A Breakfast Post! Too Many Eggs Follow-Up

So I got lots of great egg options following my Too Many Eggs dilemma. In addition to the comments on that post and some recipes by e-mail, I even got a suggestion (made by a good friend who was clearly joking) that I egg cars.

But ultimately I decided that I would simply whittle away at my eggs by eating two of them for breakfast every day.

I've been frying eggs and eating them over sauteed mustard greens (don't judge till you've tried it; not a far cry from spinach), but this morning I had scrambled eggs with fresh basil and chives, turkey bacon, and a gluten-free toaster waffle (I think I like the gluten ones better). Still, it was a yummy and very satisfying breakfast.

However, I hear a lot and find myself that it's hard to come up with a good breakfast. By that I mean a fast breakfast. I think most people feel this way. I can't ever seem to get to the office before 10 a.m., and while I think this is largely because I don't have a boss or a regular paycheck, it would still make me feel more productive to get there sooner.

Still, there's no doubt that breakfast is important, and honestly, the breakfast above took about 5 minutes to make. While the coconut oil was heating in the pan for the eggs, I stuck the turkey bacon on a broiler pan and into the oven while it preheated to Broil. Then I cracked the eggs and mixed them around in the fry pan for about a minute. Finally I stuck the waffle in the toaster oven for about 3 minutes while the eggs finished cooking. I cut the herbs from my pots and was ready for breakfast.

That said, I've come up with some fast breakfast options out of necessity. They just require a little planning (and shopping) ahead:

• Amy's burritos (frozen, microwavable in 2 minutes, filling, and delicious)
  
• any precooked grain reheated with a little milk or coconut milk, maple syrup, and cinnamon
• Cook eggs and bacon like above and wrap it all up in a tortilla to go
• A banana—while portable and remarkably filling, you'll probably be hungry an hour or so after eating this unless you pair it with some yogurt or a granola bar. I'm not a huge fan of granola bars, but Ken Immer's gRAWnola (available in locally Charleston and hopefully everywhere else) is a great option, as well as Nicole's Nutty Goodness (also local). And of course, if you're eating yogurt, stay away from Yoplait, etc. If you like flavored yogurt or yogurt drinks, try to buy them at Whole Foods or Earth Fare to ensure they have a minimum of additives. Regardless, a banana is better than no breakfast at all.

Now, something for when you're in the mood and have the time for a decadent egg breakfast. This was sent in by one of my readers (my mom). It's from the cookbook Barefoot in Paris, and she's made it for me before, and it's delicious! The heavy cream isn't an everyday food, but don't be afraid of the calories or the fat; it will satisfy you in a healthy way and leave less room for unhealthy cravings later on in the day.


Herbed Baked Eggs
serves 2

• ½ tsp fresh minced garlic, thyme, rosemary, parsley
• 1-2 TBSP freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• 6 eggs
• 2 TBSP heavy cream or half and half
  
• 1 TBSP unsalted butter
• Salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• Toasted French bread

Preheat broiler for 5 min. and place oven rack 6 inches below heat.

Combine the herbs and cheese and set aside. Carefully crack 3 eggs into each of 2 small bowls without breaking the yolks. Place 2 individual gratin dishes or custard cups on a baking sheet and place 1 TBSP of cream and 1/2 TBSP butter in each. Place under the broiler for about 3 min or until butter/cream mixture is hot and bubbly.

Quickly, but gently, pour each bowl full of eggs into each dish, sprinkle with the herbs and cheese/ salt and pepper and place under the broiler for 5 minutes until the whites are almost cooked. Remove from oven and allow eggs to set for a minute. Serve with hot toasted French bread.

This Is Your Brain on Eggs

My mom and I have breakfast every Tuesday, and I was fixing my most recent favorite, a black bean omelet with salsa, when she asked me about eggs citing the recent refutation that eggs contribute towards high cholesterol and heart disease. So I checked out the egg online.

There is actually an organization called the American Egg Board, and they have quite a few interesting things to say about eggs. Eggs contain 13 essential nutrients, and there is actually evidence that one main ingredient, choline, may actually reduce risk of heart disease. Choline also contributes towards brain function "by maintaining the structure of brain cell membranes, and is a key component of the neuro-transmitter that helps relay messages from the brain through nerves to the muscles"—making eggs, along with fish, a great source of protein and "brain food."

Protein for breakfast is important to keep from crashing later in the day, so if you're not into tuna salad at 7 a.m., saute some onions with red peppers, add a couple of eggs, and top with black beans and salsa for a great tasting combo of protein and carbs.