tortilla and served up in wedges with a side of salsa. You can chop the few ingredients the night before so it’s just a quick scramble and assembly. If you want to wake up to some wow, move beyond pedestrian pancakes to a fruit clafouti or apple puff pancake. Recipes abound on the internet and while it’s virtually the same few ingredients as regular pancakes, this beauty is cooked in a skillet in the oven and emerges golden brown and ready to be saluted with warm maple syrup. A few minutes of whisking and a handful of ingredients comes together quickly in true restaurant style. Of course, breakfast in bed might sound like a non-starter if Dracula is more of a morning person than you are. Don’t toss the baby out with the bran muffins before you check out the magic of make-ahead breakfast casseroles. These all-in-one dishes are a great solution because you can fully assemble them the day or night before and just pop them into the oven to cook whenever you wake up. Be sure to set the timer so you can go back to bed while it bakes! As a final touch, consider popping the cork and mixing up a mimosa in a champagne flute or blitz up a homemade fruit smoothie to go along with freshly brewed coffee or a pot of tea. DREAMY DELIVERY It’s no secret that we eat with our eyes first, so setting the scene is every bit as important as what we serve. Start with a big tray that will provide a stable surface for setting onto the bed. Make it special by pulling out the fine china and crystal or mix and match your dinnerware to create a pretty morning scheme. Wrap cutlery in cloth napkins to keep it contained and then add a few special touches like a snip of greenery from the garden in a bud vase, the morning paper with a crossword or sudoku and a carafe of coffee so no one needs to get out of bed for a refill. Don’t forget any necessary condiments such as salt, pepper, sugar and cream. Now all that’s left to do is relax, settle in and eat up the unexpected room service. Enjoy!
20 PASSIONS | WINTER 2021
Apple Puff Pancake (recipe from Bonnie Stern’s Essentials of Homecooking) ¼ c (50 ml) butter 2 apples, peeled and sliced ½ tsp (2 ml) ground cinnamon 3 T (45 ml) brown sugar 3 eggs 1 T (15 ml) white sugar ½ c (125 ml) milk ½ c (125 ml) all purpose flour 2 T (25 ml) icing sugar, sifted Melt butter in a 9 or 10 inches (23 or 25 cm) heavy non-stick ovenproof skillet on medium-high heat. Transfer 2 T (25 ml) melted butter to a blender or food processor. Add apple slices, cinnamon and brown sugar to butter remaining in skillet and cook for 10 minutes, or until apples are tender. Meanwhile, add eggs, sugar, milk and flour to butter in blender. Blend until smooth. Pour over apples in skillet. Bake in a preheated 425 F (220 C) oven for 20 minutes, or until browned and puffed. Shake pan to loosen pancake. Invert onto a serving platter and dust with sifted icing sugar or serve with maple syrup.
