parmesan

We do love our breakfast foods around here. As breakfast is one of the most important meals of the day for getting the brain and body ready to work, we always make sure to eat something before heading out the door. Unfortunately, it's also at a time of day where our bodies are not fully awake and fighting the concept of eating.

My husband and I occasionally visit a local restaurant that serves the most incredible creamy artichoke dip. Pretty much every time we go there, we have to order it because it is just that good. After a friend made his own delicious creamy artichoke dip, I realized that it was indeed possible to make a delicious batch of the stuff at home! Imagine, no more going to the restaurant just for the appetizer.

My mother has always made the BEST lasagna I've ever had. Whenever we went to a restaurant or over to someone else's house and they were serving lasagna, it just never compared to my mom's homemade lasagna. The sauce wouldn't be quite right or there wouldn't be enough cheese or, worst of all, there would be sausage in the lasagna! I mean, sausage?!

It has been unbearably hot in the great mid-west. Anything about 70, especially if humidity is involved, is too much for me! So I've been trying to come up with ideas that avoid the oven and minimize the use of the stove. Fresh fruits and raw vegetables have been great for snacking on. However, meals are a bit trickier.

For many years, I disliked breakfast food. I remember traveling with my family and stopping at Perkins. Everybody else ordered omelets, pancakes, toast, cereal, bacon, etc... except me. I always ordered some kind of sandwich, even if it was 9:00 in the morning! The waitresses usually gave me a funny look, prompting me to inquire "is it too early for lunch food?" to which they would smile and reply "No, of course not."