Kimberly Lord Stewart

When it’s a special day for someone in our family—Mother’s Day, Father’s Day or a birthday—the rest of us like to get up early and prepare breakfast. After a few tense moments attempting to stay quiet while banging around in the kitchen, we all parade upstairs. The honoree graciously pretends to be asleep, stifling a giggle while we enter the bedroom with a tray of treats and a handful of butter-stained greeting cards. Sometimes, school schedules and work demands cut short our tasty wake-up calls, but the recipient always starts the day feeling loved and appreciated.

If you’re daunted by the thought of anything trickier than cold cereal, relax. Breakfast in bed doesn’t have to be a production that requires you to wake before sunrise. With a little planning, you can do most of the preparation the night before, with excellent results (the flavor of a finely diced fruit salad, for example, actually improves when it sits overnight). By using the freshest ingredients available, you get maximum flavor and effect—witness an ordinary omelet turned elegant when paired with slender asparagus spears and Brie cheese.

Simple touches can spruce up the tray. Sprigs of fresh herbs or flowers add a finished look or, for a memorable centerpiece, tape bamboo skewers or chopsticks to the backs of family photos and place in a vase. Although no study has proved it, china plates and stemware do make food taste better