When I was married I served my wife breakfast in bed every couple of months. I always woke up before she did anyway and had time to read the paper, drink a couple of cups of coffee and then make breakfast. I'd wake her with a kiss and we'd sit on the bed and share a platter of food -then I'd change the sheets to get rid of the crumbs.
With Valentine's Day falling on Sunday this year it seemed like a perfect time to suggest that you serve your late sleeper breakfast in bed. This menu is pretty simple (except for the coffee cake) so even if you're not a skilled cook you shouldn't have much problem with it.
Mimosa: When Champagne is Healthy
Courtesy of Rick via Flickr
I think if you really want to make an occasion special then sparkling wine is called for, and given we're talking about breakfast here, why not got for Mimosas? The traditional recipe calls for 2 ounces of orange juice (fresh squeezed is certainly best and 3 ounces of sparkling wine or champagne. You can also add a tablespoon of Grand Marnier to the mix. A non-alcoholic alternative is to substitute 7-Up for the wine.
Egg Cups: Savory Breakfast Cupcakes
Copyright 2010 Kevin D Weeks
I'm positive these egg cups are an old idea, but, in fact, I've never seen a recipe for them. They also have a certain visual appeal and so I tried serving them at a brunch - huge success. They're a bit of trouble to make but not hard to make, and they're lovely on a plate. If you make the Candied Bacon (below) slide the eggs into the oven and they'll both come out at the same time.
Candied Bacon: Savory, Salty, Sweet
Copyright 2010 Kevin D Weeks
Candied bacon was all the rage back in 2009, in fact, bacon in general was all the rage in 2009. But candied bacon is a piece of cake to make and extraordinarily good so let's keep it alive in 2010. You can use brown sugar, maple sugar, and even maple syrup but I have a fondness for Grade B maple syrup brushed on top. To me it's exactly the right degree of sweetness.
Apple Streusel Coffee Cake
Copyright 2009 Kevin D Weeks
So this menu item requires some planning and more complicated cooking. But if you wish, you can make it the night before and still surprise your mate the next morning with the rest of the menu in bed. If you don't want to tackle a cake, you can buy a package of refrigerator cinnamon rolls and make them instead. Remember, in a case like this it's the thought and presentation that matters most. And don’t forget that single rose on the tray. I did far too often.