Although most cooks would agree with the Jamisons (American Home Cooking) that breakfast "can be the homiest meal of all" not everyone has the time to cook first thing in the morning. Fortunately, many of the Jamisons's 275 delightful recipes can be served just as well at weekend brunches or weekday suppers. The 14 chapters featuring eggs, pancakes, cereals and breads, as well as casseroles, sandwiches and cobblers are full of original ideas that expand the boundaries of breakfast (such as serving Strawberry Shortcake in the morning). International dishes like Swedish Pancakes and Asian Rice Porridge with coconut milk are offered alongside the more familiar—and luxuriously elaborate—Eggs Benedict Soufflés, Spiced Lamb Sausage, and Baked Crème Brûlée French Toast. There are also simple dishes such as Fruit Smoothies and Fried Egg Sandwiches for those mornings when the school bus is honking outside. With every recipe there are helpful tips on techniques and ingredients, as well as sidebars featuring American breakfast history and trivia, all in elegantly written, snappy text. Our country's breakfast traditions are wildly diverse, and the Jamisons' enthusiasm for their subject is a great incentive to get out of bed and try them all. (Feb.)
