Homemade Donuts

Admittedly, every once in a blue moon, I like to indulge in a Dunkin' Donuts chocolate-iced donut. The light, fluffy texture makes me feel like I'm eating a chocolate cloud, and I get a kick out of the fact that I can finish the whole thing in about four bites.

But this? This is in an entirely different league. We split this homemade donut between three people and I could barely finish my portion. We watched them douse it in cinnamon sugar ourselves and it was served to us so fresh it was still warm. This is a dense little mouthful of heaven, with a richness in flavor and texture that shoots every commercial brand out of the water. And the cherry on top (literally!) is that every donut ring comes with the donut hole that was popped out of its middle. How cute! AND delicious!

Where you can enjoy these yourself:

Fred's Breakfast
13 East Randolph Street
New Hope, Pennsylvania
http://www.fredsbreakfast.com/
*But! The donuts are typically only available on Tuesday mornings.

Now, the thing about Fred's is that it's all a big secret. You can read more on their website about details, but the general gist is that you need to be a member in order to dine at the 31-seat counter surrounding the open kitchen. How do you become a member? By recommendation of a current member! It's an exclusive breakfast club with a retro-diner feel and very casual atmosphere, located right on the Delaware River. If you happen to know someone (like me!) who is a member, ask them for a Guest Privilege card to check the place out. Fred's is one of New Hope's best kept local secrets.

Eggs Poached and Over Medium on Toast

Nice cut view of the eggs over medium

Cut view of the poached egg

For about my first twenty years, I was strictly a scrambled eggs girl. I was particular (still am) about my scrambled - golden brown, thank you! - but it wasn't until I hit college that I started exploring my options. That's when they say you can really find yourself, right? Well, I found something even better: omelets. And ever so slowly since, I've begun to come out of my shell (get it? shell?? we're talking about eggs!!) So now that I'd started my next phase, Real Life, it seemed only appropriate to expand my horizons just a few varieties more.

Eggs over medium is a nice introduction to the runny side of eggs, especially for us golden-brown-bone-dry egg eaters (I find it a great way to test the waters without totally committing to a plate full of goop). Cooked in a frying pan and flipped twice over, the yolk is runny - and gets absorbed nicely by the toast - but the white is fully cooked.

Poached eggs are simply that: poached. The egg is gently dropped into a pot of simmering water and removed once cooked. Similar to the egg of medium, you typically get a runny yolk and also cooked white, though the texture is a little...well, thicker and slimier. (Can't say it was my favorite. But worth a try!)

What I like about trying different types of eggs is that each variety is almost like a snack. So if it's really not to my liking, it's just another two or three bites and it's over...and if it's right up my alley, I can order another one no problem! I'm slowly making my way down the list of Ways to Eat Eggs. I've got four down so far. Maybe with my next stage of life I'll get it up to six. I'll get there eventually.

Where you can enjoy this yourself:

Fred's Breakfast
13 East Randolph Street
New Hope, Pennsylvania
http://www.fredsbreakfast.com/

Now, the thing about Fred's is that it's all a big secret. You can read more on their website about details, but the general gist is that you need to be a member in order to dine at the 31-seat counter surrounding the open kitchen. How do you become a member? By recommendation of a current member! It's an exclusive breakfast club with a retro-diner feel and very casual atmosphere, located right on the Delaware River. If you happen to know someone (like me!) who is a member, ask them for a Guest Privilege card to check the place out. Fred's is one of New Hope's best kept local secrets.

Belgian Waffles

First thing in the morning, what could beat a fresh, hot, deep-pocket waffle with fresh strawberries and a tower of whipped cream?? I'll tell you what: almost nothing. For me, the fresh strawberries and whipped cream are implied in the name "Belgian waffle" - just a regular waffle by itself can't be considered a Belgian waffle in my book anymore than two slices of bread can be considered a sandwich (I've learned the hard way that most dining establishments don't agree with me on this, however). At Fred's, a very special breakfast "club," they do waffles right: loaded with fresh strawberry halves and whipped cream sky high - and they won't complain if you ask for more! The thing, too, about their waffles is (what I've discovered to be a secret ingredient in waffles and pancakes) they have just a little bit of malt in their waffle mix. Or that's my best guess - a little malt and a lotta butter.

Where you can enjoy this yourself:

Fred's Breakfast
13 East Randolph Street
New Hope, Pennsylvania
http://www.fredsbreakfast.com/

Now, the thing about Fred's is that it's all a big secret. You can read more on their website about details, but the general gist is that you need to be a member in order to dine at the 31-seat counter surrounding the open kitchen. How do you become a member? By recommendation of a current member! It's an exclusive breakfast club with a retro-diner feel and very casual atmosphere, located right on the Delaware River. If you happen to know someone (like me!) who is a member, ask them for a Guest Privilege card to check the place out. Fred's is one of New Hope's best kept local secrets.