta and pine nuts is a tasty dish that is full of Mediterranean flair. Start by cooking the orzo in salted water until it is al dente. Be sure the water is salted to help it retain maximum flavor and texture.

Whip up a lemon vinaigrette using fresh squeezed lemon juice, garlic, oregano and salt, and then add it to your prepared orzo that has been drained of the cooking water and left to cool for a moment.

Mix in 2 ounces of feta cheese - goat cheese can also make a wonderful addition to this dish. Toss in some golden raisins, or use whatever you have on hand, such as black currants, black raisins or even dried cherries. Add olives, chopped red onion and some toasted pine nuts to your dish and mix well.

Lightly grate lemon zest over the orzo salad, taking care not to grate the bitter pith into your dish. Finally, add some freshly chopped basil to the salad.

Roasted Asparagus

Roasted asparagus is simple to make, extremely flavorful and a delectable complement to the orzo salad. When selecting asparagus for this dish, be sure to pick thick stalks.

Cut off the ends of the asparagus stalks and then peel the tops. Line them up on your baking dish and drizzle with a bit of olive oil. Season with salt and pepper.

Place the dish in the oven at 450 degrees Fahrenheit for 12 to 15 minutes. Remove it from the oven and place the stalks on your serving dish. You can serve the asparagus with balsamic vinegar or lemon juice – whichever you prefer.

Smoked Salmon Platter

Smoked salmon is a great choice to serve when entertaining guests because you don't have to cook it. You simply gather the ingredients to put together a beautiful dish. It's ready in just a few minutes too.

Smoked salmon comes in several flavors, so you can prepare this dish differently each time and it always feels fresh and tasty. Mary and Sara use tea-cured salmon with ginger in their dish, but feel free to try out the other flavors for yours.

Place bowls of honey mustard with dill, chopped red onion and capers on your serving platter. Artfully display the thinly sliced salmon in a curved pattern going around the bowls on the platter.

Salmon also tastes fabulous with pumpernickel bread. Slice several pieces of bread and display them around the edge of the platter. Add some sliced lemons to the dish as well. Lastly, tuck some fresh dill garnish around the bread to make a dish that is as beautiful as it is delicious.

Make Your Dishes Stand Out

Impress your guests with dishes that are served beautifully. Pottery Barn's contemporary serving bowls and platters are simple and elegant, and they make your food stand out so that no garnishing is necessary. The key is to display your food in an artistic way. Avoid symmetry when arranging your platters. On the smoked salmon platter, opt for three serving bowls instead of two. Rather than arranging the different elements of the dish into straight lines, use curved lines.

You don't have to be a master chef to prepare beautiful and delicious meals for your party. Just follow Mary and Sara's lead as they prepare these stunning dishes from their cookbook. Serve your delights up on Pottery Barn's platters, trays and bowls and you'll have dinner party that your guests will truly remember.