Good Mornings: Great Breakfasts and Brunches for Starting the Day Right

I found this title in a used bookstore and, after thumbing through the recipes, couldn't understand why it had been sold. All the same, it was a good find for me and has changed Sunday in my house. This is the only morning I have to fix a proper brunch and this book has all the right options: starches, meats, cereals, breads, and potent potables. My favorites are the sherried chicken hash, the Santa Fe breakfast sandwich, and peppered biscuits. I'm glad to see it available here for others to discover. Note: if he recommends preparing certain elements the night before, it will save you time in the morning.

I purchased this book about a year and a half ago when it became clear that my holiday brunches were getting just a little TOO predictable. Family and friends knew what they'd be getting each time, and it was becoming just a little boring. Then Michael McLaughlin came to the rescue with GOOD MORNINGS.He covers a variety of meal styles, from rib-sticking breakfast feasts to more elegant brunches, to some light & quick choices like Blueberry-Watermelon Smoothies. There are some recipes that appeal to adults (like the Warm Salad of Scrambled Eggs, Smoked Fish, and Greens, which was excellent and relatively simple to make for 4); others that are geared to younger tastes (such as PB & J--Peanut Butter & Jelly--French Toast Sandwiches--great when made with grape jelly!); and dishes with universal appeal like Creamed Hash Browns.I now find myself using the book more and more when I have weekend houseguests. Since people's individual tastes can vary so widely early in the morning, there is definitely something for everyone in this collection. Even with a diverse group that included a dedicated dieter, another who wanted "just coffee", and others who were willing to indulge a bit, I've been able to pull together a good meal in very little time. (Many of the recipes have make-ahead steps.) In addition to the emphasis on relaxed entertaining, there are many good suggestions, particularly among the breads, rolls, and muffins (Carrot-Currant Bran Muffins are a particular favorite of mine), that will fill the bill nicely on a weekday morning when people are headed out to work or school. Now that the holidays are here, and I'm expecting visitors, I'm pulling this book out again so that I can feed them well, and still have some time for myself.

I gave this book to my husband for some occasion or another and used it myself to entertain friends from San Francisco. We had the Double Salmon Cakes, which must be started the night before, with Spicy Peach Ketchup(yum!) and Double Hominy Grits (obviously we're from the South) with Cheese and Green Onions. Also on the menu, Peppered Buttermilk Biscuits. We served the brunch on the deck (it was Memorial Day): everyone declared it a delicious meal and our friends have asked for the recipes. So I'm sending them a copy of the book as a "thank you" for my recent visit with them in SFO. The photography is beautiful and the page layouts easy to read.