 With Valentine’s Day being right around the corner, guys all over are struggling to figure out what to buy their significant others. In the panic to participate (not always willingly) in the centuries-old tradition of giving gifts in honor of a dead saint, guys start getting, and taking, advice from everywhere. Your radio has advice, the guy with the beard on the TV has advice, supermodels have advice, and yet you’re probably no closer to choosing a gift than to the man in the moon. With all of the calls to florists, last-minute visits to jewelry stores, and the inevitable glances at the Whitman’s Sampler in their futures, I have another suggestion for guys: save the time and money and stay in bed. That’s right, stay in bed, with her, and bring her breakfast.
Done right, B in B is a home run, but even if the food stinks and you spill the coffee (not on her, of course), it’s an effort worthy of an “attaboy.” You have the thoughtful gesture, the moment of surprise, the grateful response, and the act of eating, which can be pretty sensual. It’s a nice way to kick off a long weekend or just say “thanks for being around.” It’s more intimate than dinner at the best restaurant because it’s personal. It assumes you have nowhere to be, no pressing matters. You don’t need a reservation and it doesn’t have a dress code – actually mostly naked is preferable. All you really need is the food.
The meal doesn’t have to be extravagant, especially if your cooking skills are minimal. Remember, it’s the effort that counts. Below is a recipe that’s easy and tasty. Or, you can use anyone of breakfast dishes we have all ready for you. That being said,
- A deli tray of bagels, smoked salmon, and cream cheese doesn’t count. Not a bowl of Chex, either. Get your hands dirty and crack an egg or something
- Keep it simple,
- Buying good bread and/or pastry never hurts. Croissants, baguette, her favorite bagels, whatever. She won't even mind the crumbs.
- Prepare her favorite morning drink and maybe mix up a Bloody Mary or a mimosa; nothing like a good drink to start off the day
- Make sure she doesn’t have to leave bed and help you with her gift – not the best way to set the tone.
Now all you need is to get the food to her. You can improvise with any solid, flat, portable surface if you don’t own a serving/carrying tray – I’ve used a drafting board more than once. Keep in mind presentation that is key, so - Don’t serve breakfast on a trashcan lid or an album cover with bong residue. You can get a cheap serving tray from Target, Crate and Barrel, or online from Overstock or RedEnvelope.
- Dress up the tray with her favorite flower in a bud vase – corny, but effective – a little something for her to open, or some bedside reading to occupy your time after breakfast.
- Use cloth napkins if you have them, and nice glassware, not the cups from the Stop ‘N Sip. Don't worry about your comforter or sheets. It’s as much about the mood as it is the food.
Honestly, with all the food, drinks, and all, you might need to do this in stages. But trust me that it will be worth the effort. So, don't sweat the lingerie or 2 dozen roses, just whip up a little breakfast, it'll go over like milk and cookies for Santa. And plan on sleeping in, you're going to be a while.
Sweet and Red Potato Hash with Poached Eggs1 Sweet potato, halved and sliced (1/4 inch) 2 Red potatoes, sliced (1/4 inch) 1 small onion, diced or sliced into rings 1 clove garlic, diced 1 tsp paprika 1 tsp salt or to taste 2 tbsp Canola or other vegetable oil Ground pepper to taste
4 eggs
1 tbsp White vinegar
Slice the potatoes and dice the onions and garlic. In a large skillet, add the oil and heat over a medium-high flame. Add onions and garlic, cook for 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Don’t let them burn. Then add the potatoes and reduce heat to medium. Add the rest of the ingredients. Stir occasionally to get the potatoes brown on both sides. Cook until potatoes are tender enough to cut with a spoon, 10-15 minutes.
Once the potatoes are cooking, poach the eggs. Poaching an egg is simply boiling it without the shell. Pull the eggs out of the refrigerator and bring to room temperature. Fill a 4-quart pot about ½-way with water and bring to a low boil. Add the white vinegar. Why vinegar? Because it helps coagulate the egg white to a firm, perfect mass around the yolk. Crack eggs directly into the water and reduce heat to medium-low. Poach eggs until the yolks are a consistency that you like, similar to how you take a boiled egg. Put hash browns on a plate and top with the poached eggs. Serve with toast.
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