The bare minimum doesn't have to be depressing: toast and jam gets a glamorous outing. (Not pictured - unattractive but essential thermos of hot coffee)
I've never really bought into the idea that a high price tag guarantees luxury. For me, luxury is about quality and pleasure, and sometimes they need cost nothing at all. The best example of this is breakfast in bed. Taken properly, it is one of life's true luxuries.
Not just for Mother's Day (though I regard breakfast in bed as a complete non-negotiable element of Mothering Sunday, for all you who may be wondering); however, it does seem to be necessary to reserve it for weekends. While it's not about languishing for hours underneath the duvet, you do need to pick a day when you aren't about to rush out the door in an hour's time. The comfort comes from finding a quiet moment to relish some peace and solitude before the day truly begins.
How can one achieve such a thing without it becoming more trouble than it's worth? Too involved and your breakfast in bed runs the risk of being messy and stressful and starting your day in a state of chaos before it has even begun. But keep it too pared back and it risks becoming a non-event. It's not enough to simply rely on the fluffy surroundings of Bedfordshire to give meaning to your morning slice of toast. With just a few simple rules observed, breakfast in bed is the ultimate in self-indulgence, and you needn't advertise for a Lady's Maid to make it happen.
The key to a great breakfast in bed is to consider the practical elements of taking the meal in a semi-recumbent posture, bearing in mind that getting up mid-breakfast to retrieve something is the ultimate disappointment, like realizing you've forgotten your towel in the middle of a hot bubble bath.
The practical solutions involved here are often the same elements that provide a feeling of luxury: pots of jam and butter, a little bowl of sea salt, a full teapot, just for you (ditto: cafetière or espresso pot with little jugs of hot water and milk) - so you have your own little supply of stuff, with no need to get up. Small pots of things always remind me of fabulous hotels with room service - heaven on earth for just about anyone.
The tray itself should be large enough to hold what you need, but other than that it doesn't matter much. I prefer a tray with feet so I can shift around underneath it without disturbing the goodies above, but really, I'll take what I can get. This is absolutely the moment for pretty crockery and a cloth napkin (bonus points if it coordinates with your bedding). A tiny vase of flowers is a nice touch, but if it gets in the way then I'd sooner not have it.
In terms of atmosphere, an open window is highly desirable (season permitting, of course), and for me, it has to be silence in the room. No background music or television, which would miss the point entirely. I will permit a newspaper or a mobile phone for reading the news, but save any peace-disturbing videos for later in the day.
Now, on to the breakfast itself. While this is a moment for self-indulgence, this is not the time to feast. The indulgence comes from the quality of your experience, not the quantity of what's on your plate. Save the full English for the breakfast table. Along the same lines, this is not the place for porridge or cereal. Concerns for splashing milk aside, these are inelegant options for breakfast in bed.
My favourite choices for breakfast in bed are things like soft boiled eggs and soldiers with a little pot of flaked salt on the side; a toasted English muffin sandwiched with a slice of ham, a fried egg and a small slice of cheese; buttered toast with a pot of jam and about a litre of coffee (see photo, above); scrambled eggs with buttered toast and orange juice; croissant and fruit salad - you get the idea.
If my breakfast is sweet (pain au chocolat, jam or French toast, for example) I drink coffee. If it's savoury (mainly involving eggs of some kind) I prefer tea. Earl Grey, brewed in a pot, served in a cup and saucer. It makes me feel like a Lady in Downton Abbey, even if I do have to brew the tea myself. (It really is just as satisfying on your own terms.)
No matter how you take it, after your meditative breakfast is complete you can re-enter whatever chaos you find below, fortified just that bit more by your moment of morning luxury.
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