Breakfast in Bed

Serve it in Style
With the rush of the winter holiday, we sometimes forget what the season is really all about. Slow things down by organizing a fun and simple holiday craft project. Constructing this wooden serving tray is so easy with step-by-step instructions—you can even adjust the size and shape to fit your specific needs. And with endless options for decorating your tray, you can flex your creative muscles and put the skip back in your step.

• A Tray for Every Occasion: Your serving tray will be perfect for a charming breakfast in bed, but it doesn’t stop there. Try it out as a lap desk for paying bills, writing letters, or resting your laptop. Achieve effortless elegance by resting it on a coffee table or ottoman for serving drinks. And at your next dinner party, feel free to pull it out as a festive way to offer guests appetizers.
• Endlessly Creative: Once you’ve made your serving tray, it’s time for some artistic inspiration. Get creative with simple, inexpensive supplies like acrylic paints, stencils and peel-and-stick decals for treatments that are as unique as they are simple.
• Be Bold: Create big, bold stripes in quirky color combinations for a look that puts a serious twist on classic design. Paint your tray a single color, let dry, then apply masking tape to create vertical or horizontal stripes—play with the width of your lines for a chic look. Next, apply your second paint color and let dry. Finally, remove the masking tape to reveal your masterpiece.

  
  Tip: Forget the traditional rules about color combinations. These days, anything goes. Some of our favorites are chocolate brown and robin’s egg blue; moss green and persimmon; and mustard yellow and light gray.

• Make it Special: What better way to personalize your serving tray than with personal photographs! Choose pictures you hold close to your heart, be it a single portrait of a family member or a collection of shots at your favorite vacation spot. Using an inkjet printer, print them on iron-on transfer paper, following the product’s specific instructions. Next, cover the tray with an old kitchen towel or pillowcase and prep the wood by warming it with your household iron for a few minutes. Apply the paper to the tray—always keeping your cloth between the hot iron and printed image—and with a few swipes of your iron, your simple serving tray will become a treasured artistic piece. Once the photo has fully adhered and cooled, spray your tray with a wood sealant to protect the image for years to come.
  

  
  Tip: For added whimsy, play with your color options. Consider painting your tray a bold color prior to your photo treatment. Plus, computer software makes it easier than ever to convert personal photographs to black-and-white or sepia tones for an antique feel.

Morning Munchies

A breakfast in bed is the perfect way to unwind and indulge in life’s simple pleasures. But no one wants to slave over the stove on a relaxing morning. That’s why we’ve created an affordable, easy recipe for Cinnamon Cranberry Soft Pretzels that can be prepared ahead of time and quickly warmed up in the toaster oven. Pillows and pretzels? Yes, please.

Cinnamon Cranberry Soft Pretzels

INGREDIENTS
¾ cup cranberries
3 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
¼ cup brown sugar
1 ½ tablespoons baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
2 cups plain yogurt
1 egg
¼ cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 tablespoons butter

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F. Line two large cookie sheets with parchment paper and lightly grease the paper with butter or margarine.
2. Measure the cranberries into a bowl and pour boiling water over to cover them. Let the berries soak as you prepare the other ingredients.
3. In a large mixing bowl, blend the flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
4. In a second mixing bowl, whisk together the egg and yogurt. Incorporate the yogurt mixture into the dry ingredients and stir well until everything is fully blended.
5. Drain and rinse the cranberries. Gently fold them into the dough with your hands, being careful not to burst the berries. The dough will be quite soft.
6. Sprinkle a small handful of flour onto your counter or table and place the dough on the surface. Knead the dough 10 to 15 times, then cut into 12 equal pieces.
7. With each piece, roll the dough into a long rope, approximately ½” thick. Shape a single rope into an upside-down “U”, then bring the ends together and twist. Pull the ends to the top of the pretzel and press them with your fingers to secure.
8. Place the pretzel on your greased cookie sheet and repeat with the remaining dough pieces.
9. To top the pretzels, begin by melting the butter in a small microwave-safe bowl. In a separate dish, stir together the cinnamon and sugar. Lightly brush each pretzel with butter and then sprinkle evenly with the cinnamon-sugar mixture.
10. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes or until golden brown.

Tip: Twist outside the box! Instead of forming your dough into traditional pretzels, try experimenting with different fun shapes. Be sure to keep an eye on the oven, as different shapes may adjust the cook time by 2 or 3 minutes.

A Perfect Pairing

Add something extra special to your breakfast with our elegant yet easy Warm Brie with Dried Fruit and Nuts. This mild, creamy cheese is perfect for dipping our Cinnamon Cranberry Soft Pretzels and takes mere minutes to prepare.

Warm Brie with Dried Fruit and Nuts

INGREDIENTS
5 ounces of cream Brie, spreadable
¼ cup almonds, sliced
¼ cup dried cranberries or cherries
1 tablespoon honey

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Spoon all 5 ounces of the Brie onto a large microwaveable plate. Use the back of the spoon to spread the Brie around the plate.
2. Sprinkle the surface of the Brie with almonds and seasonal dried fruit, like cranberries or cherries.
3. Drizzle the tablespoon of honey over top.
4. Microwave for about 2 minutes, until the Brie is warm and has loosened enough to spread across the plate.
5. Serve with Cinnamon Cranberry Pretzels or a sliced baguette for dipping.

Tip: In place of cranberries or cherries, try other dried fruits, such as apricots, raisins or figs for a different flavor. During the warmer months, take advantage of what’s in season, using fresh fruits like sliced apples and pears for dipping.

Splendid Sipping

It’s a sweet companion to any breakfast dish: fresh-squeezed orange juice with a twist of tart cranberry juice.

Fresh Cranberry Orange Juice - By Deborah Fewell

INGREDIENTS
12 large Navel oranges, peeled and halved
1 ½ cups cranberry juice

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Use an automatic juicer or hand juice to juice the oranges, then pour the juice into a large pitcher.
2. Add cranberry juice and stir well. Serve over ice, garnished with a thin orange slice.

With these easy recipes and unique craft project, breakfast in bed is the perfect way to unwind this winter holiday season—or any time of year!