Breakfast in America

"Why would anybody ever eat anything except breakfast food?" "People are idiots, Leslie."

While we were in Las Vegas, we found a diner where their entire breakfast menu was bigger than some main menus in the UK.  Seriously - although the Americans don't do baked beans, they still go in for breakfast in a big way.  Something I spotted but didn't go for was steak.  Steak for breakfast!  Instead I indulged my inner Leslie Knope (who happens to be my role model in so many ways) and went for waffles.

I suppose that this is the American version of a full English.  When it comes to this, there are a few things I will happily embrace, like the apparent fondness for mixing sweet things with savoury.  I didn't try the famous bacon and maple syrup pancake combo, but above you can see the icing-sugared bread right next to the fried egg, along with a pot of syrup that just came with every meal, whether you had pancakes or not.  I've probably mentioned my terrible sweet tooth, so anything that is basically pudding for breakfast is perfectly fine with me.  Also fine?  Potatoes. Yum.  However, I have to object to the American version of bacon.  I know, I know they think it's great and amazing and everything, but... it's not.  Look at it! There should be some actual meat on bacon, rather than being stiff, streaky crunchy stuff that gets stuck in your teeth. Sorry, USA.  You win when it comes to waffles, but you could learn from us about bacon.

Behold, the most perfectly blended ice-cream ever.  This was our snack at the Hoover Dam, and as you can tell, it wasn't the most beautiful view from where we sat in the coach park, but our main concern was shade and ice-cream.  All I can say is, it was an unexpectedly lovely ice-cream.

Cinnamon and vanilla are officially the best flavours.

These Jelly Bellys were a nostalgic indulgence for me.  When I was about 14 and had nothing better to do, I used to buy about £6 worth of pick&mix Jelly Bellys every time I went shopping with my friends.  It became one of those running jokes - whenever we went shopping, we would always have to dedicate at least 10 minutes for me to pick out what flavours I liked.  I clearly had my priorities in order.  This time I ate these while sitting on the balcony of our hotel in Monument Valley. I'm a classy bird.