Nigel Slater’s book Toast focuses on his family’s cooking. I read somewhere that he chose this name for the book, cause a simple toast is something only family or someone as close as family would prepare for you.

I haven’t been able to find book here as yet – but I’d love to read it. Food writing & especially the kind that talks about bonds forming around the dinning table have always fascinated me.

But Toast, appeals so much more because the name hints at breakfasts

Ages ago, probably when I was in college I read this short, sweet piece in Reader’s Digest. It was called Breakfast in bed (I think). It talked about this Sunday morning ritual that the writer’s parents had for decades.

Sunday breakfasts in bed – prepared alternatively by the wife & the husband every week – served on a beautiful breakfast tray that was given to them as  wedding gift.

It might have been the beautiful descriptions – of her father scooping up fresh snow from a snowstorm the previous night and making a mini snowman on top of fruit – or her mother picking fresh flowers and making the pancakes look exotic.

It might have been the warm feeling – of being loved – that the piece conveyed.

But ever since then, I was sure I wanted that in my life.

Of course, when life happens you start to notice the missing details.

If he doesn’t get up till I bring him breakfast in bed, how will he brush his teeth? If he DOES get up, what is the point of having it in bed instead of eating in the lounge more comfortably.

HOW can I enjoy breakfast when all the while I’m thinking about the crumbs on the bedsheet.

Where do we put the coffee mugs?

HOW can I eat boiled eggs every other Sunday when it is his turn to make the breakfast?

So, there went that dream.

But fact remains that breakfast is the only thing I cook with regularity. It is also the only time, I’m not too tired to care.

So, while the Sunday Breakfasts ritual didn’t take off – I was still determined to make breakfast something special no matter what.

But………….. Hubby turned out to be a creature of habit. He’d ask for the same omelet everyday. He’d suggest doughnuts every time I dared to cook something else & insist it wasn’t the breakfast, it was just this crazy craving he had.

So I started cooking the same stuff for him everyday. But started experimenting with my own.

I made the Dutch Baby – I made the Egg in a Nest – I made popovers – experimented with the French Toast batter.

I made Khagina, egg, chicken, cheese sandwiches. I used up leftover food & came up with weird concoctions .I even made alu poori only for myself.

Ofcourse, over time, the creature of habit took up the habit of tasting my breakfasts. And though I wish I was good enough a cook to make as many wonderful breakfasts as this woman – I think, I am beginning to enjoy breakfasts more than ever before.

It’s Sunday morning – it is pretty chilly & instead of breakfast, we are having brunch. I thought about making Alu-Puri again, but was out of a few spices,

So, on the menu is spicy, garlic herb bread, Hot & Sour Soup & a new twist on Baked Potatoes. I don’t know weather they all sound good together but they definitely taste awesome.

Happy Sunday Everyone.