Calling All Cooks! (Breakfast)

THANK YOU!  You guys had awesome lunch ideas, and I can't wait to try them out.

I love Stacy's idea of having a daily theme for lunch (and breakfast).  It's something I've tried in the past and then failed to stick to, but that was with 2 kids.  With 5, I think I'm going to have to be a bit more rigid and organized when it comes to meals.  So while I get that lunch routine worked out on paper... can you send me your easy (and cheap) ideas for breakfast?  

Eggs aren't a problem since we have chickens, but it gets old day after day.  And cold cereal (what I fall back on when I didn't plan ahead) is going to be too pricey for 7. 

Oatmeal is a given for one of our days.  The whole family likes it (well the first 5 anyway, not sure about the next 2).  And it's versatile, depending on the toppings I set out (milk, brown sugar, raisins, craisins, coconut, fresh fruit, etc), or I can opt for instant now and then or baked oatmeal, which they love even more.

I made a dutch puff once (eggs and flour and milk in the blender, baked in butter) and discovered the big benefit to that meal (besides being yummy, and remarkably cheap considering the free eggs) was that I could get up and prepare it, and while it baked, I could wash up the prep dishes, set the table, start some laundry and get my day started while it was baking.  I loved that aspect.  It can also be versatile with different toppings.

Pancakes are a good one for versatility (blueberry, chocolate chip, strawberries and whipped cream, or even waffles).

Quiche, perhaps, though 7 people will probably require 2 pans.  That may have to be one option of many for "egg day" - along with scrambled eggs, omelets and the like.

Muffins?  (We often do those for Sunday since I can make them the night before.)

After that, my ideas get sparse.

What else ya got?  Think easy themes, cheap, but with versatility on the days I'm more adventurous.  What do you make for breakfast at your house?

Comments

[Carrie]

I was going to suggest Puffy Pancake but you already make that but call it Dutch Puff. We make it in a 9x13 and use 6 eggs, 1 1/2 cups flour and 1 1/2 cups milk, that usually feeds all five of us. Brian makes a bacon or sausage egg scramble thingy with potatoes in it and sometimes onion. We tend to eat a lot of cereal or cinnamon toast. Egg sandwiches either like Egg McMuffins (I buy the canadian bacon at Costco) or just fried eggs on toast. We are pretty boring for breakfast, mostly because most of the year the kids eat and then leave for the school bus.

[shawn]

My kids love smoothies - whatever is in the garden or has been frozen from berry season. (Think: free wild blackberries. Pick them away from where traffic is, and where it is obvious they haven't been sprayed. Flash freeze.)To the smoothies I add some milk or a bit of juice, a tiny touch of honey or agave, and flax. (I stay away from soy because of the estrogens, don't think my kids need that!)
Also, potatoes - microwave them whole for a few minutes til they are almost done, then cube and pan fry them with veggies (mushrooms, garlic, onions, peppers, whatever they like), and add a tiny bit of grated cheese on top. Can be made ahead up to the saute part.

I have been lately making sure to add plenty of protein for breakfast, for many health reasons. I buy the big tubs of yogurt, and let them have homemade granola and berries, or just plain. Cottage cheese has the highest protein of vegetarian foods. 21gm. per half cup. :) So even 1/4 cup is a good start for their day, brain function, blood sugar stability, etc.

We also love homemade breakfast cookies - plenty of protein, make ahead by the dozens and freeze, and fairly nutritious when paired with fruit.

I am looking forward to everyone else's ideas too!

[Renee]

We actually have a breakfast plan:

Monday: pancakes
Tuesday: oatmeal and cream of wheat
Wednesday: eggs (with hashbrowns/toast/tortillas etc)
Thursday: oatmeal and cream of wheat
Friday: granola (homemade) or peanut butter toast
Saturday: oatmeal and cream of wheat
Sunday ( a special treat): cold cereal/english muffins/ muffins

This works great, and at this point my children make 100% of the breakfasts. A posted plan works great.

[Steph :o)]

This would be considered a special treat, but my family loves a french toast bake, prepared and refrigerated the night before. (Baked in the morning.) My particular recipe calls for cubed bread, eggs, milk, sugar, blueberries, and cubes of cream cheese. (I add a sprinkle of cinnamon, too.) There are many other variations of this recipe, using veggies and cheese. I don't know how busy your evenings are. :o) Maybe you're too pooped to make a breakfast dish!

Another way to use those free eggs is to make regular french toast. YUMMY!

I love Shawn's idea for smoothies. I add soy-free protein powder to mine -- but not much. The kids think it's "yucky." LOL! Flaxseed is a great addition. Good Omega-3's and fiber. Blend 'em up in the smoothies and the kids don't even know they're there. :o)

[rebecca m]

We make something called Honey Oven Toast which would accompany a meal of eggs or smoothies well.
Actually we usually just eat it with a half a banana and a glass of milk.
I like it because our toaster makes only two "toasts" at once and in the oven you can make many "toasts"!

I spread butter, drizzle honey and sprinkle cinnamon to taste on several pieces of bread as they wait on a cookie sheet for the oven to heat up to 350 degrees. I heat them in the oven for 5-6 minutes. Then they're done!

I make 6 pieces or so for my four small kids but one could make a lot more if needed. And when I've used home made bread on occaision, it's much yummier to me- the kids prefer the thinner slices of store bread because they don't know what's good for 'em.... yet.

[Carolynn Slocum]

We have a meal plan too:
Monday: Oatmeal
Tuesday: Oatmeal
Wednesday: Oatmeal
Thursday: Oatmeal
Friday: Oatmeal
Saturday: Pancakes
Sunday: Whatever Sean feels like cooking
Aaron does Monday thru Friday in the Rice Cooker and it is one less meal I need to think about.

[Stacy]

Oh my word I am totally laughing at Carolynn's meal plan. So, basically: OATMEAL! :) Love it. I could never do it but I think it's GREAT! :)

*cereal
*oatmeal
*breakfast burritos
*muffins (I make a bran muffin recipe that keeps in the fridge for 6 weeks and make some each week)
*toast (w/ honey, peanut butter, jam or butter)
*pancakes (swedish or regular)
*french toast
*waffles
*eggs (hard-boiled or fried. my kids *love* hard-boiled)
*english muffins
*bagels
*yogurt
*fresh fruit
*smoothies
*strudel
*coffee cake
*egg sandwiches (egg on toast or an english muffin with ham or bacon and cheese)
*egg in the middle (where you cut a hole in the middle of your toast, put it on the griddle, and put your egg in the hole and fry it. have you done this?)
*egg dish (eggs, meat, cheese, milk with whatever other ingredients in a 9x13 pan and then cooked)

Wow. Look at all those breakfast options! Too bad I don't have those all listed in one spot for myself. I'll have to do so.

That being said, we *usually* rotate between:
muffins
toast
yogurt (not on its own, usually w/ toast or eggs)
eggs
cold cereal
oatmeal
breakfast burritos
pancakes (we have these every Friday)

On Mark's day off I usually try to do something like coffee cake or an egg dish or strudel. Or we go get donuts.

Sundays we *always* have cereal because it's quick and we're always in a hurry.

I adore smoothies, but Ella and Isaac won't touch them, so I don't make them regularly.

Can you tell I love these posts? So practical, gleaning ideas from one another regarding something we all do daily! :)

~Stacy

[Syndi]

I'm not a morning person so it's got to be quick and not require a lot of thought. Actually at this point Ben is often the one doing the cooking.

Usually we have toast and scrambled eggs or oatmeal. On days when I feel ambitious I make french toast, biscuits and gravy, yogurt with granola or pancakes. My family also likes hash browns or fried potatoes and of course sausage & bacon but those aren't everyday fare. We like muffins for breakfast too. :]

[JoAnn]

First time to respond to your blog stuff.
We do a regular round of top ramen here.
You can add hard boiled eggs, chopped or sliced and any cheap lunch meat to it at the table (even bacon bits)
Plus the kids can make it themselves, which is great!