Good Morning, breakfastpoppers! Today is Monday, June 29, 2009. Today I will be preparing an Asparagus Omelette because it is a delicious and somewhat serious breakfast choice that fits in quite nicely with this morning's topic. Cook along with me and then we'll talk. We need 1 tablespoon olive oil, 2 teaspoons finely minced garlic, 16 very thin fresh asparagus stalks cut into 3 inch julienne strips, 1/2 cup roasted, peeled red bell pepper cut into very thin strips, 1 egg, 4 egg whites, (or as they say in the Caribbean, egg whiles), 1 tablespoon minced chives, salt and pepper and 2 tablespoons minced Italian parsley. Let's preheat the oven to 500 degrees. In an oven-proof skillet combine, oil and garlic and place skillet in oven and bake until garlic begins to brown. With a slotted spoon, remove the garlic and set aside. Now add the asparagus to the skillet and roast for 2 minutes. Add the pepper strips and roast for 1 minute more. In a medium bowl, combine eggs, egg whites, chives, garlic and salt and pepper. With a fork, break the yolks and whisk a little. Pour the mixture over the asparagus. Bake for 2 minutes or until eggs are set. Remove the skillet from the oven and invert the asparagus onto a serving platter and roll like a crepe. Garnish with parsley and enjoy.

This morning's breakfast choice is a bit stylish in its presentation and serious in its preparation. I want to take some time this a.m. to remember some remarkable people who have passed through our lives, touched us in some way and left us with memories and images that will live on. This morning we remember and pay tribute to the remarkable and in my opinion, tragic life of Micheal Jackson. Michael was undisputedly a major talent who danced and sang his way into our hearts and left us wanting more. Good-bye Michael, at least now you will never have to grow old. Farrah Fawcett died the same day as Micheal Jackson.  Her trade-mark hair and beautiful smile had a big impact on women everywhere. For a while we all wanted to look like Farrah.  I don't believe she had an easy life and now her struggle is over. Good-bye Farrah. Ed McMahon died the same week as Michael and Farrah. He always seemed like such an affable guy. That he almost lost his house to foreclosure in his twilight years is really incredibly sad. Good-bye Ed, you had a long run.  Dom DeLuise died this year too. I was crazy about Dom, because he always made me laugh. His performance in the movie "The Twelve Chairs" is a classic. I for one will miss him. He lived to the age of 75 and I believe his life was a happy one. Good-bye Dom.

David Carradine died very recently. He will always mean Kung Fu to me. Rest easy David. Bea Arthur died this year at the age of 86. I loved Bea, she was funny, sassy and hugely talented. She lived a long and seemingly happy life. Good-bye Bea.  Ron Silver left us at the age of 62. I was very sad when he died, because he seemed so familiar and approachable to me. I liked him, it really was that simple. Rest easy Ron, you will be missed. Natasha Richardson left us very suddenly and tragically. I feel very sorry for her family, but perhaps her death will help others avoid the same fate. Good-bye Natasha, you died way too young. Paul Harvey passed away this year. This remarkable man was the pioneer of talk radio. I will never forget his compelling voice and his wonderful stories. Good-bye Mr. Harvey.

Milvina Dean died this year at the age of 97. Her name might not be familiar to you, but she was an infant aboard the Titanic. She lived a very long life and was the ship's last living survivor. Good-bye Milvina. Ricardo Montalban died this year at the age of 88. I can't picture this handsome debonair man at such an advanced age. To me he will always be young and good-looking as he welcomes his guests to Fantasy Island. Good-bye Ricardo.

Billy Mays, the boisterous voice of the infomercial died this week-end. The circumstances of his sudden demise are yet to be revealed, but his rise to fame was really amazing and the products he hawked will probaly suffer from his death. My condolences to his family. Good-bye Billy.

Sadly, I could go on and on, but I have only two more people I would like to mention. One is Gale Storm who died at the age of 87. I watched "My Little Margie" religiously as a kid. I always watched her when I was home from school sick. To this day, whenever I have a sore throat I think of "Margie." 

Last, but not least I would like to pay tribute to Marilyn French who wrote "The Women's Room." That brilliant book stays with me to this day. Thank you for your genius.

...POP...I know people can't live forever, but I can't help wonder why Charles Manson is still alive. If only how long you lived was decided by what kind of person you are. I am going to think about that while I eat my omelette. See you at breakfast tomorrow.