I sit here today writing this blog after hearing about the passing of Robin Williams. My heart aches. For some reason I always loved that guy. He made me laugh and cry and we carried the same name. It reminds me of how short life truly is and how precious it is. Psalm 144:4 tells us that "Man is like a fleeting breath; His days are a passing shadow." As a dear friend reminded me today, no one ever died wishing they had done more dishes or cleaned just a bit more. As my son prepares to leave for college next week all I wish was that I had spent more time, hugged him more and shared Jesus even more. The dishes can wait. The dust can wait. The sweeping can wait. Your family can't wait.
After saying all that I feel kind of silly offering tips for breakfast but it's not. Many moms suffer from depression, sadness and just feeling overwhelmed. With carpools, sports, music classes, bake sales, PTA and church events we NEED tips to help us make our lives easier so that we can truly invest in what's most important, our families. Let's talk breakfast!
Chef Robin's Top Breakfast Tips for the New School Year
1) K.I.S.S - Keep it Simple Suga - Meals should not be difficult. They can be healthy and simple. I still purchase Morning Star veggie sausage patties, cheese and whole grain english muffins. A breakfast sandwich in less than 5 minutes. Add a yogurt and some fruit and the kids OR YOU are good to go. You can even tell the kids it's better than McDonalds. :-)
2) Your Freezer is your Friend! I still make waffles and french toast ahead of time and freeze them. They can be reheated in the microwave or the oven in just a few minutes. Today's recipe is for my Cinnamon Peach Waffles with Caramelized Pecans. YUMMY!
3) Use your crockpot - Once the weather gets a little cooler I'll blog about my recipe for how to make oatmeal in the crockpot. Yeah, game changer.
4) Plan breakfast. We tend to only think of dinner and maybe lunch. Plan your breakfast. No one wants to be foggy in the morning and have to figure out why they don't have enough milk for the cereal.
5) Speaking of cereal, if you offer it to your children please try to offer those that have no sugar or are lower in sugar. The dyes are also a problem. They are connected to behavior problems in children. Most commercial cereals have very little calories to get our kids through to lunch. If you do offer cereal make sure it's whole grain and try to round it out with some protein (yogurt or nuts are a great option) AND some fruit.
6) To keep them full and healthy offer three of the five food groups and always try to get in "PFF" - Protein, Fiber, Fat - Lean protein such as eggs, nuts, nut butters and yogurt are great for kids. Fiber - Whole grains such as cereals, breads, fruit and veggies have fiber and healthy carbs for energy! Fats - We all need some good fats for our skin, hair and brain function. Don't make it too hard, you can get all that in a fruit parfait with yogurt, berries and granola. EASY!
7) Breakfast does NOT have to be breakfast food. Leftover chicken with rice and veggies are great for breakfast. A sandwich with some fruit is a good option as well. Don't stress. Just make sure they eat something!
8) Smoothies are also your friend. Add some carrots with strawberries and banana or spinach with blueberries and pineapple. Your kids will love it!! Add yogurt or milk (I use soy or almond) for some protein and they are good to go!
9) Model breakfast eating for your children. Sit down with them, if only for a few minutes. It not only starts your day off with peace but you are the role model for your child. It's also better for your health. You can't help your kids if you are draggy.
10) Let go of the "Mommy Guilt". You are not Martha Stewart or (even though I love her) the 100 Days of Real Food lady. It's ok!! Don't try to make new recipes every day. Once a week try something new.
Cinnamon Peach Waffles with Caramelized Pecans
(Pecans are optional)
Servings: 16 Preparation Time: 20 minutes Cook Time: 6-7 minutes
2 cups whole wheat flour
1/4 cup sugar
3 tablespoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 cups milk
3 eggs
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup fresh (ripe) peaches, diced
Combine flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in a bowl.
Mix egg yolks, oil and milk and add to dry ingredients until combined.
Beat egg whites until stiff peaks form
Gently fold in egg whites. Fold in peaches
Use approximately 1/3 cup of batter per waffle.
Bake on waffle iron as per manufacturers instructions.
Keep waffles warm in a low oven as you make them, then serve; best when served with real maple syrup and caramelized pecans.
Serve with Caramelized Pecans - Toss ½ cup pecans with ¼ cup brown sugar and ¼ cup butter. Allow to brown and caramelize in a saute pan, on medium low, for 4-5 minutes. Pour mixture onto a piece of wax paper and allow to begin to harden. Break into pieces and process in the food processor until it comes to your desired consistency.
1 comment :
This is Perfect!!! Thanks so much Robin!
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