“COFFEE MAKES IT POSSIBLE TO GET OUT OF BED IN THE MORNING.  CHOCOLATE MAKES IT WORTHWHILE.”  Author Unknown

The cycle of a lazy Sunday morning.  I am too comfortable in my bed and my eyes remain closed as I contemplate how to spend this beautiful day.  Everything about this morning feels good.  And soft.  The soft, cool breeze wafting through my window stirs me to wrap my favorite soft, cotton blanket around me, my feet, still poking out.  The soft, tinkling of the wind chimes relax me to sink even deeper into my soft, pillowy feather bed.  I can sense that my soft and sweet, affectionate cat, Sinclair, has come to enjoy the morning, too.  His soft little face gently nudges my head.  Nudging, but I won’t open my eyes.  Nudging, and my nose begins to itch.  Nudging, I roll over.  Nudging, he finds me on the other side.  Nudging, nudging, nudging!  Sinclair!!! 

So Sinclair is out and I am up!  A warm cup of coffee, light with cream begs to wash down…..something.  The coffee keeps me focused just enough to layer mascarpone, strawberries, strawberry jam and bits of milk chocolate on cold flat pastry.  But I am patient….I know that it’s just a matter of time until the dough warms and puffs and flakes and browns in the oven.  Wait!  Let me sprinkle it with sugar and toss some almonds on top for good measure!  And it’s just as I had hoped!  Maybe even more!  Warm and crusty, sweet and gooey. Chocolate and strawberries mingling and oozing.  It’s pure, blissful, comforting.  And it’s gone before my coffee has time to wash over it.  A few more sips.  And I am tucked back in bed.  The perfect lazy morning until….. [Read more...]