Sunny and Cheerful

Last week as I was going through one of my vintage magazines I came across the following quote:

Marriage may be made in heaven, but many a one is unmade at the breakfast table.

The quote was in an article on the appropriate furnishings for a dining/breakfast room and recommended that homemakers have a sunny, cheerful spot to serve a meal.  Now that is not easy when the husband leaves well before sunrise!  But certainly there are any number of things that might make the first meal of the day a cheerful experience and one to be looked forward to.

I pondered on that a bit.  You see, Chance tells me often that many of the women with whom he works laugh at the idea that he is served breakfast each morning prior to leaving for work.  They honestly don't believe that he's telling the truth.  I'm sure they'll be shocked to find out that indeed he is telling the whole truth and nothing but!

I truly believe that how we start the day can change the course of how we finish it up.  Start off the day with accusations and quarrels and anger and you'll likely have a bum day to go with the raw start and more harsh words to finish the day off when you're back home.  So a pleasant peaceful tone is what we strive for in our home, especially in the morning hours. 

The best ways to assure that are as follows.  A good night's sleep.  A reliable alarm clock to help  rise on time.  Laying out clothing the night before.  Gathering items that need to go with you daily in one spot, where they may be easily retrieved prior to walking out of the door. A good breakfast.

I know several who'd tell me that they can manage all but the very last thing: the good breakfast.  But really breakfast need not be a tediously prepared meal with a huge mess left behind.  It takes only a few minutes to scramble eggs and make toast, or to serve a bowl of cereal with fruit.  But boredom will make breakfast seem a tedious thing too.   I try to keep a running list of menus for breakfast.

Peanut butter toast (with the addition of fresh peaches, apple slices or bananas for a change) is nutritious and easy to make.  But cream cheese spread on toasted bread is equally as tasty and here too adding fruit is nice (sliced strawberries, crushed pineapple, orange marmalade).  You can use a pancake or english muffin or bagel instead of toast. 

Scrambled eggs may be varied by serving them with the addition of cream cheese and chives or shredded cheddar.  Every now and then I'll toss in some browned sausage or bacon bits with the cheddar cheese.  And if time allows, an omelet takes only a few moments longer to prepare than the scrambled eggs.

On weekends I make french toast, biscuits, muffins and/or pancakes and set a few aside for the coming week.  Then I'll cook extra bacon or sausage, as well.  Now all I need do is reheat in the microwave for a minute or two at most and a ready made hot breakfast is at hand, easily prepared and ready well before time for Chance to leave home.

Breakfast sandwiches are tasty.  On toast or English muffin half, hollow out center slightly then pour in a beaten small to medium egg.  On second slice of bread (or other half of muffin) put slices of cheese and ham.  Bake until egg is set and cheese has melted.  These require a little extra time but are worth the effort if you do have time.  And if not, then make a scrambled or fried egg sandwich of toast, prepared eggs and cheese.  Put in the microwave for a moment or two.  The same fillings in a warm tortilla or English muffin are just as delicious and filling.

I make up a variety of muffins: banana nut, blueberry, strawberry, oatmeal raisin, or even chocolate chip and top with streusel or sprinkle on plain sugar to give them a flavorful topping.  But every now and then I like to make something unusual like a sausage muffin cup.  I line muffin tins with bulk sausage meat (ham or bologna slices may be pushed into the cup form as well) then crack into the meat liner and top with cheese.  Bake until egg is set and cheese melted.  These little meat muffins are easily warmed in the microwave and are tasty as can be. 

Any of these breakfasts will be welcomed by your family and help to insure that their day is off to a sunny and cheerful start.