A Most Inspired Breakfast

Vacations and weekend get-aways are essential to our overall well being. Even God took a day to rest to reflect upon all He had accomplished. We should do the same. Enjoy the fruits of our labor, and give thanks to the Lord above.

It amazed me just how much we were able to pack into a quick weekend getaway to the wine country of Napa-Sonoma. Less half of the suitcases used for our 16-day cruise were necessary.

The beautiful wine capital of California is just a hundred miles from home as the crow flies. Hubby and Kiddo were able to break away from work early on Friday afternoon, giving us an extra evening to explore Napa.

Our first “taste” of Napa was an amazing dinner at Los Agaves Mexican Restaurant on the riverfront. This place is fabulous – from the décor, to the selection of tequilas and authentic foods.

From Los Agaves it’s an easy walk just around the corner and up a flight of stairs to the Napa River Walk. Several blocks long, it’s relaxing stroll with views of the river, gondolas for hire, and sidewalk cafes. I could not imagine a more perfect way to end our first day.

Saturday was spent in nearby Sonoma, rich in California History. The last of the California Missions is in Sonoma. Once a Catholic place of worship; it is now a state park that welcomes visitors to tour the grounds. Not far from the mission is the home of General Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo. General Vallejo, born a subject of Spain, served in the Mexican Army and went on to shape the transition of Alta California from a territory of Mexico to the U.S. State of California. He served in the first session of the California State Senate. His home and grounds are also a state park open to the public.

The Sonoma Town Square; founded by General Vallejo, is filled with high end shops and cafes to keep you busy (and spending money) for hours.

Saturday night was amazing; with a birthday dinner and beautiful wines aboard the famous Napa Wine Train. In additions to the train ride itself, the gift shop at the Train Depot carries one of the best and equally difficult to find dessert wines ever conceived. Known commonly as Liquid Gold, Dolce is a late harvest sweet wine unlike any other. Far Niete; the winery that produces Dolce, is very selective when it comes to distribution beyond the winery itself. You could always purchase a bottle after touring their vineyard. However; tours are by appointment only and start at around $200.00 per person. Most of the better wineries are by appointment only to weed out any “undesirables” who drink their reds cold or think wine in a box is acceptable. So if you don’t want to be judged you could simply visit the Wine Train Depot’s gift shop insead. Although you really should ride the rails – the views, the food and the wines are some of the best.

Sunday morning we greeted the day with a balloon ride. There is nothing else like floating high above the valley bathed in sunlight with views that seem to go on forever.

After all that adventure, it was time to spend one last late morning in Sonoma. We strolled about waiting for the Cheese Shop to open.

Cheese shopping made perfect sense, we already had a bottle of Liquid Gold. Now we needed some gourmet cheeses to go along with that. I’m formulating our Wedding Anniversary Menu in my mind as we speak.

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You cannot spend the weekend surrounded by such delicious foods without feeling a little inspired. The first thing I did on Monday Morning was to create a favorite breakfast of sausage, eggs and toast. This time around I added a little pazazz.

Fancy Breakfast for One
1/4 lb Breakfast Sausage
3 tablespoons Bacon Drippings, divided
1 large Egg
1 slice Artisan Bread
1 tablespoon Butter
Salt to taste
Black Pepper to taste
1 Avocado
Parsley Garnish
1 small Pear Tomato

Warm oven to about 200-degrees. Place a plate in the oven to keep warm.

Form breakfast sausage into a large patty, set aside. Melt a tablespoon of bacon drippings into a skillet. Cook sausage until nicely browned and cooked through, about 3 minutes per side depending upon how thick the patty is. Wrap in foil and hold in the warm oven.

Add remaining 2 tablespoons of bacon drippings to the skillet. Warm over medium heat until drippings are melted. Remove from heat, add egg. Let egg cook off heat until the white begins to set. Return to low heat and continue to cook until white has fully set. Spoon bacon drippings over the egg until cooked to desired doneness.

While the egg cooks, make the toast. Butter toast and hold in the oven. Cut avocado in half, remove stone. Peel and slice the avocado, set aside. Snip parsley, set aside.

Once the egg is cooked to desired doneness, season with salt and pepper. Plate toast, buttered side up. Place sausage patty on top of the toast, the dirty fried egg on top of the patty. Arrange avocado slices over and around the toast. Cut tomato in half for a garnish, plate alongside the toast. Season with salt and pepper, kiss with a hint of parsley for contrasting color.

Serve and enjoy.

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He remembers forever His covenant
which He made binding for a thousand generations.
Which He entered into with Abraham
and by His oath to Isaac.