President’s Day With a Slice of Life

I wasn’t planning to make a big to-do about President’s Day. It’s usually marked by mattress and appliance sales, and we had just wrapped up Valentine’s Day. But when I realized we had a slow morning at home, it felt like the perfect excuse to pull out my Slice of Life plates and make breakfast feel special.

Sometimes the smaller holidays are the best ones. No pressure. No expectations. Just a reason to set the table and sit down together.

The Menu

Since this was a last-minute celebration, I reached for Smitten Kitchen Keepers by Deb Perelman, and landed on the Chocolate Chip Buckwheat Pancakes. (I can’t find the recipe online, but many of her other delicious recipes can be found on her site.) I already had all the ingredients on hand, which made the decision easy.

Chocolate chip buckwheat pancakes served on a 222 Fifth Slice of Life platter for a President’s Day breakfast

The pancakes were good and absolutely worth trying, but they probably won’t make it into our regular weekend rotation. They were a bit more complicated than our usual go-to pancake recipes and a bit of a flavor change with the buckwheat flour. That said, the kids gobbled them up without hesitation, and I appreciated that they felt like a slightly healthier alternative.

We paired them with maple syrup, a side of berries, and piping hot coffee for the adults (milk for the kids). It made for a calm, simple Monday (holiday) morning.

Not every recipe becomes a staple, and that’s part of cooking through a cookbook. I’m glad we tried it.

The Table

President’s Day breakfast table set with 222 Fifth Slice of Life plates, heirloom vase, white napkins, and repurposed Valentine’s flowers

On the morning of President’s Day, my son got up extra early, so I went downstairs with him and had him help me set the table. He took his role very seriously, assigning each one of us a unique dinner plate, salad plate, and coffee mug. No swaps allowed. I lucked out and got “cool Jackson,” and my daughter was thrilled to get “Rosie.”

White House salad plate paired with the Rosie mug from the 222 Fifth Slice of Life collection styled for a President’s Day breakfast table

What I love about these plates is that each one features a different scene and artist. On the back of every piece is a description of the artwork, which makes them fun to collect and even more fun to use. They feel playful but intentional.

These were the first dishes I intentionally collected in my early 20s. They’ve followed me through apartments, moves, and milestones, and now they’re part of mornings like this – with kids old enough to assign everyone’s place setting. There’s something full-circle about that.

Statue of Liberty salad plate paired with the Army Men mug from the 222 Fifth Slice of Life collection styled for a President’s Day breakfast table

I repurposed the flowers from Valentine’s Day and trimmed them down to fit a small vase that belonged to my husband’s grandfather, who turns 98 this year. I added my husband’s grandmother’s white napkins to elevate the table just a bit. Simple layers, but meaningful ones.

President’s Day may not be a major holiday in our house, but if it gives me a reason to use the dishes, cook from the book, and sit down together on a Monday morning, I’ll take it.