Morning
G LO R Y
Text and Recipes by ALEXIS BIRKMEYER Photographs by MARVIN ILASCO
Styling by ALEXIS BIRKMEYER and MEG MATEO ILASCO
Christmas morning in our house is always
magical—gathering around a tree with family and watching with delight as presents are
opened one at a time. The tradition is as long
standing as anyone can remember, and a familiar one in many homes. In an attempt to serve a
brunch equal to the occasion, I’ve found myself
toiling in the kitchen in the pre-dawn hours
while everyone else still slept, or keeping family
waiting if I didn’t get an early enough start.
Since neither of these scenarios creates warm
memories, after a few years of trial and error,
I’ve decided that the best approach is a menu
designed to be prepped in advance, with just a
few simple steps to finish in the morning before serving. And the lesson is valuable for any
brunch—whether it’s to mark a special occasion
such as a holiday, or it’s just a delicious excuse to
get together with friends.
MINIATURE ÉCLAIRS
Makes 18 éclairs
Note: Steps 1-10 can be prepared a
day in advance.
PASTRIES
²/³ cup whole milk
6 tbsp salted butter
¼ tsp salt
¼ tsp sugar
½ cup + 1 tbsp all-purpose flour
3 large eggs
CREAM FILLING
1¹/³ cup whole milk
¹/³ cup sugar
pinch of salt
3 tbsp cornstarch
2 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup heavy cream
