Be Our Guest: Cozy Guest Rooms and Breakfast Recipe
An arduous flight, a close call with a semi truck, unfamiliar roads…I was exhausted! When I arrived on Sheri’s doorstep, I was greeted with a huge hug from my friend and valet service with a smile from her husband. They graciously invited me into their home. The guest room was ready and a delicious dinner was in the oven…heavenly after a long day.
Our guest room is always ready. From out-of-town travelers, friends of our kids, or my mom staying over night, the room is used fairly often. (I moved in last week for a couple nights so Scott could cough in peace and heal from a nasty cold!)
When friends come to stay the guest room is prepared for maximum comfort with cozy sheets and lots of pillows. I keep extra blankets in a basket, just in case. A chair to relax in, space in the closet and dresser drawers to unpack, and thick towels are good too. When I stayed with Lori, my 1 Corinthians 13 Parenting ministry partner, and her family in Colorado she had a basket in the bathroom filled with travel-size shampoos, conditioners, and lotions. Great idea for guests!
Here’s my checklist to have ready when the doorbell rings.
• Clean linens-sheets, blankets, towels, washcloth, pillows.
• Bedside clock with an alarm.
• A devotional on the bedside table is helpful for calming the heart and mind before bed. Magazines from the area are interesting for guests too. My favorite is Midwest Living!
• Bottled water and a drinking glass.
• Space in the dresser and closet for clothing.
• Good lighting, bright lights for reading and soft lights for relaxing.
• A comfortable chair to sink into after a long trip.
• Guestroom gifts give friends a reminder of your love to carry home. For guests who have traveled far, have a local treat ready for them. I like to send friends home with a box of chocolates from a local chocolatier or a package of Minnesota wild rice.
The essentials for guests are a warm welcome, a cozy bed, and a good meal. Friends and family come to stay to visit with you, not critique the accommodations. But having a nice place to rest is a bonus. And a yummy breakfast is a treat! One of my favorite breakfasts recipes for overnight guests is Oven French Toast. The prep is fast and easy. My husband and kids really like it too.
Oven French Toast
1 baguette or loaf of French bread
8 eggs
3/4 C half & half
3/4 C milk
3 t vanilla
1/2 t cinnamon
1/2 t nutmeg
1/2 t mace
Coat 9 x !3 baking dish with butter. Slice bread into 1 inch pieces and arrange in baking dish. (Bread should be below the sides of the dish.) Mix eggs, half & half, milk, vanilla, and spices in a blender. Pour over bread. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
Brown Sugar Topping
3/4 C softened butter
1 1/2 C brown sugar
4 T corn syrup
1 1/2 C chopped pecans, optional
Combine butter, sugar, and syrup. Mix to crumbled consistency. Add nuts. Spread over bread. Bake at 350 degrees for 45-50 minutes. Cover loosely with foil if top browns too quickly. Serve with maple syrup.
© 2014 Becky Danielson. All rights reserved.
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