July 29, 2014

 Good Mornin’, Good Mornin’…

Yes, that’s me, Annette, in the center!
This is how Singin’ in the Rain’s, “Good Mornin” number could have looked! :o)
Photo courtesy of Trevor Hoffman

”Good Mornin’, Good Mornin’”, this perky little ditty from that great musical, Singin’ in the Rain, was frequently heard at my house, when waking up my young children in the morning. I am sure that this, partially, explains my daughter’s affinity for this movie as an adult! Great song, great movie! Join in with the movie clip below and sing along.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GB2yiIoEtXw

 I just couldn’t mention Singin’ in the Rain without including my favorite part from the movie! (I always marvel at this scene, especially since I know that Gene Kelly was sick and had a fever when filming this wonderfully iconic sequence.) Enjoy the movie clip below!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w40ushYAaYA

For some Singin’ in the Rain trivia, click this link.

http://www.pictureshowman.com/articles_films_singinginrain.cfm

 http://amoviescrapbook.blogspot.com/2012/02/singin-in-rain-funniest-musical-ever.html

http://www.oscars.org/collection-highlights/singin-rain

My daughter, Martese, and I playfully recreate Singin’ in the Rain
Hollywood Studios, Walt Disney World
March 2008

Epcot, Walt Disney World, May 2011
Thank you, Trevor Hoffman!

Just like Winnie the Pooh, breakfast is how we happily begin our day. While growing up in the 1960’s, my family woke up to a substantial breakfast together, prepared by my mother. Even the sitcom families that I watched on TV growing up seemed to all begin their day with a hearty breakfast together. (See a few photos of these sitcom breakfasts below, and click on the blue links to learn more.) In my own domicile, when my youngsters were at home, things were not so formal in the morning. Although, we ate most of our evening meals together as a family, due to varying morning schedules, breakfast was a much more informal affair during the week. More elaborate morning meals (usually not all THAT elaborate, though) were reserved for the weekend.

Breakfast 1950’s and1960’s Sitcom Style

 The Dick Van Dyke Show (1961-1966)

Laura (Mary Tyler Moore) fixing breakfast for the Petrie family, including Rob (Dick Van Dyke).
“The Curious Thing About Women” from The Dick Van Dyke Show, 1962, Season 1, Episode 16

Read about how I once “met” Dick Van Dyke, by clicking the link below.
https://annettehoffman.wordpress.com/2013/07/13/thank-you-dick-van-dyke/

Was Laura a short order cook?! Read this breakfast dialogue
from The Dick Van Dyke Show, and decide for yourself.
“What’s in a Middle Name?”, 1962, 2, Episode 7
http://www.dickvandykeshow.com

Rob: “Where’s Rich, shouldn’t he be eating?”

Laura: “He’s already had breakfast.”

Rob: “What’d he have?”

Laura: “Waffles and bacon.”

Rob: “Hows come he gets all those good things, and I always get scrambled eggs?”

Laura: “Well, Dear, because when I ask you what you want you for breakfast, you always say scrambled eggs.”

Rob: “Well, Honey, that’s because I’m half asleep. I’ve got scrambled eggs memorized.
Next time, you ask me and I mumble scrambled eggs, give me waffles.

Laura: Well then, how will I know when you really want scrambled eggs?

Rob: When you ask me and I mumble waffles…

Laura: I’ll make scrambled eggs.

Rob: Yeah, that’s right. And if I mumble toast and jam…well, I’ll make you a little list of mumbles.

 To view episodes of The Dick Van Dyke Show, click on the link below
http://www.tvland.com/shows/the-dick-van-dyke-show/full-episodes

I Love Lucy (1951-1957)

Lucy (Lucille Ball) happily experiences a role reversal, as she enjoys a breakfast prepared by her husband Ricky (Desi Arnaz).
“Job Switching” from I Love Lucy,1952, Season 2, Episode 4

To view “Job Switching”, click on the link below
http://www.tvland.com/episodes/rl2jxx/i-love-lucy-job-switching-ep-036

 To view episodes of I Love Lucy, click on the link below
http://www.tvland.com/shows/i-love-lucy/full-episodes

 http://www.lucy-desi.com

Leave It to Beaver (1957-1963)

It seems that June Cleaver/Barbara Billingsley always served an ample breakfast,
complete with perfectly coiffed hair, and in a dress and pearls.
http://mentalfloss.com/article/21210/6-things-you-didnt-know-about-leave-it-beaver

Bewitched (1964-1972)

Good witch, Samantha (Elizabeth Montgomery), was always up early to prepare a hearty breakfast for husband, Darren (Dick York and Dick Sargent), before he headed off to work at
McMann and Tate.

I love the kitchen stove and oven unit on Bewitched !

I sometimes dream of owning a “Samantha stove” of my very own (along with her beautiful heart-shaped diamond necklace). If only a beautiful Frigidaire Flair Range would fit into my kitchen space, then I could look for one in great condition, at a decent price, minus Uncle Arthur’s (Paul Lynde) head inside, of course! Hmm…I may have to discuss this idea with my hubby! :o)

http://www.harpiesbizarre.com
http://hookedonhouses.net/2009/10/04/a-bewitched-house-1164-morning-glory-circle/
https://annettehoffman.wordpress.com/2014/02/11/if-i-only-had-a-heart/

 The stylish Frigidaire Flair Range was a true product of the early 1960’s.

http://tvkitchens.blogspot.com/2012/04/samantha-stephens-stove-frigidaire.html

 http://www.kitchenandresidentialdesign.com/2009/07/meet-frigidaire-flair.html

 http://valanne.typepad.com/blog/2007/03/the-fantastic-fantabulous-frigidaire-flair-cat-not-included.html

http://autouniversum.wordpress.com/2013/05/07/jet-age-design-the-tappan-fabulous-400-and-frigidaire-flair-custom-imperial/

 http://www.danlangdon.com/flair.htm

The Munsters (1964-1966)

Herman and Lilly Munster (Fred Gwynne and Yvonne De Carlo) enjoy their breakfast together.

Click on this link below and view this Cheerios commercial that features Herman Munster starting his day with breakfast cereal.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3t-1FjXtyY

 http://checkthecoolwax.blogspot.com/2007_10_01_archive.html – 1435475401725664223

It’s Dollars to Doughnuts* …
*http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4vy22nV64c

In the 1960’s, Dale’s family served breakfast to the masses in Cleveland, Ohio, owning
The Donut Shop that was once located on Northfield Road/Rt. 8.

 The metal sign above, a Marty Mummert creation, hangs in my kitchen as a nod to Dale’s family’s doughnut making past. Isn’t it great? I am a mega fan of Marty Mummert’s signs!

 To read more about him, click on the link below
http://www.martymummertstudio.com

 To see my recipe for simple biscuit doughnuts, click here
https://annettehoffman.wordpress.com/2013/09/

The Bagel Bin

 You know those places in the movies where the guy walks into a restaurant and says, “Give me the usual.”? I actually have one of those places! The Bagel Bin, near my home, is a comfortable, unpretentious spot, and makes the best bagels and eggels ever! I am addicted!

The handsome duo: My hubby and eldest, Dale and Trevor, outside of our local
Bagel Bin in Ellicott City, Maryland
December 2012

I always enjoy my usual; a delicious half of a Bagel Bin Eggel/egg sandwich and unsweetened iced tea. The kind staff always carefully wraps up the other half in foil,
for me to take home. :o)

My Bagel Bin Usual;
an 8-grain bagel (made on the premises by the friendly staff)
double toasted, egg, bacon, and cheddar cheese. YUM!
http://bagelbinanddeli.com/index.html

 

Three of Annette’s Breakfast Recipes
 I share with you three tried and true recipes, below.

 The Tale of the (Hoffman) Muffin Special

 The first recipe listed, The Muffin Special, was my invention, created out of mild desperation. Many years ago, my oldest children had decided that they preferred the sugary stuff that their friends were having for breakfast, and that were being advertised on television commercials. Sugar coated cereals and pop tarts, although tasty to the tongue, offered little in the area of nutritional sustenance. I began to ponder, just what I might create that could compete as star of my children’s morning meal. My children liked peanut butter, and they like chocolate, so…the Muffin Special was born. These simple breakfast creations are still a favorite at my house today!

 The (Hoffman) Muffin Special

Photo courtesy of Chandler Hoffman

INGREDIENTS:

English Muffin

Peanut Butter

Chocolate Chips

DIRECTIONS:

Split English muffin in half

Toast English muffin

Spread with peanut butter

Sprinkle with chocolate chips, or make a happy face with the chocolate chips. :o)

1 serving

 

Creating a Healthier Scrambled Egg Muffin Recipe

 This egg muffin recipe is my version of a recipe that I found in a magazine several years ago. I have replaced a few ingredients to make this healthier, without sacrificing flavor. These “muffins” are great to make ahead, and store in the refrigerator, or freezer, to warm up for breakfast in the morning. The recipe is below, and beforehand, there are a series of photos to aid in the process.

The Ingredients; I  try to get all of the things that I need ready, before I begin cooking.

Divide the dry ingredients evenly into greased tins and “spill over” ramekin.
Note my fancy trash bowl that I often keep on the counter while I am cooking.

Mixing the eggs with my hand blender, but a whisk works, too.

Carefully pour the beaten eggs into each tin and ramekin over the other ingredients.

The egg muffins just out of the oven. I use my handy dandy metal “toothpick” to test their doneness. These are delicious, and  even better served with a hearty piece of multi-grain toast!

Annette’s Scrambled Egg Muffins

Ingredients

PAM cooking spray (I use olive oil PAM)

9.6-ounce package of fully cooked, Jimmy Dean Sausage turkey crumbles

8-ounce package 2% milk, natural sharp grated cheddar cheese

¼ cup chopped onion

¼ heaping chopped red bell pepper

1-dozen/12 eggs

salt

pepper

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Spray muffin tins, plus one ramekin/individual baking dish, with PAM. (This recipe makes just a little over 12 muffin tins worth, thus the additional ramekin.)

Evenly divide sausage among tins and ramekin.

Do the same with grated cheese, chopped onion, and chopped red bell pepper.

In large bowl beat eggs. (I use my Cuisinart whisk.)

Carefully, evenly pour eggs into each prepared tins and ramekin.

Sprinkle each tin and ramekin/individual small ceramic with salt and pepper.

Place in preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until a knife, or toothpick, is inserted near center and comes out clean. (The ramekin may take a minute little longer to bake than the tins.)

Let cool 5 minutes, and remove with small spatula.

Store completely cooled egg muffins in sealed container, or zip lock bag, in the refrigerator, or place in the freezer.

Microwave to heat up.

Makes a dozen, plus one ramekin/ individual small ceramic

Each egg muffin is 3-weight watcher points.

Coffee Cake for Tea!

This coffee cake recipe originally came from my mom. I have made a few adjustments over the years, but it remains basically the same. This coffee cake is good warm, especially with a cup of hot tea. The recipe is below, and beforehand, there are a couple of photos to guide you in the process.

Spread half the batter into a greased 9-inch pan and top with half of the topping mixture, and then repeat.

Annette’s note update from 2021-I now use a 9-inch prepared metal cake pan,

Baked and out of the oven. Grab your cup of coffee (or tea)!

                                                             Sugar n’ Spice Coffee Cake
                                                        (9- inch cake pan, preferred.)

Ingredients

 Topping:

1-cup light brown sugar

1/4 cup flour

2 teaspoons Cinnamon

4-5 Tablespoons melted butter

(For a bit sweeter topping use:
1 and 1/4 cup light brown sugar
5 Tablespoons flour
2 and 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
6 Tablespoons of melted butter)

 Batter:

2 cups flour

¾ cups regular sugar

3 teaspoons baking powder

¼ teaspoon, or less, salt

6 Tablespoons softened butter

1 egg, beaten

¾ cup milk

Optional:                                  

1/4-1/2 cup (or more) Chopped pecans for topping

Softened butter, or butter spread for eating
(I like Brummel & Brown Yogurt Spread )

Directions

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• Mix together Topping ingredients, adding pecans, if desired. Set aside.
• Sift together dry ingredients for batter.
• Cut in softened butter until resembles coarse crumbs.
• Add beaten eggs and milk, mixing lightly.
• Spread half of batter into greased pan.
  (There may not appear to be enough, so spread out batter the best that you can.)
• Sprinkle half of topping mixture over batter.
• Put on the remainder of the batter,
• and cover with the rest of topping mixture.
• Bake at 375 degrees fro 35-40 minutes.
• Serve with butter, if desired
• Enjoy!
• This coffee cake is better, if served warm.
• Once cold, briefly reheat individual pieces in the microwave.

  *I often bake a coffee cake, cut in pieces, wrap it up tightly, and put it in the freezer for later.

Gilding the Lilly: Chopped pecans may be added to the topping mixture.

A big shout out to my talented son, Trevor, for assisting me with some technical issues for this blog post!

 Thanks for reading!  :o)

Annette

I attempt to post my blog bi-monthly.

I will talk to you again around August 16.

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Breakfast at the table on The Donna Reed Show (1958-1966)
http://becomingdonnareed.com/search/donna+reed