Morning

There is no simpler joy than a warm-home cooked breakfast on a weekend morning. So often our mornings are spent gobbling down bowls of cereal, nuking instant oatmeal or pulling the car into the nearest drive through for a cup of Joe. So when weekend mornings roll around there is nothing that puts a bigger smile on my face than being in my fleeciest sweat pants standing over a warm skillet cooking up pancakes, french toast or waffles. 


When big fat jerk face and I used to live together I would relish those mornings of being in my pj's over a stove whipping up breakfast and then climbing back under the covers of our bed. Curled up together watching a movie. Slurping up bits of syrup and fresh juice.Those were the best mornings. 


It's a little harder to manage when you're living with a busy family of four who are cooking bacon in the oven and re-arranging shelves. The management is a little different and my grumbling belly has to wait a  little longer. None the less my trusty cookbook and I whipped up a batch of ugly looking, delicious tasting whole wheat banana walnut waffles. It brought back fond memories as a kid watching my Mom pour batter into the big waffle iron... 


The feeling of a full belly as we tried to conquer the Everest that was the Belgian waffle. Filling each square perfectly with blueberries or my moms home made peach sauce. The laziness of the morning swirling with smells of cinnamon dashed into the waffles and pure maple syrup warming in the microwave. Mom grumbling about having to clean the iron out and swearing she'd never make them again. So, Sunday mornings were spent with my Papa bear driving to the Dunkn Donuts after church and ordering chocolate croissants with chocolate milk. 


 I munched on my waffles, content in the moment and day dreaming about the past and thinking about future homes and not too far in the distant future kitchens and the smells that would emanate and the smiles it would bring....


**Even though I think that Valentine's day is horribly corny (and it's not because I'm bitter single) I'm gonna start dedicating some posts to some very special people in my life***

This post is dedicated to Jen. She came over to one of the first meals I served to a guest in my first adult apartment. I can still remember us all sitting at the faux metal bar top, eating pancakes together and talking about plans for hikes. She is one of my best girl friends, kept me going after a massive break up, ran with me until my lungs were on fire, camped out under the stars side by side and has always had my back through thick and through thin. I love ya Jen.