Some Quick Meal Tips when Company’s Coming

By Lori Powell

Company has come and gone! It’s always such a treat to have guests in your home and every time I do, I learn how to do it at least one step better.

Having company truly is one of the best excuses to get your house in order since it gives you a deadline to get all your ducks in a row…well, at least those that can be seen by the naked eye and are not lurking behind closed doors in the closet.

Just this past Saturday I had eight people over with two of them wee ones with an appetite. The week before, my parents came for a visit so I had a lot of extra mouths to feed.

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What’s for Breakfast? French Toast is Easy and Delicious!

By Sandy Hu

French toast is a snap to make and it’s a great use for leftover French bread. Simply slice the bread before it gets too hard, and store in an airtight plastic bag until you’re ready to use it. For longer storage, freeze the slices and thaw for later.

Serve French Toast dusted with powdered sugar or garnish with fresh fruit in season. Pass the maple syrup.

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A Mexican Breakfast

By Andrew Hunter

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, especially for growing children. In our house, it’s also the primary meal that Marilyn and I prepare together. Our morning routine starts with switching on the coffee pot, then slicing fruit, scrambling eggs and making toast. Breakfast is on the table by the time the first cup of coffee is poured.

We were just in Mexico and were pleased to discover a Mexican breakfast is just like ours, but the fruit was spectacular. It was a tropical combination of papaya, mango, pineapple, watermelon, bananas and grapes served family-style. Because it was locally picked and had never been refrigerated, the perfectly ripe fruit was literally dripping with sweet flavor

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Breakfast After a Morning of Antiquing

By Lori Powell

Oh yes, another weekend… except this is the first time I ventured out to have some fun which did not include a stop at a Home Depot, Lowe’s or the hardware store.

Ohhh, the lovely search and find of special objects and lure of antique shops and garage sales! Unfortunately Pennsylvania has plenty of them to satisfy my obsession of finding treasures amongst other people’s castaways. And yes, find I did…some old copper pots….old silverware and some pictures for the walls.

I am a huge fan of “Antiques Road Show,” except I am never home when the darned program is airing. Like the other folks clasping their treasures on the show, I am convinced I have a Picasso amongst my finds, except I still haven’t figured out which one has disguised itself as just an ordinary Joe!

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Around the World Breakfast Memories

By Sandy Hu

When Dave was seven and Chris was two, we took them on their first trip to Europe. Since they were so young and likely to forget the experience, I made them a travel scrapbook incorporating a collage of tickets, brochures, daily diary and photos.

And since food can evoke a powerful sensory memory, when we got home, I replicated for the boys breakfasts we had on our vacation, having tucked away appropriate props in my suitcase: chocolate milk packets, little jars of jam, and sugar packets decorated with famous French paintings from our hotel in Paris. From Amsterdam, I had purchased fake Delft egg cups.

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