14 April 2010

Breaking the Fast

We had a wonderful time hanging out with Jen and her family last weekend. It's nice to end a long drive by strolling into a friend's kitchen and getting a glass of water as if the place were your own home.

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One thing that I love love loved about staying with Jen was her breakfasts. Each morning we arose to Jen already stirring in the kitchen. The first morning is was the delicious muffins pictured above with scrambled eggs and strawberries. The next day it was coffee cake. You could tell that Jen had put some thought into our morning menu. It dawned on me that a thoughtful breakfast is one of the nicest ways to make someone feel welcome in your home--and I felt the entire Bed and Breakfast industry roll their eyes at me--no duh, Miranda.

I'm going to have to work on my typical house-guest-breakfast ways. Which is to say, "here's the cereal, hope there's some milk. Okay that's not totally true, but I am usually in a bit of a scramble to thinking of what to feed guests when they wake up.

I'm thinking a go-to menu would help with that. And in an attempt to lure more of you to visit us in Denver, I'll share a sample menu with you. I'll plan for, shall we say, a week?

Day 1: Cinnamon Rolls. Nothing says welcome like a giant cinnamon roll covered in sugary frosting.

Day 2: Waffles. This is pretty much a given since our family eats them all the time. I would try to make them extra special for guests by including whipped cream and in-season fruit.

Day 3: Fried eggs, hashbrowns, and toast. This was one of my favorite breakfasts to order when I was a waitress. Traditional, unpretentious, and hearty enough to get you through an entire breakfast/lunch shift. Eggs are cooked to order of course--especially with my man N8tr0n, the egg master, in the kitchen.

Day 4: Bainbridge Island Scones. N8tr0n's mom supplies us with a yummy scone mix from a fancy grocery store on Bainbridge. Hence the name. We like to dress it up with Craisins and a little cardamom. Homemade jam on the side.

Day 5: Eggs Benedict. With Gramma Jo's magic hollandaise sauce recipe, of course. I really don't think there is anything else to say.

Day 6: Whole Wheat Pancakes. I use a variation of this recipe sweetened with a Tablespoon of honey. YUM.

Day 7: Breakfast burritos. Delicious, simple, and easy to carry if you're in a hurry to get to the airport.

Of course I would reserve the right to declare any day a Lucile's day and demand that everybody load up in the car to enjoy a rich creole breakfast. And don't think that I would forget about the true breakfast of champions--for those who would truly appreciate it--

www.nataliedee.com
www.nataliedee.com


So now I have to know, do you whip up a fancy breakfast for your sleeping guests? What is your favorite thing to serve? Does this menu make you want to come visit us? Is my sample menu sorely lacking in any area? Do tell!


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15 comments:

Pink Little Cake said...

If I have someone visiting me from my country, I would make some type of american breakfast, like scones, waffles or pancakes. I do love my guess, if I have any at some point, feeling welcome and well feed.

Cassie said...

If I win the mid-week lottery tonight I am booking a plane ticket and heading over for a visit! That weekly breakfast menu would have me staying with you for months!

I love planning breakfast when I have guests to stay and try to add in a 'Full English' one of the days.

xx

michelle said...

I'm not so good about cooking breakfast, even for guests. Definitely something I could improve on. If anything, I throw some muffins together. I've been wanting to try those blender pancakes!

I would be thrilled about any of your breakfasts (even the cupcake one!) – except French toast, I don't care for it.

Serin said...

Um, what if we live too close to stay with you? Do you wanna just make me breakfast every morning for a week? lol Yum!

Tiffany said...

Since I frequently feel like I've become a B&B, I'm used to serving German Pancakes and a quick-breakfast of orange muffins. I love your menu and will definitely be trying out a few of those!

Wiggs (The Beholder) said...

Did you see Joy the Baker's post today? They would fit perrrfectly into your breakfast arsenal, I'd say.

When we have guests, we usually do waffles with our fancy-schmancy waffle maker or breakfast burritos, since all of the leftover ingredients from those can be used later in the day/week.

paws said...

How about Breakfast Parfaits (like these: http://timepassingalv.blogspot.com/2010/04/breakfast-parfaits.html) or yogurt and fruit shakes?

We're not big breakfast eaters, but all that sounds very inviting. Maybe I'll have to stay with you next time I'm in town. ;)

Kimberlee said...

Um, yes please. How's next week looking?

Hil said...

love the cartoon... i want to print it out and hang it on my wall. :)

Staci said...

My BFF, April, taught me that it's nice to do breakfast, but she also does a guest kit with a fluffy towel and a sample soap and shampoo. I always forget my toothbrush when I go to her house, so she's started tucking one of those in for me, too.

I've set up a little black night stand with a little lamp. I try to put out a fun book that guests can peruse before switching off the lamp at night.

When I'm your guest, I want to try out your eggs benedict and scones, but I'm also going to show you Grandma's cinnamon roll glaze done easy... Now, I just need to get there!

Katharina said...

Staci beat me to the eggs benedict. Mmmmm.

If I'm not in the mood to spend hours busting my hostess buns, though, steel-cut oatmeal fits the bill nicely. I like to dress mine up with dried cherries, slivered almonds, and a tiny splash of almond extract.

Emmylou said...

I always make breakfast if we have visitors. It is usually either German pancakes with Strawberries and Sour cream sauce or biscuits and gravy or waffles with buttermilk syrup. Depends on the guest. I know what each of my guests favorites are and try to make their favorite. Last fall we had all of my inlaws over for a pumpkin carving party/contest and I made your pumpkin waffles just for fun. They turned out to be a pretty big hit as well.

Denise said...

Count me in on the cupcake/multivitamin menu plan!

Kali Jo said...

sweet, the cinnomin rolls got my mouth watering. I'll be over as sson as Kim buys me a plane ticket! (tell her to get on that will ya?)

Maria said...

I don't like cereal..I prefer left over dinner. One of my favorite things to make for guests is biscuits and sausage gravy, eggs, and homemade wheat toast with homemade jam. If we don't have time for that I do wheat waffles with homeade syrup...maple or buttermilk. man, I am getting really hungry just thinking about this. I need someone to come visit me.
maria--the mother huddle

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