My favorite morning ritual involves sneaking to the couch in the early hours of the morning to savor the quiet and a steaming mug of coffee.
In my attempts to create a peaceful start to the day, I have learned that while a big breakfast is desirable, it isn’t always in our best interests. Making a huge mess in the kitchen, using several mixing bowls, pans and countless serving dishes must be saved for just a few times per month. Special holidays, birthdays, Saturdays when nothing else is scheduled.
Food is the anchor to our days. It has to happen. (And, if you homeschool, it tends to happen all day!!) Meal time is a natural rhythm, that typically occurs three times a day. But, how do we make it an enjoyable experience for the meal creators AND keep it healthful, simple, and delicious?!
I’ve played with recipes and ideas over the years and have found a few tried-and-true recipes that work for our family. Especially during the busier holiday season, we rotate through a simple breakfast schedule to keep us full and fueled.
Simple Breakfast Ideas
Quick Breads
We make 2 types of bread in our house: sourdough, the kind that takes an incredibly long time to rise; and banana bread, the kind that takes less than 5 minutes to blend together. Years ago, I began making banana bread in a blender, and can’t ever imagine going back to smashing bananas by hand.
It is a staple in our house, and I’ve tweaked the standard recipe to improve the health content and taste. Extra bananas, that are beyond the point of eating, better-for-you-sweeteners like honey, maple syrup or apple sauce, and a mix of healthier flour options create our family favorite. I typically make several loaves at once (in my collection of antique loaf pans!!) and freeze all but one loaf.
Egg or Oatmeal Bakes
I do not have a novel recipe for a simple “breakfast bake,” but this is one of our most used concepts for breakfast time. Whisk eggs and a splash of milk together. Pour in a greased baking dish and add favorite toppings, like sausage or spinach, and bake.
Or, after whisking eggs and milk, pour over a panful of overnight-soaked oats, and bake. (Shown in the image above.) Top with honey, maple syrup, butter, cinnamon or whipped cream!
This basic recipe can be easily increased depending on how many people you plan to serve or for how many days you hope to reheat it.
Sourdough Biscuits or Scones
A few months ago, I shared my favorite sourdough biscuit recipe. I also shared a recipe redo, in which I take that basic biscuit recipe and turn it into magical pumpkin cinnamon rolls. Now, I will share yet another option using that same basic sourdough biscuit recipe: Dark Chocolate Orange Scones!
Begin by mixing the dry ingredients listed in the original recipe. Omit the salt, and replace with 2 tablespoons of the sweetener of your choice. (The day I was making this batch, I used brown sugar, as it was also going in several Christmas goodies!)
Cut in the butter.
Then, add about 4 ounces of chopped dark chocolate and the juice and zest of 1 large orange (or 2-3 “cuties.”)
Next, add in your sourdough starter and stir well. Dump dough onto a floured surface and divide the dough in half. Shape each half into a flattened circle and, cut into 6 wedges. Place on lightly greased baking sheet. Follow biscuit baking directions.
Muffins
Occasionally, I will prepare a batch of banana or pumpkin-apple muffins, but I honestly dislike the hassle of muffin making. The individual papers, and the scooping of batter into each section. Too much work, when it can easily be made into a quick bread!
My idea of a good breakfast includes fruit, protein, healthy starch’s (like oats or sourdough) and, if possible, a veggie. (I have a recipe for a veggie scramble that is ahhh-mazing, but still involves early morning cooking.) During this season, the slow season, I also prefer for a large batch of a simple something that can be made in advance, and is easily reheated (without compromising taste or texture.)
I’d love to hear what gets your family fueled on the busy winter mornings!
