A Breakfast Fit for A Family

A peaceful morning unfolds.

Soft music winding its way through the house; a candle glowing on the kitchen counter.

A doily adorns the table. A single zinnia stands tall in its second-hand vase – the flower picked with delight from a neighbor’s garden and given to Mom with an eager heart. The last of summer’s cherries fill a bright yellow bowl. Some years ago I nicknamed them “nature’s candy.” It was so good of God to make cherries for us to enjoy!

I smile as I start on my scones. I borrowed the recipe from an Emilie Barnes book when I was a young wife, discovering the joys of tea. I have been making it my own ever since. The secret ingredient: tiny cinnamon chips from the Amish community an hour or so away. I smile because I know the kids will be so excited when they come to the table and find scones on the menu. I gently form the dough (remembering Emilie’s tip that one of the keys to good scones is minimal handling). The finishing touch is a brushing of egg to make the tops shiny.

While the scones bake and scent begins to waft through the house, I start on my fresh whipped cream. No cool whip or aerosol kind will suffice. This is a special breakfast for special people. Satisfaction comes as the cream stiffens and peaks form. A lick confirms my hope that it’s turning out just right.

My heart is overflowing as I set the table and arrange the warm scones on a favorite plate. A feeling of satisfaction as the meal comes together and I set a tone for the day.

Who are my special guests? The most precious people in my life: Rick and the kids.

There was a time when I only made my scones for “company” – women’s get-togethers, special friends, or out-of-town guests. They were becoming my signature item.

But somewhere along the way I realized that my family only got them as left-overs. A few crumbs or broken pieces after everyone else had enjoyed them. How ironic that I would extend a spirit of hospitality to others but fail to make my signature breakfast treat for my own family. Why do we pull out our best for guests and give our leftovers to the one’s we love? Who are we trying to impress? Those simple questions brought needed conviction and change.

I still don’t make them everyday – I want them to remain a special treat. But I do make them for no reason. Just for my family. And, I always make them with freshly whipped cream. Just for my family.

I don’t make a big fuss. It’s really a very simple meal. But few things bring me greater joy than watching my family enjoy those scones.