Valentine’s Day Breakfast/Brunch Menu Idea

Valentine's Day Brunch Menu Ideas

We’re all set for another special occasion brunch menu! And, of course, this time we’re focused on a special Valentine’s Day brunch! We’ve already sent the menu and the first recipe out to our Breakfast with the Broads email recipe subscribers… but we’ll share a few recipes and the menu with you too! If you want the entire thing, make sure you’re on our list to get our weekly recipe emails!

Our Valentine décor is red and white (sometimes with a splash of pink) so I try to make the breakfast menu to compliment it. Great red fruits to add color for Valentine’ s are Strawberries, Raspberries, and Pomegranate Seeds.

Here’s our Valentine’s Day Breakfast Menu for 2009:

White Grape Juice (with a few drops of red juice for color if desired)

Strawberries, Kiwi, Mango, or Red Grapes

(with dipping dark chocolate)

Pear Melba with Raspberry Sauce

Chocolate Chip Scones

Heart-shaped Raisin Toast with Cinnamon Sugar

Heart shaped waffles, whipped cream & Maple/Strawberry Sauce

Chicken/Turkey Sausage

(looks nice garnished with sliced Strawberry and Fresh Rosemary/Mint Sprig)

Tea, Coffee (with cinnamon hearts)

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Find something to do!!

When our children were younger they would come to me and say “Mommy I am bored” to which I would reply ”Boredom is a state of mind, find something to do and you will no longer be bored”. Lately that has been a test even for me. Not so much that I have been bored but feeling trapped. It is still a state of mind

Day after the first snow.

What a difference a day makes!

but at times I had to do some real self-talking to keep out of a slump. It started in December when we were snowed in for nearly two and a half weeks. There were days of brief sunshine which of course I inhaled with great joy, but it didn’t take away the snow, it just made it crispy and icy. It rained a couple of days, so on top of the snow it iced up the road, making it impossible to get in and out of our driveway.

It was relief to finally get out on New Years Eve. I don’t think I really appreciated ‘freedom’ until it wasn’t easily attained. I am usually quite a homebody and can stay at home for weeks without any thoughts of leaving. Those few weeks became quite a test!.

Midnight snowfall

Next came the fog, thick peas soup fog which lasted for days!

Next came the fog.

Are you wondering how everyone got in yet, I didn’t get out? Well had the need to exit been important we could have

Freighter coming out of the fog.

Geese during snowfall

worked at it. As a friend said “We did not have a burning desire to extricate ourselves from paradise!” After Christmas we were able to move our car to the end of the driveway, but the snow melted and froze the tires into the ice. We worked our way back to the house for another five days while Mother Nature melted it.

Jackfrost's artwork

More of Jack's work

The photographic opportunities over the month were wonderful, such a variety of ever changing scenes. I hope you enjoy them! These two are my favorite.  I took them through the glass on the front deck.  Jack Frost’s artwork in the foreground!

Several great things happened during this month of strange weather that helped me re-focus on the bigger picture. First my mom and our daughter were able to get in and out before Christmas. Second we had a short day in Victoria so mom could have a visit with our son. Third and most important to me our son and daughter, their spouses and dogs made it in on Christmas Day. Through knee deep snow (no they were not barefoot in driving winds walking a mile!) they were able to carry their bags over their heads and no one slipped on the ice. Even our friends made it for dinner, although when they realized how bad the roads were they left shortly after dinner which meant we missed out on “Are you Smarter than a Fifth Grader?” Whew! Our kids would have cleaned up!!

Valentine’s Day Specials at Annes Oceanfront Hideaway Bed and Breakfast

Visit Anne’s Oceanfront Hideaway on Salt Spring Island in February for romance and relaxation.

Unwind as you gaze at the ocean from any one of our ocean view rooms, relax in our hydro massage tubs and delight in a fabulous four course breakfast in our dining room each morning. It’s an amazing experience and one that is sure to spoil your sweetheart this Valentine’s Day.

This special is only available by Phone for stays between Feb. 1 and Feb. 28, 2009. So call us for all of the details. 1-888-474-2663

Pacific Yew Room
2 nights including a four course breakfast, a 750 ml Chocolate/Raspberry Port, 6 Harlan’s Chocolates, Facial 2 Go Kit and an edible Sensual Health Body Glaze (value $435)

$310 – save $125!

$290 Midweek Special (Valid Monday – Thursday)

Douglas Fir Room
2 nights including a four course breakfast, a 750 ml Chocolate/Raspberry Port, 6 Harlan’s Chocolates, Facial 2 Go Kit, and an edible Sensual Health Body Glaze (value $455)

$315 – save $140

$299 Midweek Special (Valid Monday – Thursday)

Garry Oak Room
2 nights including a four course breakfast, a 750 ml Chocolate/Raspberry Port, 6 Harlan’s Chocolates, Facial 2 Go Kit and an edible Sensual Health Body Glaze (value $495)

$355 – save $140

Valentine’s Day Decorating

Red, white & more red

Thanks for the nudge about Valentine’s Day Decorating June.  I hope you can find some ideas here to help you get started.  Have a nice time at your party!

I am an advocate of using things you have around the house to decorate for different occasions. Admittedly I pick up the odd addition with a particular theme in mind, but usually it is after the occasion and for the following year (yes on clearance sales!)

We celebrate Valentine’s Day for the month of February at Anne’s.  We add a few extras to the room amenities and offer a couple of different special packages for a two night stay.  This gives our guests a chance to settle in, enjoy a relaxing tub for two and a special breakfast  each morning along with time to explore the island, enjoy a wonderful dinner at one of many gourmet restaraunts and return for a relaxing evening with a glass of wine by the fireplace, perhaps a movie and popcorn, and/or another tub for two! It is a nice getaway from the hustle bustle of family and work and gives them time to devote to each other.  Of course for us that means two separate delicious breakfast menus to work up! So I will get started on that this week. 

Have you noticed how sometimes the decor takes a turn. ”Things” turn up on the table when you least expect them………to help or hinder..? You be the judge!

As I walked around the house gathering  I realized I only have bits of red, and some is used at both Christmas and Valentine’s.  The bonus is the days are close enough together the reds are not lost in the back of the drawer by the time Valentine’s comes along. A splash of  pink with the red and white looks nice as well.

Flowers are always a nice addition especially red and white roses, or red and white carnations. Flowers,  chocolates and a special someone to share them with.  Delightful!

Here are a couple of other ideas to help you get started.  Begin with a few basic choices then start adding and subtracting objects until you find a look you like. Remember to keep it fairly low so people can talk across the table comfortably.  Also remember that a variety of textures and shapes and a splash of a different color are usually more interesting.  Unless you are going for a very ultra modern look when less is better, add a variety of shapes and sizes.

Did you know the pink quartz is also called the heart rock.

What a great way to bring in texture!

Parfait cup with greens and carnations

Small red vase with white carnations

Small red basket with ivy and carnations

Consider adding a couple of candles.

Table for two

A couple of other tools that may be of use. Some are used in making the breakfast, others are used on the table and  others can add to the presentation and complete the theme.

The cookie cutters in the first picture can be used to cut many different foods such as ham slices, toast, scones, etc.  The black cutter is for shaping eggs while they are cooking..

The three different parfait or fruit cups  can be decorated with heart doilies,

heart shaped chocolates, cinnamon hearts, flowers or sliced strawberries.

A red heart shaped bun basket.

I will be putting up a Valentine’s Day Breakast Menu in the next week or so.  I need to  bake the goodies so I can put some pictures up for you. When I do that I will do a table setting so you can see the complete picture.

I have a dear friend who is passionate about roses.  What better time to let you know about her blog which is full of the beautiful pictures of the roses she grows. Thanks Pauline!

HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!!!

Brunch Recipe: Baked Pear French Toast

This is such a delightful recipe – and easy to prepare too! Make the night before and put it in the oven in the morning for an easy to make and sure to please brunch!

Total preparation time: 20 minutes (best to make it the night before… requires at least one hour of refrigeration)
Serves: 6

What You Need:

• 1 loaf French Bagette sliced into 1″ thick slices
• 3 Anjiou Pears, pealed, cored and thinly sliced
• 5 tablespoon Brown sugar
• 8 oz Brie cheese, rind removed and cheese thinly sliced (well, I couldn’t slice the cheese so I used my hands and mashed chunks into thin little circles…it’s not pretty but it worked)
• 1 tablespoon melted butter
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 2 1/4 cups milk
• 3 eggs
• 1 tablespoon vanilla
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

What You Do:

1. Grease a 3 quart rectangular baking dish.
2. Melt butter in a large pan.
3. Add pears and 2 tablespoons of brown sugar to the pan. Cook pears over medium heat for 4-5 minutes or until pears are just tender.
4. Layer 7-8 bread slices in prepared baking dish.
5. Spread a layer of pears over the bread (using all of the pears) then place Brie on top.
6. Top each stack with another bread slice.
7. In a small bowl, combine granulated sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle evenly over bread.
8. In a medium bowl, whisk together milk, eggs, vanilla and salt. Slowly pour mixture over bread slices.
9. Cover and chill for 1-24 hours.

AFTER CHILLING

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
2. Bake, uncovered for 40-45 minutes or until edges are puffed and golden.
3. Let stand for 10 minutes.
4. Serve warm with maple syrup, berries, honey or cranberry conserve.
5. Add smoked bacon or sausage links on side.

**I couldn’t convince Dad to stop playing the Wii long enough to make this recipe! So, I tested it out instead!! I can cook but I am not that good at presentation!!

Voted Best of Breakfast & Beyond 2008 – Bacon and Eggs in a Pie

For the first week of January we held a poll as to which recipe you liked the most from our blog in 2008… and this one won – without contest!!! So, this is a re-posting of the recipe!!

YUMMY. Makes 6-8 pieces of pie.

What you’ll need:

• 5 bacon strips, cooked and crispy
• 1 small white or yellow onion, diced
• 1/3 cup creamy goat cheese
• 1 frozen pie crust
• 4 eggs + 4 egg whites
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
• 1/2 teaspoon of salt
• 6 cherry tomatoes cut in half

What you do:

1. Preheat oven to 325oF.
2. In a small pan over medium heat, fry onions with a tablespoon of butter. Cook onions until they are clear and soft.
3. Turn off heat. Add goat cheese to pan with onions and stir until well mixed.
4. Scrape mixture from pan into the bottom of the pie crust.
5. In a large bowl, whisk eggs with milk. Once mixed, add dijon and salt and mix together.
6. Pour egg mixture over the goat cheese and onions in the pie crust.
7. Bake in the oven for 20 minutes, until mixture is loose on the top but getting firm around the edges. (You might want to cook it on a cookie sheet as my pie spilled over the edges a bit when I added the tomatoes in the next step).
8. Break bacon into medium to small pieces and sprinkle over top of the egg mixture. Add tomatoes and distribute evenly around the pie.
9. Bake in the oven for another 15 minutes.
10. Let stand for 5 minutes before cutting.
11. Sprinkle with chives (optional) and serve with toast.

Chopping the Onions

Frying the Onions with the Goat Cheese

Part One of Baking in the Oven

Bacon and Eggs in a Pie - YUMMY

Bram waiting patiently...hoping for just a little sliver.

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Best Breakfast Recipe of 2008 – a poll!

Happy New Year Everyone! We though we’d kick off 2009 with a quick look back at your favourite breakfast recipes posted here in ‘08.

According to the number of times these pages were viewed, here are your favourite breakfast recipes from Breakfast and Beyond in 2008:

1. Grandma Broad’s Bran Muffins
2. Bulk Buckwheat Pancake Mix
3. Orange French Toast for Vegans
4. Bacon and Eggs in a Pie
5. Crepes, Yam & Eggs (now called Crepes Napoliyam)

Of these breakfast favourites, NONE of them are currently featured in the Breakfast with the Broads Cookbook – so we’ve decided to add your favourite one into the book. To help us choose which one needs to get squeezed in, we need

Poll Closed January 11th, 2009

And what would a best breakfast of 2008 blog post be without a few mentions of other great breakfast blog postings out there?? Here’s three of our favourites from 2008:

1.  Yogurt with tropical fruit, granola and crystallized ginger

2. Sleepin’ in Omelette

3. Pecan Honey Sticky Buns

Have you got a favourite recipe from 2008 that we haven’t mentioned? Let us know!

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