I am a breakfast person. (Especially when breakfast involves tea in my favorite mug and a slice of something yummy):
I don’t just mean I like breakfast, or even that I enjoy big, sumptuous breakfasts. (Though I do love breakfast food, and my grandfather’s breakfast spreads are one of the chief joys of visiting their house. The man fries a mean egg, and there’s always plenty of bacon.)
No, I am a person who NEEDS breakfast, both as wake-up aid (hello, black tea) and as fuel to get me through the morning. Without it, I wilt by 11 a.m., becoming not only cranky but downright woozy. (Just ask my husband what happened one day on our honeymoon when we slept late and skipped breakfast so we could head out to lunch sooner. I nearly collapsed as we walked into the cafe, and he panicked, dashing to the counter and grabbing me a snickerdoodle so I wouldn’t pass out. Which, fortunately, I didn’t.)
Anyway. I cannot skip breakfast, but I don’t want to fuss with it either – and I rarely get up in time to cook it. So I’m always looking for quick, healthy, delicious ways to spice up my usual routine of a cup of black tea and a bowl of cereal/oatmeal with fruit. Especially as winter approaches, I’d like some heartier options, to stick to my ribs before I head out into the cold.
So I put the question to you, dear readers: do you eat breakfast? Do you love breakfast? And do you have any suggestions for me?
cakes, tea and dreams 
I am a breakfast person too! It’s hard when you’re always running out the door in the mornings, but I’ve found one thing that works is to make a large batch of steel-cut oats on Sunday night (I cook maple syrup and mashed banana right into the oats to sweeten them up) and portion them out into little Pyrex dishes. Since they take 30 minutes to cook they’re not realistic for weekday mornings unless you cook them ahead. I usually make enough for four servings and reheat them in the morning with a splash of milk in the microwave. I usually leave for work super early and have my breakfast at my desk (it just works out that way with my commuting arrangements) and it’s so nice to have steel-cut oats – if I have to eat at work, might as well be something good!
Hey Katie. Here’s one that sounds a little crazy, but yet, it is delicious: Oatmeal with peanut butter and jelly swirled in it. Really! 1 Tbsp of PB and 2 Tsp. of Jelly. Very hearty and rib sticking.
Also, I have a recipe for breakfast bread pudding. I’ll try and email that recipe to you. You make it the night before, then pop it into the oven the morning of. It’s a great smell to wake up with. Yum-o!
I’m in a similar boat, Katie. At times, I’ve made a quiche and kept it in fridge to heat up for breakfast.
Yes, let’s. I’ve never been a breakfast person, as you’ll find out in my latest post. But, I’m coming round to the idea. So, I think I shall start cooking more interesting things for breakfast. I think part of the problem is that I’ve never had anywhere inspiring to eat breakfast. Once I do, I think I’ll become a massive fan of breakfast.
I’m not a huge fan of breakfast foods (mostly because I’m gluten free, breakfast is the toughest for that!), but like you, I definitely need to eat it or I’m a huge grouch. Lately I’ve been making granola with cashews and dried cranberries over plain Greek yogurt or with milk. It’s filling, but feels pretty virtuous.
I did a whole investigation into finding the perfect breakfast bar, as I’m a person who eats breakfast on the go. I had few criteria: I had to be able to pronounce all the ingredients and there should preferably be fewer than nine, it had to be yummy so I wouldn’t get sick of it, and it had to keep me full until lunch. The winner was the Lara Bar! Almost never more than 5 ingredients, and all of them whole foods, with tons of flavor options so I never get bored. Even if I have something else for breakfast I usually have one tucked in my bag in case I need a pick me up during the day.
Also, when I was training for the half marathon, I would bake batches of fiber-filled yummy muffins and freeze them. 30 seconds in the microwave and I had a great put-run snack that kept me fueled but didn’t weigh me down. Then I’d have a proper post-run breakfast at my local cafe. 🙂
I am much the same way: must eat within 30 minute of waking or I turn into what is affectionately called The Firemonster. Usually it’s cereal or toast with PB&J or Nutella & bananas. I also like to make homemade granola and eat it over yogurt. This time of year warm breakfast is preferred, so oatmeal with different mix ins (chocolate chips, dried cherries & pecans is a fave) or pancakes happen regularly, too.
Sidenote: my daughter is Firemonster Junior and needs to be abated with a snack before breakfast!
My favorite cold-weather breakfast is my mom’s wholesome hot cereal: http://burningdaylightfoods.wordpress.com/
I know I’m biased, but I love it. 🙂
Can’t live without it. I am a pass-out-by-11 person if I don’t have something to eat shortly after waking up. And I could eat breakfast food all day long. Cinammon toast crunch or pancakes or French toast or a slice of yummy cake (no icing in the morning though…) It’s 10.31 PM and reading about this has made me want a breakfast buffet.
Oh! I love my mom’s apple cake for breakfast. (It’s not *that* sweet — and if you don’t make it all of the time, it’s not *that* bad for you!)
http://worldsmyoyster.com/eats/breads/2011/11/11/apple-cake.html
Not sure about hearty, but I’ve been using Luna bars on the mornings I go to work early. My two favorite are Toasted Nuts and Cranberry & Caramel Nut Brownie. Okay, lots of sugar; but lots of protein and iron and other good things for women, too!
I don’t need breakfast and can’t eat right after waking up, but I love my cup of hot tea in the morning. My usual breakfast looks like your picture: tea and a slice of something baked. My husband takes cake or cookies to work to have breakfast at his desk, so we always have some baked goods at home.
At weekends, we eat rolls with homemade jam, and about once a month, something cooked like pancakes, waffles or bacon and eggs.
You could prepare waffles, or hearty things like quiche, polenta or even roasted potatoes and heat them up in the morning.
I require breakfast. Without it, I am completely foul within two hours. But I don’t like eggs (I KNOW) and I can’t do a sweet breakfast too often. (On occasion, absolutely.) I usually end up making extra dinner the night before, and eating leftovers. My usual breakfast is a few slices of cold chicken with an apple, or if I’ve made curry, that will work, too, although I’d never bring it to an office to inflict on others at that time of day.