I am a creature of habit. I like to make the same two or three things for breakfast everyday. It changes over time, but for a while, it stays the same. Of late, my go-to breakfast is one egg, sunny side up, and about 1 ½ cups of fresh spinach sauteed in 2 t. olive oil. (I could say, “Fried,” but that sounds so unhealthy so I’ll stick with sauteed.) It is rather pretty with white and golden yellow and bright green. I don’t ever remember caring much one way or the other whether my food looked pretty until recently. Now, I do. Now, it has become an unspoken goal that I strive to attain at each meal.
Let me explain. I wanted to break out of my routine the other morning, so I decided to have oatmeal with chopped apple and walnuts, rounded off with a dash of cinnamon instead of my standard egg-spinach combination. Really, I was craving some carbs. When I got my bowl out of the microwave, I could barely eat it. It was so bland looking. The cinnamon aroma was enticing, but visually it was a dud. It got eaten. I’m way too frugal to throw perfectly good food away, but it wasn’t very satisfying. It reminded me of what you might see in a care facility. Not appetizing at all.
In contrast to that meal, I attended a food tasting for my daughter’s upcoming wedding. One of the appetizers was a skewer with this pattern: one mozzarella chunk, one leaf fresh basil, one cherry tomato, one fresh basil leaf, and one last mozzarella chunk. A balsamic glaze, rich and mahogany, was drizzled artistically over it all. Beautiful! After being asked which were some of my top choices of the tasting, my first response was this skewer. I actually said, “The skewer was easy to eat, delicious, and so gorgeous with the white, the red, and the green. Think how that would look on the buffet!” Compared to the tannish cheese-filled rice ball or the whitish noodles with tan bolognese sauce we also tasted, it wasn’t even a choice for me. Give me those lovely, inviting colors, paired with delicious taste any time.
So this morning, to my usual work week breakfast combo, I added 3 cherry tomatoes. Now I had golden yellow globes in pure white frames accompanied by bright green spinach, and cheery, cherry red tomatoes. Wow, that was pretty. It tasted great and was so satisfying. Yes, food needs to look pretty, too!
P.S. Here’s a photo of a similar breakfast from another day. I didn’t think about snapping a picture this morning. Besides, it was so gorgeous, I couldn’t take the time. I had to eat it.
You matched the visual beauty with this word beauty- cheery cherry red tomatoes- that’s fun to read! Oatmeal is one of my go-to breakfasts- not so pretty (although nuts and fruit sprinkled on top can help) but it has so many benefits.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, I agree about the oatmeal. Not so pretty, but tasty with the add-ins and, Oh!, so healthy!
LikeLike
You are so right! Food that looks good, tastes even better. You made the white, green, red, green, white skewers sound amazing. I think I would have chosen those as my favorite also. And I think adding the tomatoes to your breakfast is like a cherry on top. You have inspired my breakfasts.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Even if no one eats the skewers, they are like a piece of art that needs to be on display. So beautiful!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I was hoping for a picture! Wonderful descriptive language helps this writing spring to life with colors and aromas.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks. I added a photograph today, but I noticed the eggs aren’t as beautiful as the description. (I flipped them so the golden yolks were hidden until cut.)
Thanks for the comment. I think I will try to add more photographs to my slices to give them more interest.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh I didn’t mean you had to add more photos!
LikeLike
I love pretty food, and your descriptions sound beautiful and also mouth-watering! While I was sick last week and watching random food shows on TV, I saw a plate of roasted beet salad from a New York restaurant that was the most beautiful food I have ever seen- red, orange, and yellow beets, sliced thin and arranged in sequential circles until they filled the plate, with a bit of jewel green bursting colorfully from the center of the arrangement. Yum!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That description is making me hungry right now!
LikeLiked by 1 person