How or what do you start your day with? - moved from Home Cooking board

[bigfellow]

I've noticed that we have a few threads on Chowhound about dinner and lunch, even what your currently making. But we have precious few on breakfast. I've been told countless times over the years that it is the most important meal of the day.

As for my self, when I'm working, it is in a kitchen. I tend to getup, shower and head in to the restaurant. I turn everything on. Then I make a cup of tea or more rarely a cup of coffee. Then I tend to grab a totilla, throw some shredded cheese on it, a little homemade salsa and put it on the grill.

At home, I'm a different beast. This morning I had homemade granola with yogurt. Then some toast and cretons, a boiled egg, a large glass of juice (today it was pineapple) and a small piece of cheese. This morning it was a piece of Miranda by local cheesemaker Fritz Kaiser.

How or what do you start your day with?

[JEN10]

I made some fried rice this morning. I didn't have any Chinese sausage so I used bacon, red onion, red bell pepper, egg of course, chili garlic paste/sauce, peas, & Tamari. It was really tasty and I have some left for tomorrow. For the Husband I fried an egg to go on top. Yum!!!

[goodhealthgourmet]

Jen, do you read the NY Times? there was a delicious-sounding recipe in today's dining section that sounds like it's right up your (or hubby's) alley...

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/27/din...

just sub Tamari for the soy sauce.

[JEN10]

Thank you GHG; that looks really good!

[ChristinaMason]

Today was leftover chorizo potatoes with tofu scramble. I added turmeric, seasoned salt, black pepper, and one lonely egg that wasn't going to survive my trip out of town. Yummy.

[mogo]

All this talk is making me hungry. Off to poach some eggs right now.

[operagirl]

Usually oatmeal with a fried egg on top or almond butter stirred in.

Today was chia gel mixed into strawberry yogurt, topped with strawberries and honey nut o's.

[ChristinaMason]

My husband made breakfast today. Fried potatoes with chorizo, soft boiled eggs, fruit and tea. It was wonderful, esp. because I didn't have to cook.

[JEN10]

That sounds delicious, I have some chorizo in the freezer I will pull out. Sausage, fried egg and balsamic berries for the hubby. Leftover potatoes colcannon for me.

[sunflwrsdh]

This morning I had a bowl of really great oatmeal (the long cooking kind) with mixed dried tropical fruit and almonds sprinkled on it.

[Passadumkeg]

I cooked a red chile huevos rancheros for a Texan, Dogracs, who loved it even w/out cooked onions or cumin!!!

[JEN10]

Avocado, tomato, bacon, mayo and pepper over potato toast for Hunny. Gluten free raisin pecan toast, with peanut butter, topped with bacon for me.

[sunflwrsdh]

glass of V-8, scrambled eggs, cinnamon toast and coffee.

[JerryMe]

Drying out after record rainfall. Discovered that I hadn't eaten in nearly 24 hours! Yikes! Prepared a 2 egg omelet w/ leftover vegetarian chili and pepperjack cheese w/ sourdough toast. SO refused as "chili isn't chili w/o meat". Yum! More for me!

[Passadumkeg]

About to start the day before going skiing with Dogracs, that downeast specialty, fish cakes and beans w/ a fried egg.

[sunflwrsdh]

Just coffee today, and have had a couple of smoking slip ups the last couple of days..but the patch is back on, and I am re-committed! Tomorrow is the weekend, and my daughter has asked for my chowhound help with planning her staff appreciation breakfast next Friday at her school...have to do some do-ahead stuff, like muffins and scones, and coffee cake (looking for a nice pear coffee cake recipe, if anyone has ideas) and will then do some sort of savory/casserole/crockpot things on Thursday night for her to bring in Friday morning. So...there should be lots of good breakfast inspirations this week. And NONE of them will involve tobacco!

[goodhealthgourmet]

hang in there. one day at a time :)

if the pear cake doesn't necessarily have to be in the style of a *coffee* cake, the following one gets a lot of love here on CH:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/283632

or there's the Upside-Down Cardamom Pear Cake from Cooking Light:
http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=1545722
note: i happen to adore ginger with pears - and with cardamom - so i might add a pinch of the ground stuff, or even mix some minced candied ginger in with the pears.

and Gale Gand is usually a trustworthy source for baking recipes. she's got a Quick Pear Streusel Coffee Cake:
http://www.galegand.com/recipes/2009/...

or if you have an apple-cinnamon coffee cake recipe that you like, you can always just sub pears for the apple.

[sunflwrsdh]

thanks for the great ideas:)

[HillJ]

http://smittenkitchen.com/2009/12/pea...

Pear you say. This pear bread from SK's blog is amazingly good and super easy. I've made it four times for friends, using a traditional bundt pan and the flavor is super.

[sunflwrsdh]

Thanks! I'll look at that one. Easy is sounding pretty good to me right about now:)

[HillJ]

I baked off another pear bread last night and I'm enjoying it now over coffee. So good. Don't be surprised when the batter seems rather dry before adding the 2 cups of grated pear. The pear turns the batter around immediately and provides a wonderful texture and taste.

[sunflwrsdh]

Thanks for the tip! I do worry about things like that when i'm making a new recipe! My daughter, who mostly doens't cook, has said that she will make the pear cake herself...so I'm going to stand by and be supportive and let her:) Your pear bread does sound great, though, and I may try making it myself in the near future:)

[HillJ]

Supportive, who can argue w/that! Enjoy all the recipes.

[sunflwrsdh]

Update on the pear coffee cake/bread. Today I got home from work and my daughter, who is a high school librarian, was more concerned with going to a board of education meeting to try to advocate against severe budget cuts for her department than with the pear coffee cake. She feels, and rightly so, that the staff will be better served by her advocating for things like saving their jobs, and continuing to have books and materials to work with than by being served a fancy breakfast! Plus, she already has the 4 kinds of muffins I made for her this weekend, and we are working together on fruit pizzas and a crock pot creme brulee french toast. So we won't be making the pear cake this time, but looking forward to trying it in the near future, and thanks again:)

[Passadumkeg]

This morning we will have a POSOLE THROWDOWN for breakfast. We will pit Kattyeyes' beautiful looking first time red chile posole against Passadumkeg's old style clean- out -the -cupboard green chile beef heart posole. Stay tuned ....

[Passadumkeg]

The jury is in......it's a tie! As my buddy Mr. Dogracs, said it was like comparing apples and oranges. Dogracs was surprised that the green had no cumin and at the strong flavor of the heart and home made hominy; he also liked the depth of flavor of the red; the green was a bit spicier (hotter). I enjoyed the flavors of both. The red was a pleasant surprise for me. I have never eaten posole w/ tomato in it; it gave a background flavor like that of Manhattan clam chowder w/out the clams, which I enjoy. The red thinner, soupier, the green thicker, more like a stew. With accompanying hot buttered flour tortillas and black coffee, we had a hearty feast that will do us well for a day of x-country skiing. Yum!
Carpe chow!

[kattyeyes]

Holy smokes--a tie! I am so flattered...and tickled that my posole made it all the way up to Maine for the throwdown. Have fun, you two!

Today for me: cheesy eggs (with gruyere instead of my usual cheddar) and what I jokingly call "white trash potatoes"--canned sliced potatoes, fried up in butter with S&P and paprika...childhood comfort food that still tastes good to me to this day.

[Passadumkeg]

Dogracs was surprised that I use no salt in my cooking; it threw him. Scallops, Maine shrimp & green chiles over rice comin' up!

[Sam Fujisaka]

Good on y'all.

[ChristinaMason]

Today was chai-spiced millet pudding and tea. I'm trying to think up some new gluten-free breakfast options!

[goodhealthgourmet]

Christina, for starchy GF options:
- Bob's Red Mill Mighty Tasty GF hot cereal
- Nature's Path Mesa Sunrise cold cereal
- Eco Planet Instant GF hot cereal
- GF oats/oatmeal
- quinoa, millet, amaranth, buckwheat or teff pilaf or porridge

[Emme]

do you have a preference for sweet or savory?

-gluten-free corn tortillas with cheese of choice (cheddar and jack) for quesadillas with salsa
-polenta - can be done sweet with some brown sugar and dried fruit; or savory with -parmesan, sundried-tomatoes, and ratatouille :-)
-brown rice pudding fast - stir some cooked brown rice into cottage cheese with sweetener, cinnamon, and vanilla, then nuke til gooey
-hash browns
-fried rice - with veggies and eggs, but sub gluten-free tamari or Bragg's amino acids for soy sauce
-muesli - mix dried banana, pecans, sunflower seeds, apple, blueberry, unsweetened coconut, almonds, cashews... serve with almond milk
-Regular or Soybean Hummus with veggies
-soy grits - i enjoy to make a sweet or savory cereal

Buckwheat Pancakes
1 cup Buckwheat flour
3/4 cup white sorghum flour
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp GF baking powder
1/4 tsp xanthan gum
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1 egg
1 3/4 - 2 cups soy or other milk (almond, coconut, etc.)

Sift the dry ingredients. Beat egg into milk, and fold together with dry, and add more liquid if you prefer thinner consistency. drop em onto a griddle from a good height to promote spreading. flip when bubbling around the edges. [good served with syrup or jam]

they also work well as bread for a sandwich... probably better if you omit the cinnamon, depending upon what your sandwich might be.

[ChristinaMason]

These are great, thank you both. I'm sure I'll be checking back here often for new inspiration from your lists. I like both sweet and savory.

[sunflwrsdh]

Today, an upset little girl, who needed a Grammy hug, before day care, and then had to rush to get to work on time, and ironically, was responsible for picking up breakfast for a meeting that I wasn't going to! Got great looking bagels, cream cheese, juice, and set up theri coffee by 9 before running off to teach my class which started at 9....so...a cup of drive thru Dunkin donuts coffee, and that was it till noon time:)

[JEN10]

keep it up, it is a struggle and a pain in the A$%, but worth it for your health. I have had to give up dairy and gluten and I struggle everyday to find new things to eat. I did end up adding a spoonful of peanu tbutter to my breakfast today and it did make me feel better. So everyday is a new adventure and we see what works.

[sunflwrsdh]

Thanks, JEN10. I am keeping at it. You're so right, it IS so worth it for health reasons. And I don't really even enjoy smoking...it's just an swful addiction. But I will quit! Giving up dairy and gluten must be really tough.....how are you doing with finding new things to eat? Looking at evey day as a new adventure, and trying new things is a great outlook, and that's what I'm trying to do too.

[JEN10]

Well today I had a half of a tangeriene (sp?) and then carmelized some onions while cooking up some sweet potatoes. I mixed the potatoes with the onions, agave syrup, allspice, and butter. Very tasty I must say. The challenge is thinking ahead. I can't just grab some yogurt and fruit for breckie anymore. I think I will make a big pot of rice today so I can have fried rice tomorrow. Deep breaths and a look to the future to be brighter!!!

[goodhealthgourmet]

on the bright side, it makes you more creative and adventurous with your food!

i feel your pain, Jen. i've had to give up soy and all grains and starches. i should give up dairy too, but i'm resisting because i love it so much and i already feel so deprived ;)

fortunately there are numerous dairy-free yogurt options now. or if you're motivated, you can make your own with coconut milk, soy milk or rice milk. tastes better than the packaged stuff, and it's more nutritious (and cheaper!)

[JEN10]

ARE YOU SERIOUS? I would like to give that a try, do you have a recipie for those type of yogurts? The coconut sounds yummy, I don't do soy, but rice could work too. I know what you mean about the dairy, but it has really helped. I am working with a woman doing acupuncture and nutrition. She would like me to give up my cocktails, sorry that is not going to happen for now. I have my limits too.

[goodhealthgourmet]

ok, we're even. i don't drink anymore so i get to keep my dairy ;)

this is a pretty good starting recipe for the coconut milk:
http://www.smallfootprintfamily.com/2...

you may have to play with the temperature, time and sweetener to adjust to your liking. or if you have a yogurt maker, just follow the instructions as you would with dairy.

you can make it the same way with either rice or almond milk, though they won't be as thick as the coconut. and if you don't want to use packaged yogurt as the starter, you can buy dairy-free starter, or crack open a probiotic capsule and use the powder!

[JEN10]

cool website, I will be investigating the yogurt. Thanks for the tips!

[goodhealthgourmet]

any time :) report back to let us know how it goes!

[sunflwrsdh]

Still eating breakfast at my desk. Still not too creative, but 'm happy with just starting good habits. Today was instant stawberries and cream falvored oatmeal, and coffee....and still no cigarettes...for the most part...I have had a couple of slip ups, but remain committed to quitting.

[HillJ]

German sunflower bread, black coffee, roasted pears and a wedge of swiss cheese.
Pumpkin-carrot ginger soup for lunch
Crab mac n cheese with greens for dinner

I love Tuesdays!

[JEN10]

peach jello with peaches, bacon, I may have a spoonfull of peanut butter as well.

[ChristinaMason]

Today I had leftover rice pilaf topped with a poached egg, half a clementine, and half and apple with peanut butter. Black tea and water.

[Passadumkeg]

When we were visiting our sons in Seoul, we'd start the day w/ a big bowl of pork back bone soup (also a hangover cure).

[Passadumkeg]

To ward of the chill, freshly roasted green chile, egg & cheese breakfast buritto w/ sides of pinto beans and plantano; papaya for dessert. Black Midnight Sun coffee.

[kubasd]

yummmm!!! I miss my platano with my desayuno. that and gallo pinto? there you have my favorite breakfast

[ChristinaMason]

Today I'm having basmati rice tossed with a pat of butter and drizzled with toasted pumpkin seed oil I picked up at the fair yesterday. It's incredibly green and flavorful.

[link_930]

Black coffee and a cigarette for going on 10 years now... yikes.

[sunflwrsdh]

Today was so cold here! Cinnamon roll flavored instant oatmeal and a cup of coffee at my desk at work. And still no smoking:)

[HillJ]

Go, go, go sunflwrsdh! Are you feeling any ill effects or change in appetite?

[sunflwrsdh]

ill efffects....lots! I'm using the nicotene patch, which presumably is helping somewhat....but also can cause strange dreams, which I've had, insomnia, which I've had. Lack of sleep and quitting smoking can cause increased irritability....which I've had in spades! The good news is that the cold weather makes me not want to go outside to smoke, but it also causes cabin fever, which aggravates the other symptoms....wa wa wa.....I suppose all of these symptoms would seem very minor compared to lung cancer or COPD, and I will live through them. As for change in appetite...not really, not yet, but I have been trying on weekends when I have time to use cooking as something to keep myself busy. Have also been trying to eat a healthy breakfast every day, mostly to change the habit of starting every day with coffee and a cigarette. Haven't noticed the usual "food tastes better" response yet, which may be because of the nicotine patch, I don't know....I have noticed occasionally heightened sense of smell, but unfortunatley, this time (I've tried to quit many times before) it seems to only be heightened to unpleasant smells....I will tough it out, and will be successful:) thanks vor asking!

[goodhealthgourmet]

building on HillJ's questions, i meant to ask if you've noticed a change in your senses...? people who quit smoking often notice that their senses of smell and taste become much sharper. it happened for me - one of the *many* benefits of quitting!

[steve h.]

Quitting is intrinsically good. My sense of taste and my sense of smell didn't rebound as planned. My waistline did expand a bit but nowhere near as much as my wallet. Smoking was ridiculously expensive.

[sunflwrsdh]

Funny you should ask that, right when I was typing my response to HilJ's question:) See earlier post about smell...taste...not so much yet this time ( as I mentioned earlier, I have mad many, many attempts to quit, with varying lengths of smoke free time and using various methods. this time I am using the nicotine patch,which I have also used in some previous attempts to quit...) and I think that even the nicotine in the patch may have some dulling effect on the sense of taste. I have a friend who used Chantix to quit this past year (she's been smoke free for about 8 months now) and has had some issues with things that she usually really likes tasting "off " to her. I have also not noticed any increase in appetite or the amount I want to eat....I'm trying really hard to make eating a healthy breakfast a habit, but I only eat breakfast becasue I am making a concsious effort to do so, not because I am hungry for it. Hopefully, the sense of taste will get sharper soon, and I will enjoy some of the benefits.....and thanks for the support and encouraging words:)

[HillJ]

sunfl, I quit in 1983. Back then, that morning staple: coffee & cig were my way too. It took about a year before I truly felt like a non smoker. My weight took a hit initially but I nipped that issue in the bud with cycling...which also helped my breathing.

Some of the food tricks I used to get over the nic rush were ginger products: they had a calming & soothing effect: ginger tea, ginger hard candies, ginger jellies. Ginger Co. & Trader Joes carries some nice ginger products. Quitting isn't easy but so worth it, sunflw. More power to ya!

[goodhealthgourmet]

re: the ginger trick - Altoids now makes a killer ginger flavor, and you can find them at TJ's, as well as major grocery & drugstore chains.

i'm probably the only person i know who actually LOST a few pounds when i quit smoking. i gave up drinking at the same time to make it easier, which certainly cut an appreciable proportion of empty calories from my weekly intake...and i also found myself eating less at major meals because i knew i wouldn't be able indulge in a post-meal smoke to ease the feeling of fullness if i overate!

[HillJ]

I've got a tin of the ginger in my handbag, ghg. Any ginger product makes me happy.

I didn't necessary eat more while quitting but smoking kept my small frame an unhealthy thin. I'm not only healthier today but have more muscle. Funny, excercise not food became the new habit :) Older & wiser now. Eating well or properly was never my problem. I don't missing smoking that's for sure.

But back to our friend sunflw-good luck to you!

[sunflwrsdh]

Thanks again to all for the help and support and encouragement! I will try the ginger...sounds like a good idea...as a former menthol smoker, I've been sucking on mints some, which does help.

[steve h.]

I was a newspaper guy who worked deadlines and lived on coffee and nicotine. I smoked three packs a day. My young son fanned the air right after I fired up a fresh one after dinner. I decided to quit. Cold turkey.

20 years later, I still have anxiety dreams. I won't backslide. Smoking is insidious.

[westsidegal]

a HOME-MADE-ICED-BLENDED made like this:
in you powerful home blender's jar add:
valrhonna cocoa powder
barry brut cocoa power
a little real sugar
three phoneY sugars: erythritol, stevia, and splenda
prepared warmd coffee
mix this stuff now when everything wam from the coffee
then
add soy milk (i like the 365brand Orignal that i get from WFoods
and ice cubes.
whirl around in the blender until the whole thing is a slush

it has all the major food groups
chocolate
soy
sugar

if you don't much care how things taste, you can contminate it with protein powder or cinnamon. just don't let me know that you did it.

[Passadumkeg]

Today is Wednesday, it must be sardines, toast, poached egg, blue cheese, coffee, and grapefruit.

[bigfellow]

A cup of tea, lots and lots of soda water. A small bowl of steel cut porridge with no milk or sugar.
Music is a selection of Mersey beat music.

[bigfellow]

This morning I have to be up early. I'm having a cup of tea and a slice of dry toast. Now I'm off.

[kubasd]

wow. I have to be up early (for me) so i'll probably just have some coffee on my way in, plus some cottage cheese around 9 am, me thinks. Maybe one of those awful cottage cheese doubles, since they're on sale and they aren't a full container (which i'd feel obliged to finish).

[sunflwrsdh]

coffee and Special K with red berries today. Busy morning.

[sunflwrsdh]

Today was just coffee. I brought some Special K to work for breakfast, but got busy and didn't have time to eat it. I feel like my "how did you start your day?" posts are really boring, but I do get inspired by the posts of others:) And someday Ihope to have really great breakfasts. In the meantime, I am at least trying to eat something somewhat healthy every day in place of my 35+ year habit of no food, just coffe and a cigarette. Day 10 without smoking, and I am eating better, but trying to do it healthier, so as not to have a huge weight gain this time! Thanks to all of you for your great breakfast ideas, and support and encouragement.

[JEN10]

I made Hubby steel cut oats with ham, chilies, brown sugar, salt and pepper, topped with a fried egg. I had peach jello made with peaches and white wine, I know it's the morning, but I could not resist. Later I had some of that ham.

[ChristinaMason]

Your savory oat dish sounds good...

[sunflwrsdh]

This morning was a blueberry muffin (which I made, from a mix that needed to be used up, but pretty tasty noetheless:) and coffee. Scrambled eggs for my daughter and grandchildren.

[goodhealthgourmet]

it's interesting to see all the comforting breakfasts so many have posted. i live in the one place on the continent that *isn't* stuck in a deep freeze right now, and i can't imagine starting my day with heavy food when the weather is so warm. i've been having yogurt or cottage cheese with fruit, flax and nuts (or nut butter) every day for weeks now!

[steve h.]

solana beach? we're all jealous.
temps will finally break above freezing here by tuesday, about time. i plan to pop on "endless summer" on the tube monday night. finger food and gin and tonics will be on the menu.
mahalo.

[goodhealthgourmet]

yeah, i've been experiencing some weather guilt lately, particularly since my entire family is back East. Mom calls every day and asks me how the weather is here, and every day i say "you don't want to know."

i'm making the most of it, and *trying* to eat like it's summertime...but that's a bit difficult given what's in season right now. i have to be in Jersey in a couple of weeks, and though i'm hoping the mercury stays above freeing while i'm there, i'm guessing my morning menu may involve the substitution of eggs and/or oatmeal for the yogurt & fresh berries ;)

[steve h.]

nothing like a little new jersey penance to make you appreciate southern california.

all the best in the new year.

[goodhealthgourmet]

oh, i appreciate it every day. my last stint out here lasted close to ten years, and the novelty never wore off - the occasional trip back East to experience crappy weather keeps me honest ;)

happy new year to you as well, and stay warm!

and back to the topic at hand, this morning's breakfast was a post-workout smoothie - protein powder, Greek yogurt, blueberries, flax and almond butter.

[bigfellow]

This morning it is a tortilla on the grill with some left over cheese and a little salsa. A bowl of steel cut porridge. Apple juice and tea. To finish I'm making some beignets aux pommes to go with my second or third mug of tea and a good book.

Music today is Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf.

[bigfellow]

While cooking I changed my quesadilla a bit. I added some Montreal Smoked Meat to it.

[JEN10]

I had leftover split pea soup and a tangerine. I made hubby scrambled eggs with ham and chilies, berries in balsamic, and a piece of potato onion bread.

[BobB]

Lovely array of colors and textures, not to mention flavors!

[ChristinaMason]

Toaster waffles with homemade caramel syrup, a little yogurt with raspberry jam, tea with milk and sugar, and sparkling apple juice. I need to eat some fruit.

Adele on the stereo.

[bigfellow]

A strong cup of tea, a bowl of cheerios and a croissant.

I think that I might have brunch later.

[Passadumkeg]

BF, WHAT NO MUSIC???? I enjoy reading your music repertoire. As I stumble dow to the kitchen to brew the coffee (Sumatran this am) I stoke the fire and add wood to the stove, turn on the radio to WERU-FM (streamed and pod casting at www.weru.org) a wonderful local community radio station. This station make the music choice easy.
This morning, using left over asparagus for an omelet w/ baguett, grapefruit.
We will decide today if we head up to Quebec Ciy a little holiday next weekend, thanks to Martin Luther King.

[ChristinaMason]

Cheerios! Love those.

[bigfellow]

This morning it is bacon & eggs with toast and peanut butter. I started with granola and yogurt. Orange juice and tea.

The music was by Cat Stevens and Fleetwood Mac.

[ChristinaMason]

Black tea with milk and purple grapes. These were supposed to be seedless and they most definitely are NOT. Grr.

[ChristinaMason]

Grapes got to be too annoying to eat, so I'm having basmati rice with butter and soy. Wish I had OJ.

[bushwickgirl]

With the deep freeze going on in the US and specifically Florida, we may not have much OJ in our future, either. Nothing affordable, anyway.

[Jetgirly]

Today I had leftover fried rice and it was sooooo great! I think I need more savoury breakfasts!

[sisterfunkhaus]

Steel cut oatmeal, homemade muffins (have some puffins going now), a fresh fruit smoothie with 2% Greek yogurt, an omelet.

[sunflwrsdh]

Special K with red berries and coffee again today...boring, I know, but remember, I just started the breakfast habit this week. Next week I'll work on branching out. Still no cigarettes...day 6:)

[goodhealthgourmet]

this morning was cottage cheese with chia seeds, gingered blueberry compote, and chopped macadamias.

[JEN10]

I had some left over ham, so i chopped it up and mixed into some leftover mashe potatoes, added more butter, S and P. really very tasty.

[ChristinaMason]

Two cups of black tea, an English muffin with margarine, and scrambled eggs with thyme. Oh, and leftover cranberry-orange salad.

[bigfellow]

I am famished this morning. So I'm eating big.
There is a small steak on the grill, some double smoked wild boar bacon and some black pudding on the griddle, and sausages in the oven. I'm also making a smoked meat omlette, but only with 2 eggs. There are also some potato farls on the griddle.
A large pot of tea, and a glass of pineapple juice compete the breakfast feast.

Music is courtesy of David Bowie, Queen and Mott the Hoople. A little bit of Glam Rock.

[sweethaven]

i want! i want!

[bushwickgirl]

Sounds like Scottish breakfasts I've had. Break out the HP.
Define "farl" if you don't mind.

[bigfellow]

Irish if you don't mind. lol

Farls are also called potato scones. It is a Northern Irish thing. It is a crass between an unleavened bread and a mashed potato pancake. It's fried up and cut into 1/4s. You can even buy them pre cut ready to warm up at Mark's and Spencers.

[bushwickgirl]

Ok, thanks, sounds really good. No Marks and Sparks near me <sigh.>

[ChristinaMason]

I had an English muffin with raspberry jam, and lots of tea.

[Harters]

The UK has had its annual few centimetres of snow and, as every year, the whole country has ground to a halt. Still, this called for a hot breakfast. Baked beans on toast topped with Manchester Dangler sausages.

[bigfellow]

This morning I'm listening to the late great Warren Zevon while I'm making corned beef hash with poached eggs. I add diced onion, red and green peppers to add to the taste and colour. The juice is passion fruit. No bread or toast. A lerge pot of Barry's tea, the Corkmans choice!

A really good corned beef hash not only fills me up and keeps me warm on a cold winter day. But it gives me the feeling of comfort and security in my life. The joys of comfort food!

[sunflwrsdh]

Sounds wonderful! I had poor planning this morning, and neglected to bring anything to work for breakfast, so just coffee for me today, but still no cigaretter (day 6!)

[sunflwrsdh]

Cup of coffee on the way to work again, and then Sepcial K with red berries at work. Anad still no cigarettes! Thanks for the good wishes:)

[Harters]

The first ten years are the worst.

[ChristinaMason]

Today it's black tea with milk and sugar, a piece of potato bread toast, 1 poached egg (damn I love me some whirlpool method!), and a cup of strawberry yogurt with sliced almonds and raw oats.

[bigfellow]

This morning the city is digging out after a bit of a snowfall. I'm having corn flakes and milk, apple juice and a chocolatine. Tea and an orange complete my breakfast today.

Music is a wake up mix from the '50's, '60's and '70's.

[sunflwrsdh]

coffee in the car on the way to work; and some store brand, banana nyt/granola-ish kind of cereal at my desk. And....day 4...no cigarette!

[HillJ]

good for you sunflwrsdh, keep on with the no cigs!

Piece of fruit, yogurt, coffee or tea is my go to quick breakfast but I switched off with hot cereals and Probars and a thick slice of homemade bread all the time. I don't think I've ever gone a day w/out fruit or more than a day without yogurt in 40 years.

[ChristinaMason]

you rock!

[mrsdebdav]

Been there and know how hard it is. You're the bomb!!!! Good work and you are the best!!

[sunflwrsdh]

Thanks again for the support and encouragement:) It;s been going really well.....now on day 10, with no slip ups! Reading and participating in these awesome boards is really helpful, as is changing my habits,and coming up with new ideas for things to eat and cook:)

[JEN10]

Left over spicy fried rice for me, a tangerine, oh yum. For the husband, 2 turkey sausage, fried egg, 1/2 a grapefruit, amd some awesome potato onion bread from the farmers market.

[ChristinaMason]

PBJ on homemade potato bread (smooth PB, raspberry jam). Small glass of milk and a black tea to go with.

[bigfellow]

It is a wee bit cold here today. I'm having granola with yogurt, pancakes with maple syrup (I am in Quebec after all) and sausages. Passion Fruit juice and Ovaltine to drink. A tangerine to leave with.

Music is mix of Billie Holiday, Bobby Darin and early Beatles.

[sunflwrsdh]

Today was a pretty busy morning....kids and grandkids have returned home....sister stayed over last night and needed a ride to work by 5:45 am, mom coning back home today as well, son-in-law's birhtday....so light start....up early (5) quick cup of coffee, drove sister to wrk, snowy roads, but not too bad; back home, back to bed for a couple of hours, kids came down around 7:30, and I made them scrambled eggs and toast and juice.. I was occupied with making grocery list for SL's b'day supper, and jsut grabbed a piece of cinnamom toast, and coffee.....and still no cigarette!!! Day 3:)

[ChristinaMason]

Today was a fried egg, toasted waffle (2 pre-made minis) with homemade caramel syrup, and fruit salad (kiwi, banana, strawberry, clementine). Black tea with milk and sugar.

[bigfellow]

Well, I am playing celtic music today, the Three Irish tenors, the Chieftains, and Luke Kelly.
For a late breakfast (I slept in), I started with porridge of steel cut oats, a glass of apple juice and many mugs of tea.
Now for a walk in the snow.

[kubasd]

today is a lovely snow day, so I had some of hte coffee i brought back from Costa Rica, some scrambled eggs with Jarlsberg cheese, and some martins potato bread toast with homemade butter with a sprinkling of my garlic rosemary sea salt. Mmmm. Work days it's usually just coffee and a clif bar as i run out the door to work, so on the weekends i enjoy it!

[sunflwrsdh]

A glass of V-8 juice, a perfectly poached egg on whole wheat toast, with s little of my homemade strawberry jam...(which I'm almost out of...note to self...next year, make more or give away less!) , fresh ground coffee....and still no cigarette!!! Day 2...thanks to all for your support, it helps more than you know. Now, to keep busy, and my mind occupied, I amn going to the kitchen, finding some great music, and cooking!

[ChristinaMason]

go you!!

[contessa15]

My morning routine is my favorite part of the day...huge mug of english breakfast tea with milk, whole wheat toast with peanut butter and a banana. On the weekends (or at least for this weekend) home-made carrot, banana, raisin muffins plus the enormous mug of tea. And the Sunday NYtimes. Life is good.

[Passadumkeg]

Just finished a Norwegian frukost bord; geitost on boiled egg slices on Wasa bread, herring on toast w/ sides of blue and camembert cheeses, bread, butter & jam and half a grapefruit.
Now to drive through a snow storm to do a Latin dance music radio show on community radio WERU (www.weru.org).
Ciocito

[bigfellow]

It is a wonderful day out, everything is covered in a light dusting of snow. I'm scrambling eggs with a little Guyere mixed in. I have toast and cretons on the side. A tall glass of orange juice is waiting for the rest of the meal. I'm drinking English Breakfast tea right now.

Playing in the background has been a few selections from George Harrison's "A Concert for Bangladesh" and Jeremy Taylor's "Ag Pleez Deddy". Now I'm playing Ella. Right now "It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing!"

[JEN10]

No Cigarette, EXCELLENT good for you!!!

[sunflwrsdh]

thank you! It's been a tough day, but I made it! New Year's resolution:)

[goodhealthgourmet]

congratulations! keep it up, and remember just to take it one day at a time.

[sunflwrsdh]

Special K with red berries and skim mild. Fresh ground coffee with half and half and sugar. and.........no cigarette!!!!!!! Happy New Year, everyone:)

[JEN10]

Left over split pea soup from last night, so good.

[bermudagourmetgoddess]

Well this morning it will be pumpkin spiced pancakes served with REAL maple syrup and peppered bacon...however right now I am just sipping on my Costa Rican coffee and enjoying a quiet moment thinking about all the wonderful meals I am going to prepare this coming year!

Happy New Year ... May all your culinary wishes come true!

[bigfellow]

I crawled home a couple of hours ago from a NYE dinner party that was still going strong. I am having some Westphalian and some Serrano Ham, Bundnerfleisch. There is also some Red Leicester from Sparkenhoe Farm that I brought back with me. Darjeerling Tea to drink.
Music is by The Beatles, Abbey Road Album.

Now I'm off to bed.

Happy New Year all!

[Passadumkeg]

Oat meal pancakes w/ maple syrup, NY strip steak and fried eggs for my better half and me, Sumatran coffee, grapefruti halves and OJ.
Happy New Year!

[ChristinaMason]

Cinnamon-sugar toast and tea with milk and sugar. I'm hoping we'll go out for some spicy Thai in an hour or so.

[JEN10]

I had 1/2 a banana with peanut butter so far. I have become a grazer lately.

[ChristinaMason]

Today I had two cups of black tea with milk and sugar, two mashed potato pancakes with lingonberry jam, and half a banana. Ok, if I'm being totally honest, I also had a slice of wheat toast with marg. and rasp.-peach jam. I'm a carb addict.

[ChristinaMason]

Here are the pancakes, courtesy of my DH: http://culinspiration.wordpress.com/2...

So freakin' good.

[bigfellow]

I have to be at the airport in less than 2 hours. We're having a Belfast fry up withbacon, eggs, sausages, black and white pudding baked beans and potato scones, Lots of strong tea.
I woke up in the night and had a chip butty. Memories of my childhood. We are listening to BBC 2.

[Harters]

Good start - and I'm glad you enjoyed your trip over here.

Today, I started with a toasted bacon butty. The pig was local and it had been turned into bacon at the local smokehouse (although this was "green" not smoked). Three good rashers of "middle". Nice.

[Harters]

First meal of the new decade - sausages (from the smokehouse) and fried potates.

There was also going to be eggs. I wanted eggs. I know I had eggs on the shopping list. I am certain I bought them at the supermarket. The egg fairies have stolen them. Bastards!

[ChristinaMason]

Hate it when that happens!

[FrankD]

How can you be sure it was the egg fairies? Perhaps it was the omelette gnomes.

[Smorgasbord]

I never ate anything until noon up until 3 years ago. I've bought into the 'most important meal of the day...' etc. but don't start with anything substantial [or exciting] because I'm usually too comatose in the morning to do anything other than pour cereal, milk, and juice [it is high-fibre, low sugar cereal, to keep it healthy- sometimes banana and raisin added if it tastes too much like I'm eating cardboard].

Weekends are usually more substantial; at home we make brunches of fritattas, or home made pancakes with thick-cut bacon, all washed down with tons of french press coffee.

Funnily enough, since starting my breakfast regimen, I find that I can't eat lunch or non-brekkie foods until I've 'primed' my stomach by eating a muffin or something. Calling Pavlov!

[bigfellow]

Today I started with boiled eggs and soldiers. A cup of strong tea for my last full day over here.

[justen_m]

"Today I started with boiled eggs and soldiers."

What are soldiers?

[Harters]

Soldiers are rectangles of bread which are dunked in boiled eggs.

Today, I had smoked salmon (Scottish) and scrambled egg (free range) on toasted bagel. And, for the first time in many years, craved a ciggy with the coffee (the moment soon passed)

[FrankD]

I'm usually in a hurry in the mornings, so I usually can't take the time to cook bacon or eggs. And, since I'm diabetic, carb heavy meals like bagels or toast and jelly are out of the question.

So usually, it's a low-carb soup fortified with mixed beans - gives me a lot of protein with not many carbs, and it really fills me up, so I'm not hungry until lunch. I grab coffee on the way to the bus.

Weekends, when I have more time, I might microwave a couple of eggs, indulge in a piece of wheat toast, put the eggs on the toast, and cover in HP sauce. Or if I have leftover meat from the night before, slice it thinly, chop some lettuce, add hot sauce, salsa, and sour cream, and throw it all into a whole wheat pita. Other times, it might be chicken or tuna salad on a bed of lettuce, with tomato (if they're halfway respectable).

[justen_m]

4 or 5 days a week, I make a breakfast evolved from huevos rancheros. I layer...

two corn tortillas
black beans (made w/ bacon or ham, onion, jalapeno, garlic, cumin)
two eggs soft poached in salsa verde (tomatillo, onion, serrano, cilantro, garlic)
topped with shredded sharp cheddar and the salsa

To accompany this I have a cup of light yogurt (vanilla or strawberry) with miscellaneous fresh fruit and/or berries.

I make a huge batch of the beans on the weekend and just reheat in the microwave so on weekdays total prep time is ~5 minutes.

If I am lazy I'll just wrap up some ham, microwave scrambled eggs, and cheese in a tortilla with some salsa, or make pancakes from Krusteaz mix. I'm not a fan of cold cereal, but I'll occasionally make oatmeal w/ raisins, usually instant in the microwave.

[bigfellow]

I just made pancakes, maple syrup and sausage for the family. Distributed all the stuff I brought over as gifts.
Now I'm getting ready to raid Fortnum & Mason!

[sunflwrsdh]

Nice breakfast......yum! What is Fortnum and Mason?

[bigfellow]

http://www.fortnumandmason.com/

It was founded in 1707 on the same spot it occupies today. Fortnum Mason is a unique and beautiful store. Fortnum’s is renowned as purveyors of fine foods, hampers, teas and wine. It has five restaurants, from an award-winning wine bar to the funkiest ice cream parlour. Food may be first at Fortnum’s, but lift your eyes to the spectacular atrium, and let your feet (or the lifts!) lead to the delights aloft. From the serious fun of the Cookshop to the tranquil femininity of the Second Floor and the leathery comfort of Men’s Accessories, Fortnum’s is a theatrical oasis in the middle of Mayfair.

There is also a wikipedia entry: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fortnum_...

[sunflwrsdh]

Thank you, John. Fortnum sounds fabulous......I completely appreciated the descriptions of the window displays on the website!!! It's on my dream list of places to visit someday, and thanks for widening my horizons:)

[Harters]

Fortnum's is fun. Harrods is more fun.

[bigfellow]

I did Harrods today for the last of my shopping.

[BobB]

Ah, Harrod's food halls. My knees grow weak...

[bigfellow]

Fortnum

[barndog]

I'll have an egg sandwich as follows: one piece of cracked wheat sourdough, cut in half and toasted. One egg, scrambled and cooked in the microwave for 50 seconds. One piece of bacon, broken into two pieces for the top of the egg. Two small (about 1" wide) pieces of smoked cheddar to go on top of the bacon. I put the sandwich back in the microwave for 25 seconds, and I'm done.
I don't do this everyday, but fairly frequently. I get all the taste I'm looking for without having to gorge myself.

[steve h.]

Tea and the FT.

[guilty]

I seem to be the odd duck here: I have a "green smoothie" with (usually) grapefruit, parsley, agave to sweeten, ice, and things like spirulina and msm powder. Thus, even if I don't have any more vegetables in the day, I know I've already eaten plenty of greens.

In addition to this, I'll have fresh fruit; usually pineapple, but it could be mango, melon, berries, or whatever is in season. If I'm really hungry, I might have a buckwheat porridge or even cold cereal with hazelnut milk. Then usually some tea (green, black, oolong, whatever) mid-morning.

[charles_L]

I do oatmeal but I hate it sweet so I have it with hot sauce and a handful of nuts.

[BobB]

Hey, my grandfather ate all his hot cereal with butter & salt instead of milk & sugar. We kids thought he was weird, but he was from the old country. As an adult I can respect where he was coming from.

[woodleyparkhound]

I walk from my bed straight to the kitchen to put water on the stove for coffee. I make one HUGE cup of very strong coffee with a Bee House dripper and drink it while reading the paper or checking email. Breakfast during the week, post-shower, is a smoothie, made with some a fruit (berries or banana, usually) and either vanilla soy milk or yogurt. I bring a few pieces of fruit to work with me to eat during the morning at work. Once at work, I start drinking genmai-cha (Japanese green tea with roasted rice) which I switch to oolong after lunch. I wouldn't dream of touching the swill they call coffee at the office!

Weekends, after coffee and paper-reading, I might make hot cereal (oatmeal or cream-of-wheat) or have an egg sandwich or an omelet, with a piece of fruit.

[linguafood]

Sounds like you're on a diet or something '-)

[woodleyparkhound]

I'm a lifetime Weight Watcher! It's easy for me to eat healthy in the morning, so I do. By evening, my resolve has usually crumbled! :--)

[linguafood]

Ha! I'm the same way. Not a WW, but evenings are evil. The rest of the day, I couldn't care less about food, really.

[jujuthomas]

good for you on lifetime WW. I'm on maintenance week 3 now. :)
my fave bfast lately is egg substitute cooked with chopped broccoli, a diced slice of canadian bacon, a little adobo maybe and some shredded cheddar cheese. I don't really like egg sub, so the extra stuff hides the flavor. ;)

[Emme]

congrats. re not liking egg sub, do you dislike the flavor of egg whites as well? all eggs? or just not like discarding the yolks...

[jujuthomas]

no, I adore eggs. I don't like the seasonings they add to the egg sub. wish they just tasted like egg. I don't have time most mornings to fuss with real eggs, the egg sub can be microwaved in just a couple minutes.

[Emme]

You could also buy the pre-cartoned egg whites, that have no flavoring...

[westsidegal]

also, for me, i've found that eating breakfast makes me hungrier for lunch.
eating a big lunch often makes me hungrier for dinner.
the easiest way to keep the day's calorie count under control is to drink black coffee for breakfast and mid-morning

[bigfellow]

I started my day with a late breakfast at The Breakfast Club in Soho today, a full English breakfast with bubble and squek, eggs, and the lot. I'd recommend the small chain as far as chains go it was great.

[bigfellow]

I have a busy day a head. So I started early this morning with eggs, maple fried ham, leftover potatoes dauphinoise and fried mushrooms. A few glasses of pineapple juice and a cappucinno to top things off.

[FanOfJoeBiden]

I am always on the go, so I rarely have time to actually sit down and enjoy, or cook breakfast. So, breakfast for me, and I always look forward to it, is two cans of Red Bull, and a few Marlboro ciggies, on the way to work.

[taiwanesesmalleats]

Scrambled egg with egg substitute and some homemade black bean-corn salsa. Piece of fruit like a banana. 3-4 cups of water.

[sunflwrsdh]

Almost always just coffee, with fat free (sometimes regular) half and half and 2 spoons of sugar. Rarely, a bagel with lite cream cheese. Not a big breakfast eater, but I agree that it is the most important meal of the day, and my plan is to improve my breakfast eating habits in the New Year. Hence, this thread is of great interest, so thank you for starting it. I'm not much of an early morning eater...I like to be awake for a couple of hours before I eat anything....but I can bring my breakfast to work and eat it there a couple of hours later. Some great sounding breakfasts on here..thanks again:)

[bigfellow]

Biscuitsand gravy today.

Music by Van the Man.

[bigfellow]

I slept in today. I've been up for about an hour and a half. I'm starting today with a roast beef, cheddar and onion sandwich, with a glass of orange juice.

[Popkin]

Hey you are starting the day with one of my usual lunches lol, love the roast beef, cheddar, and onion on sourdough

[hala]

bread and cheese, pates and sometimes cretons. DH and i eat that everyday. our 3 year old will mostly eat cereal unless we have his favorite rillettes.

We prefer to have a sweet desert after dinner, so we moved the cheese course to the morning. I tend to buy nice artisanal cheese and always have aged cheddar on hand. A typical breakfast would have 3-5 types of cheese and 1-2 pate.

[LeslieB]

It varies dramatically based on whether I am working and at what time. I'm a restaurant manager, so on mornings that I work I usually just have some toast, sometimes with peanut butter and a glass of OJ when I come in.

If I am at home, anything goes; When boith the BF and I are home at breakfast time, he likes a big veggie and egg scramble, usually with diced potato, mushrooms, onion, bell and hot peppers and sometimes broccoli or spinach if we have some laying around. Cheese is sometimes in there, sometimes not. Frank's Rec Hot on top is a must, as is French press coffee on the side.

Sometimes we opt for "contintental breakfast," a good-sized chunk of baguette or some other good bread apiece plus fresh fruit - usually grapes, apples and banana, sometimes berries or peaches if they are in season, and come yummy cheese. We slice the fruit and cheese and put it on one big plate and just nibble away until it's gone.

When I am by myself in the morning I like to make fried egg sandwiches or "eggs in the hole" - a slice of bread with the center cut out, which you butter and grill with a fried egg in the center. If I am in a hurry, I warm up a whole wheat pita on the stovetop, smear it with peanut butter, sprinkle dried berries and sunflower kernels on it, then roll it up and eat it like burrito. Sometimes I put a banana in it. And on occasion, I eat cereal with soy milk.

[bigfellow]

Lord, I can't spell...Porridge

[bigfellow]

Today, I'm having a cup of English Breakfast tea, toast and cretons. I'm also having a bowl of porrige with apples and cinnamon. It is -6 F below zero so I want to keep warm on my walk today!

Music by Aretha, Ella, Cab Calloway and The Duke of Ellington!

[kubasd]

I have to say i love that you have music to go with your meals, and do it as a theme, very charming :-)

[bigfellow]

Debra, I need beauty in my life. Great food, art, and wonderful music. It makes the meal better, for me anyway. A beautiful woman does trump everything though...lol

[kubasd]

It is all about creating the experience, isn't it? Even if eating some chinese take-out alone, i sit at the kitchen table, put it on a plate, pour a glass of wine (or fine beer that i've pulled from the collection) and enjoy with my book. Music is something i love, i just never think to play it at home like that, it would complete the picture though.

[bigfellow]

Bacon & eggs with a croissant and an orange.
Music was modern Christmas songs such as "Bare Naked Ladies/Marianne Faithful" doing God Rest Ye Maerry Gentlemen.

[Harters]

Saw Marianne Faithfull interviewed on TV a few months. Still one of my heartthrobs.

And just to keep this on food, she took the opportunity to deny the, ahem, "infamous Mars Bar incident" was true.

[bigfellow]

ROTFLMAO!!!!!!

[ChristinaMason]

Today was a poached egg, potato bread toast, fruit salad and chai with milk and sugar. My belly is happy.

[ChristinaMason]

Related to breakfast, I just want to blame Chowhound for the fact that I woke up in the middle of the night and stayed awake trying to come up with the ultimate German potato salad recipe. This can't be a healthy obsession.

[bigfellow]

As far as a "drug of choice", I fear that at least it's the safest! LMAO The people that you cook for are lucky Christina!

[Passadumkeg]

Weekdays: (except Wed when we eat sardines, blue cheese, toast and 1/2 grapefruit.): home made yogurt, raw rolled oats, banana, organic peanut butter, red grapes, Brazil nut, almonds, sunflower and pumpkin seeds and red grapes and a glass of oj.
This allows me to eat all the unhealthy crap the ret of the day and not feel guilty!

[kubasd]

So why is wednesday special? lol But your (other)weekday breakfast sounds amazing...

[Passadumkeg]

Twice a week we have sardines for breakfast w/ cheese & egg to get more calcium into my dear wife. We are about to have sardines, the cannery is just up the road, ble & brie cheeses, soft boiled eggs, and 1/2 grape fruit and toast. Sumatran coffee too. After breakfast I'll make 2 quarts (l.) of yogurt for the week.
ps Kusbasd, I'm a Wesleyan dad. I see you live near Middletown, O'Rourkes is a fave breakfast spot, especially his grav lox omelet and duck hash.

[goodhealthgourmet]

nice choice on the sardines - they're also rich in Vitamin D, which is essential for calcium absorption. if she likes salmon, that's another great option - canned wild salmon with a little crème fraîche, dill and black pepper. yum.

[Passadumkeg]

At the cannery, before Bumble Bee took it over, we used to get a case of 48 of sardines w/ no painted labels for 4 bucks. We eat lot of salmon too. I catch it both winter and summer at Tunk Lake. Waiting for the ice to thicken right now. I like the cold.

[kubasd]

so your breakfast sounds amazing...I have yet to venture to o'rourkes, and i keep meaning to, every weekend!!!

[Passadumkeg]

Do it!

[Soop]

Ah, I think I've just made a new resolution: Buy more orange juice.

I have a dream of a giant fridge that is well stocked with sodas and all good things.

[ChristinaMason]

My DH just got back from climate talks in Copenhagen. He brought back real Danishes. So today's breakfast was black chai with half a creamy danish and half a cinnamon spiral. Yum!

[soypower]

Usually have a couple of farm fresh eggs fried over-easy with a bunch of kimchee...But today I had some jap chae and kimchee. Oh, and sugar snap peas and spinach dip. Most of my breakfasts look more like lunches or dinners.

[linguafood]

I'm a (very) late morning person, so my 'breakfast' is eaten when other people have lunch.

I do start my day with two cups of strong coffee, and don't eat until I am hungry.

Still -- since it's MY first meal of the day -- I not only call it breakfast, but it generally has to consist of 'traditional' breakfast foods, such as a nice glass of skim milk (I never thought I'd drink that sad excuse for cow juice, but we have a local dairy that produces the creamiest skim ever), a slice of toasted bread with just brie OR with scallion cream cheese, ham, cheddar, and a fried egg.

Or sliced, hardboiled egg on top of scallion cream cheese. When my man is around, I often make BLTs with spicy mayo for us -- his lunch, my breakfast '-)

Weekends might be scrambled eggs & bacon and toast, fruits on the side. When in Germany, we do the whole weekend sh-bang: assorted cheeses, cold cuts, soft-boiled eggs, smoked fish, etc. etc.

[ChristinaMason]

cow juice...lol

[JerryMe]

Went to go get Christmas tamales, so this morning's breakfast (after coffee, of course) was a green corn tamale and a shredded beef taco with red sauce. Uber excellente!

[rockandroller1]

Weekdays I have no time so I eat when I get to work. Cup of coffee with cream and a Zone bar or Luna bar. Sometimes fruit in addition.

Weekends are more elaborate. We either go out, for a treat, and stuff ourselves, or do the full meat/eggs/bread/potatoes thing at home, or some variation on that. I might do poached eggs in salsa topped with shredded cheese and eaten with tortilla chips (YUM), we might do grapefruit halves, fruit salad and scrambled eggs with toast, we might do breakfast sandwiches, etc. It's almost always something savory though, rarely something sweet except fruit.

[Thunderduck]

Normally nothing,perhaps a cup of tea at most.

I hate breakfast, eating so early really doesn't appeal to me but I do make an exception twice a month when I go to the local farmer's market.There's always something that appeals to me.

I'm not a fan of traditional breakfast foods, not in the morning anyhow, so today I got up early, went to the farmers' market and returned with two oysters, some smoked salmon and squat lobster tails for my breakfast.
It was perfect.,exactly what I needed,and worth the half hour I spent wrestling with the oysters.

[mrsbuffer]

fresh ground coffee with fat free half and half
food varies during the week between old fashioned oatmeal with cranberries, or a toasted bagel with cream cheese,

or on weekends we have bacon and eggs with a bagel, or french toast (sometimes cinnamon raisin french toast, or eggs over easy, biscuits and sausage gravy

[bigfellow]

I miss Marks and Sparks!

[Soop]

It's bloody good isn't it? Food-wise at least.

[bermudagourmetgoddess]

We have one in Bermuda, but does not carry nearly the inventory! I love it!!

[Harters]

We did our Christmas "goodies" shop today at Waitrose (a premium supermarket which we don't often use - similar in quality to M &S). Forthcoming brekkies are likely to feature Maynard's smoked bacon, as several packs were near to "sell-by" date and dirt cheap. Maynards is a really good small farm-based producer of bacon in Shropshire (just ot the south of our county). Waitrose stocks it now and again. I can imagine the fat frying as we speak.

[Soop]

Yeah, we have a Waitrose near us (it's actually the closest, but I only go there for certain things) - try the hampshire free range sausages from their butcher department, they're my favorites! I've never seen that bacon, but they do sell Denhays, and that's amazing. But then Sainsbury's sells it now for less.

Waitroses bread is pretty good too.

[Harters]

I think there may be regional thing going on because I don't think my Sainsbury stocks Denhay. I'm in Cheshire - whereabouts are you roughly?

[Soop]

South west. They just started recently, about 2 weeks ago... in fact, the sainsbury's magazine has a 50p off coupon, so I'd be surprised if it was regional.
Have you had Denhay? How does it compare with the one you got? As far as I'm concerned, it's the best bacon I've had - better than from the butcher!
First time I had it was with macaroni cheese :)

[Harters]

Ah, if there's a coupon, it must be national. I'll have a nosy when we go on Wednesday. I think I've had Denhay but am not sure. I've had the organic bacon they do - Helen Browning (?) - which is pretty good - isnt she from the south west?

[Soop]

On my last week off, I had porridge every day. It's some M&S one my girlfriend bought, with cranberries and blueberries :3

[bigfellow]

Today it is a large apple juice, a cup of tea (Irish Breakfast) and a slice of toast.

[bermudagourmetgoddess]

All the best to you bigfellow!!!! My thoughts are with you! I can relate, been free for a few years now.

My mornings are super routine up at 5.30 AM and before hitting the gym 1 piece of Multi grain toast with sugar free jam to keep my energy up and after the workout I will protein down with 3 egg whites with 1/4 C turkey sausage and 1/2 cup of veggies and a large coffee this is pretty much 6 days a week, on Sundays I will go for some avocado (off my tree) on toast with 2 pieces regular bacon and some fruit.

[grouper]

The day doesn't start until I have a tall, non-fat, no-water Chai Tea from Starbucks. Then I might, just might, eat some breakfast.

[BarmyFotheringayPhipps]

Weekdays: Homemade yogurt with muesli and fruit and a large cup of French press coffee. Occasionally a bowl of cold cereal, depending on whether I need to make more yogurt or not.

Weekends: Often the same, although one day or the other we might go out for breakfast or make pancakes, or eggs and potatoes and the smoked pork product of our choice, or some type of porridge.

[sunflwrsdh]

How (and how often) do you make your homemade yogurt? I made it a few times many years ago, and might want to try it again.....in keeping with my plan to eat healthier in the New Year...tia:)

[Diane B.]

I make my yogurt about every 2-3 weeks depending on who's home (my son will finish off the liter I make in only 3 smoothies made with frozen fruits, or I'll make it last a lot longer by having just a bit every night often flavored differently each time --from chocoate to lemon from my bush to vanilla extract to pureed frozen fruit, etc-- along with sweetener). Sometimes it gets used for Grape Nuts cereal (sweetened) or unsweetened in place of sour cream for various dishes or soups, etc.
I use Yogourmet yogurt starter, a Salton yogurt maker (with my own metal container), 1/2 c of powdered milk... heat milk to 185 then add starter at 120 and incubate for 4 hrs since I don't like it too sour.
Never really liked yogurt before but this stuff is so much better... "cleaner" tasting and better texture/taste, as well as no added gums/fillers or stabilizers just to give it really-long shelf life unopened at the store.

Diane B.

[sunflwrsdh]

Thanks for the info,Diane.

[pacheeseguy]

We're talking food right........?
Coffee, more coffee,
daily dose of cholesterol & heart pills
then lots of cheese at work.
Then later some wine & cheese for lunch.

[Harters]

Today - microwaved a couple of sausages (left over from yesterday's "full English"), cheap white sliced bread to make the butty. OJ & instant coffee (as always)

[bigfellow]

Today, some cheese, bread, apple juice and tea.

[Boccone Dolce]

Coffee and a few bites of something- usually eaten cold, while standing by the kitchen island. The something is probably leftovers- husband has a hard time eating left over food for some reason. I try not to go carb only -makes me jittery. Today I ate 3 brussel sprouts and a slice of swiss cheese wrapped around a hunk of bread I found that wasn't green.

[bigfellow]

This morning I filled ramekins with some mini latkes topped with wild boar bacon (double smoked with maple) and an egg. This became my new version of shirred eggs served with toasted soldiers. Fresh pineapple juice.
Holiday music to set the tone.

[isa1]

Weekdays: an espresso with a piece of baguette with cheese or Nutella and a yogurt.
Weekends: scrambled eggs with either goat cheese or feta and pieces of pita breads that I put in the oven for a couple of minutes. This morning on top of my eggs and toast, I also had plain yogurt with lemon zest and I added blueberries and kiwi. It was so good, think I`ll have the same thing for dinner...

[Miss Needle]

Oh man. This post is going to make me look like some granola hippy. But I start off my day with royal jelly and roasted grain beverage sweetened with stevia and almond milk (my version of coffee). I was having cardamom lassis (thinned with almond milk and sweetened with stevia), but have been switching over to either hot cereal or veggie soups as the weather has been getting colder.

[EWSflash]

A big glass of iced tea. Green or black, either one.

[Popkin]

Usually coffee and buttered sourdough toast. The coffee is usually a light roast, brewed strong with a bit of cinnamon or cocoa, then mixed with about 1/3 - 1/2 cream or half&half.

When I'm not on a coffee kick and just want something different, I'll either do hot chocolate if it's cold, or my grandma's "eggnog" consisting of milk/heavy cream/half&half, one or two eggs, a bit of sugar, and whatever pie spice is handy all in a blender. The yolk gives a nice solid feel to the drink, and the whites after being whirred through the blender make a nice creamy frothyness. For some reason I just can't stand cooked eggs, but raw mixed with sugar and milk is good by me lol.

[bigfellow]

Today it being the Festival of Lights, and a personal craving, latkes. Music by Adam Sandler!

[jujuthomas]

weekdays lately: steel cut oats made with some vanilla soymilk, pumpkin and pumpkin pie spice. or scrambled eggs with veggies and canadian bacon mixed in and an english muffin. coffee always!
weekends: somtimes a repeat of weekday, depending on schedule. sometimes a trip to the diner for veggie egg white omlette and toast. or poached eggs and ww toast. again always coffee.

[Peg]

Weekdays - coffee at 6am.
Weekends - coffee at 7:30am.
I've tried eating in the mornings but the most I can deal with is plain yogurt.

[BobB]

Weekdays, strong black tea with one thick slice of toast and butter, a banana, and sometimes a second slice of toast with jam or peanut butter. Weekends, usually eggs, usually accompanied by some form of preserved pig, or - and this is embarrassing, but lately I've become enamored of it - canned corned beef hash. I sauté half a can until it starts to get crisp, then crack two eggs on top. I cover the pan and let the eggs steam until the whites are just barely set and the yolks still runny. A pinch of kosher salt and lots of black pepper and MAN is that good!

[alliedawn_98]

Hey BobB, I have one of those plastic boxes of recipe cards....from the 70's maybe? Anyway, there is a card with canned corned beef hash spooned into muffin tins and you crack an egg on top and bake until the egg sets. I made it once here for breakfast. My family likes the canned corned beef hash but only two cared for the egg.

[BobB]

I should add that my wife eats the same thing (or at least, the same basic combination) for breakfast 365 days a year: two slices of heavy whole-grain toast with unsalted butter, and a heaping serving of what she calls "breakfast fruit." This is a category that exists only in her mind - it includes melons, tropical fruits like papaya, mango, and pineapple, and in a pinch, berries. It does NOT include bananas, apples, pears, grapes, cherries or anything from the citrus family.

I have no idea where she got this habit or why she's so religious about it, but hey, she's well into middle age and still a size 4 - I'm not complaining!

[alliedawn_98]

Wow, I would skip breakfast rather than eat the same thing every day. Some days that would be ok but not every day!

[Jetgirly]

Those are MY breakfast fruits too! It's a habit I picked up in Mexico! (Except I include bananas.)

[BobB]

That's interesting - doubly so as my wife is Russian and has never set foot in Mexico!

[mpjmph]

Toaster English muffin with preserves and a couple of sausage links. Plus a diet coke. I've weened myself down to one diet coke a day, but i need my morning caffeine fix and I hate coffee.

[Lindseyup67]

Two poached eggs on homemade herb bread!

[bigfellow]

I took Colin, my dog, out for his walk last night. I passed a plaque dedicated to Jefferson Davis. It was the site of the residence of his family during the US Civil War.
It inspired me this morning. Biscuits and gravy were this mornings menu. Music was songs from the Civil War!

[KristieB]

I have either coffee with milk or black tea with sweetner. I also have oatmeal with either a banana or dried fruit cooked in nearly every day. If not then toast with butter and jam. Or an english muffin with butter and jam. And with the two later options I have and apple or clementine in fall and winter and some sort of summer fruit during the summer.

On the weekends we have a bigger traditional breakfast of eggs, some kind of breakfast meat and either pancakes, french toast or waffles.

[ipsedixit]

After a morning workout ...

Coffee (about a gallon)
3 Eggs (scrambled) w/ whole grain bread; or fried and paired with leftover rice
Yogurt mixed with fresh peanut butter
Fruit (whatever is seasonal, or is falling from my trees, but at least one banana)
Big handful of walnuts or almonds
Clif Bar

[Emme]

is that all a daily breakfast, or are those options... and i'm assuming the "gallon" of coffee doesn't really mean you drink 16 cups of coffee...

[ipsedixit]

Daily.

Yes, gallon, or more precisely 3.5 liters. (At least that's the amount of water I use to brew the coffee.) So I guess it's technically less than a gallon.

[Rasam]

Oh wow ipsedixit! If I drank anywhere near that amount of coffee a day, I would be permanently on 'vibrate' mode! :)
You must have the metabolism of a Harley (said admiringly).

But I do have my morning/afternoon cups of cafe au (soy)lait.

The rest of breakfast is often last night's left over sabzi or dal, with a whole wheat chapati.
Or a slice of WW toast with peanut butter or similar.

Weekends are more splurgy, with pancakes, or idlis or dosais, or besan ke cheele (chickpea flour pancakes) with relevant syrup or chutney, or even poori aloo if I feel up to the labour.

So, I definitely do eat breakfast (I would fall down flat at 10 am if I didn't), and it should be savory.
I can't do any predominantly sweet meal, certainly not in the morning.

[cookieluvntasha]

ipsedixit, are you really into fitness? When I work out a heavy weight and endurance week, I will eat a breakfast like you mentioned. But for the other weeks of light weight/high reps and interval cardio, I just have oatmeal.

[ipsedixit]

Well, I don't know if "really into fitness" is the right way to describe it, but I do try to be active.

Technically, I don't start my day off with breakfast. It's usually a 10 mile run, some weights or circuit training, stretching and then .... breakfast!

[JerryMe]

I start every day with caffeine - Coffee's set the nite before so all I have to do is push a button.

I don't eat first thing every day. I wait until I'm hungry. Today it's going to be a full on, bacon, hash brown and egg burrito. Most day's it's leftovers reheated.

I think breakfast IS the most important meal of the day, I just can't eat first thing in the am.

[Sam Fujisaka]

Tea and juice

Homemade yogurt + homemade (tropical) fruit compote; granola & milk; OR oatmeal & raisins.

On non-school days, Dana Zsofia might request: crepes & yogurt & fruit compote; baked grated potato & egg; OR fruit muffins

[Paula76]

Breakfast is sacred to me and I need time to savour it and digest it before I even think of leaving the house. At the moment, my ritual consists of one and a half cups of freshly brewed black coffee (no sugar or milk) and either porridge oats cooked on the hob with water and a touch of sweetener or low-fat natural yogurt. To both, I add a mix of seasonal fruits (preferably berries) and sprinkle with a mix of seeds. I then proceed to eat my brekkie watching the re-runs of 'Frasier' (currently on at 8am in the UK).

[Janet from Richmond]

I always have a carby breakfast at home. Most often toast, a bagel, crumpets, frozen waffles toasted and buttered or cereal. Sometimes I make cheese toast instead of butter or peanut butter. Sometimes I add pepper jelly to the cream cheese on a bagel. And two cups of strong black coffee except on "latte Friday".

[Harters]

Brekkie isnt generally a big thing for me and tends to be muesli or toast & marmalade.

Sunday is usually some abridged form of the "full English" (I'm not a good enough cook to juggle the requirements of a "full" - not least first thing in the morning).

[taboo]

Mostly 2 things - egg whites with veggies, wheat toast and fruit or Fage yogurt with fruit and bran cereal. I do start eating Oatmeal for the winter though. Always a cup of coffee

[JEN10]

Yesterday morning I cooked up two sweet potatoes, cut up some bacon and fried it up, mashed the potatoes with butter, salt, pepper, allspice, and sugar, added in the bacon, yummy! I had some for breakfast this morning with a piece of pork tenderloin from last night. I recently had to go gluten and dairy free, so I am interested in what others eat.

[alliedawn_98]

It varies by day.

Yesterday was bakery cinnamon rolls with a cup of coffee.
Today I made french toast served with homemade blueberry syrup and a sausage patty.

Some days, we have a breakfast casserole (bread, eggs, milk, bacon or sausage or ham, cheese, salt, pepper, and a bit of cayenne). Sometimes it's pancakes and bacon or sausage. We eat whatever fruit we have in the house with it, especially with the casserole.

[Uncle Bob]

Weekdays....Coffee & Chicory....Wheat toast....Home made blackberry jelly/jam etc. Cereal.
Weekends ...Coffee & Chicory....Eggs, Grits, Toast, and Bacon...Or.. Eggs, Grits, Country Ham & Red-Eye Gravy and biscuits ~~ Sometimes, just Coffee, biscuits and Sawmill Gravy.
I know you will find this odd...Sometimes on Sunday, after having had Fried Catfish the night before..I will eat a piece or two of Cold Fried Catfish...Maybe some toast, and Grits too! :)

Enjoy!

[cookingwithdenay]

I usually start my day with oatmeal and a variety of dried fruits, toast and jam or preserves. Hearty, simple and almost always something a bit sweet!

[lynnlato]

Almost always it's a cup of tea and rye toast with both butter and peanut butter. Occasionally I change it up and have half an onion bagel w/ butter & cream cheese or oat bran. Weekends its BACON with either softly scrambled eggs or an up egg.

A nice treat, for me, is a piece of Trader Joe's whole wheat french toast w/ butter & maple syrup and topped with a sunny side up egg and a sprinkle of Kosher salt. That sweet and salty combo is blow-your-mind good.

[ChristinaMason]

On weekdays: A cup of tea (usually black, with milk) and typically toast with jam and a clementine or banana. Sometimes cereal (Total-esque, corn flakes, or Cheerios).

Weekends: Classic German breakfast with lots of rolls, spreads, and a soft-boiled egg. I'm still perfecting my egg method. Sometimes my DH will make pancakes.

[scunge]

Just a mention. Here on long island Stop and Shop's brand of oat loops (cheerios) don't contain high fructose corn syrup ,and king kullens brand corn flake's don't either.

[ChristinaMason]

Good to know. Here in Germany, most of the American-styled breakfast cereals are a little different to what I'm used to back home. I've only found Cheerios in a honey (not honey-nut) variety, and they include rye flour. Kellog's Cornflakes, it turns out, have sugar rather than corn syrup here.

Of course, granolas are really big, but a little chewy for my taste. I never really got on the yogurt bandwagon, except for one brand, one flavor, which tastes closer to dessert.

[linguafood]

Have you tried some of the fruit quarks? Much denser than yogurt, and tasty... I'm partial to Erdbeerquark.

[ChristinaMason]

I haven't tried those yet. I had a Vanillakipferl holiday special quark...didn't love it. Full of random artificial stuff, probably why.

[linguafood]

Ehrmann makes a nice strawberry quark. Not crazy about vanilla in quark or yogurt, really. OR -- crrrrrrazy idea, I know -- get yerself regular quark and mix in your own fruit. Or scallions & other herbs and serve with potatoes.

[RosePearl]

Usually some sort of bread and milk and perhaps fruit. What are cretons?

[bigfellow]

From Wikipedia; "In Quebec cuisine, cretons (sometimes gorton or corton, especially among New Englanders of Quebec origin) is a pork spread containing onions and spices. Due to its fatty texture and taste, it resembles French rillettes. Cretons are usually served on toast as part of a traditional Quebec breakfast."

http://www.chow.com/recipes/19017

[bigfellow]

Cretons & toast

[ChristinaMason]

I swear, I learn something new here *every* day!

[bushwickgirl]

So true, amazing!
I eat hot grains frequently, oatmeal, buckwheat, quinoa, barley, cracked wheat; this week it's brown rice with cream, brown sugar, bananas and a bit of butter. More fruit on the side and coffee.

[SusieS]

Leftovers from dinner!