Making Breakfast in Bed

The biggest secret to a perfect meal is not necessarily found in exotic ingredients or complicated recipes--it's in planning ahead. Things to do first:

• Decide on a menu.
• Make a list of everything you need: ingredients, pans, tableware, and serving utensils. 
• Make a list of everything you can make the day before: Veggies and meat for omelets can be chopped and bagged; batter for muffins, pancakes, crepes, or scones will do just fine overnight under plastic wrap; and the coffee grounds can sit in the filter, ready for you to press the brew button.

Little things that can make a big difference:

• If you're serving juice, make it fresh squeezed. 
• Buy the best-quality tea and serve in a nice teapot, or grind fresh coffee beans and serve in a French press. 
• Garnish the plate with fresh fruit and herbs.
• Pull out the linen napkins, unearth the cups with saucers, and find attractive containers to use as a cream pitcher, a sugar bowl, and a vase.
  
  

Breakfast in bed is a pampered experience, but there are other relaxing places to serve a special breakfast as well. Lay down a nice tablecloth on the table and put a vase full of fresh flowers in the middle. Or, have a picnic in the back yard--bring out a basket of fresh scones, fruit, and a thermos full of coffee. 

Making a special breakfast doesn't have to be a lot of work. Cut down on prep-time and cleanup by baking muffins or scones the day before. Even easier, serve bagels or pastries from a nearby bakery, and put together a simple dish of fruit.