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The early morning smell of fresh baked muffins is a great start to the day, especially during deep winter when snow and frigid cold lurk outdoors. Here’s a recipe that’s been in our family for years. Mix it up in advance. The original recipe says the batter will keep in the refrigerator for up to 6 weeks but in our household it’s never lasted that long.
REFRIGERATED BRAN MUFFINS
In a large bowl, combine the following ingredients:
- 1 (15-oz.) box Raisin Bran Flakes
- 5 cups flour
- 2 cups sugar
- 5 teaspoons baking soda
- 2-1/2 teaspoons salt
Mix well with large mixing spoon then add:
- 4 cups milk mixed with
- 2 tablespoons vinegar
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup molasses
- 4 beaten eggs
Mix well again. Store covered in refrigerator and use batter as needed.
When ready to bake, fill muffin cups 2/3 full. Bake in pre-heated oven at 400° for 15 to 20 minutes.
Enjoy!
Sara
Our son recommended we try the Golden Gate Diner. 
“It’s an old-fashioned city diner,” he said. “Good coffee and good food. I think you’ll like it.” And so, on this frigid Saturday morning – the thermometer read 15°F – my husband and I set out for breakfast. For such a cold morning many others had the same idea. The lot was packed so we parked on the street behind the restaurant. Inside we were shown to a window booth.
Our waitress brought glasses of water and coffee then gave us time to look over the breakfast menu. The offerings 
were standard – egg dishes including omelets, pancakes, French Toast, and assorted side dishes. We decided on simple eggs and bacon.
The Golden Gate is not fancy but it has a type of charm I appreciated. A comfort factor. As we waited for our food, we relaxed in the retro decor and friendly atmosphere. Laughter rippled from the adjoining booths. Behind the counter, a green mixer whirred. A busy waitress stopped by our table to refill our coffee. The brew was rich and black, every bit as good as our son had promised.
Soon our smiling waitress arrived in her bright red blouse, carrying four plates of food. Two were for us, two for another booth. She handled the multiple plates with ease.
We’d each ordered eggs, home fries, crisp bacon and whole wheat toast with strawberry jam. The eggs were hot, moist, and tasty. They were also larger than what we’ve had at a few other diners. Nice. The potatoes were cooked well and fresh tasting. My husband thought the bacon a bit salty, but the flavor was there. The waitresses kept our coffee cups filled. All in all it was a satisfying meal.
Our total bill came to $9.97 (plus tip) for two servings of eggs, home fries, bacon, toast and coffee. A flavorful meal in a friendly environment (and under $10 for two!) is truly appreciated. I recommend a visit.
As always, please click Comments above to share your experiences.
The Golden Gate Diner is located at 1318 Union Boulevard, Allentown. It is a few blocks east of Airport Road on the south side of the road, directly across from McDonald’s.
Sara
A friendly reader just wrote to tell me about a new restaurant that has just opened in Nazareth. It’s called Peter’s Family Restaurant and is located in Nazareth on Route 248, formerly the Peking Garden.
She writes:
“…We got there at 12. We were in between the breakfast and lunch buffet. We were able to eat from both and the food choices were excellent. Can’t wait to go back for the dinner buffet. Mon-Fri breakfast is ordered off a menu, but there is a buffet for lunch 11-3 and a dinner buffet from 3-9pm daily. Saturday and Sunday there is also a breakfast buffet. I believe they just opened a week ago so the staff is still getting use to things, but the food in great. If you are in the area I think it is worth a try.”
Thanks so much for the tip and mini-review about Peter’s Family Restaurant, Nicole! I really appreciate the information, and I’m sure other readers do also. We’ll certainly stop by there for breakfast sometime in the coming weeks.
In addition to Peter’s, I see that a few months ago Copiers Inc. Internet Deli and Cafe opened their doors at 6 S. Broad Street in Nazareth. Their ad in the US newspaper says they open at 7 AM daily through the early afternoon and serve coffee, cappucchino, breakfast bagels and pastries, and luncheon foods. Every Friday is an Open Mic Night. We’ve also placed them on our growing list of spots to visit in and around the Lehigh Valley.
Sara
The first day of 2009 took us on a drive north to the Pocono Mountains. The air was a 
crisp 14 degrees and the sky that vibrant shade of blue that often partners with such a biting cold. We decided to stop for breakfast at the Snydersville Family Diner. It was our first visit but will not be our last. Despite the frigid weather, we couldn’t have chosen a warmer, more friendly spot to eat.
As we entered the attractive brick building, a line extended into the outer vestibule. Still, our wait there was a short one. After only a few minutes we were seated at a window booth on the south side of the restaurant. Bright yellow sunlight streamed across the table providing a warm feeling in the brown paneled dining room.
The diner’s menu offered traditional breakfast options including assorted omelets, French Toast, pancakes, and many other good foods. Our waitress, a motherly sort garbed in a pretty print uniform top, brought us glasses of water followed by two cups of deliciously strong coffee. Hungry after our drive, we quickly placed our orders.
Voices buzzed around us. It was apparent from the easy conversation with the staff that many guests were regulars in the restaurant. The familiarity made us feel comfortable and gave a homey feel as we skimmed through pages of the day’s newspapers. We discussed recent movie reviews and a few of the news stories from 2008.
Soon our kindly waitress was delivering our orders. My husband had requested corned beef hash with poached eggs, wheat toast, and a side order of bacon. I’d asked for a favorite. Neither of us was disappointed. He described his corned beef hash and eggs as “delicious.” The same word described my French Toast. Nicely battered and browned, the flavor was just as hoped for. And although our cups looked small, our efficient waitress kept them well-filled with steaming black coffee.
Our bill for an order of corned beef hash with two eggs and toast, a side order of bacon, French Toast with bacon, and two cups of coffee came to just under $17 (plus tip). Delicious food, superb service and friendly atmosphere. I heartily recommend a visit! For us, it provided a most pleasant start to the New Year.
Please click Comments near top to share your experiences.
The Snydersville Family Diner is located on Business 209 in Snydersville, PA. Its actual street address for Mapquest is 3200 Hamilton East, Stroudsburg, PA. They are open daily from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM.
Sara
