Back to school breakfast recipes

2 C of flour
1 C of sugar
2 t baking powder
1 t baking soda
1 t cinnamon
1/2 t salt
1/2 t ground ginger
1/2 t ground cloves
2 eggs
1 3/4 C of buttermilk
3 T of vegetable oil
1 3/4 C of apples, peeled and shredded
1/2 C of pecans, chopped

Toss together in a large mixing bowl the flour, sugar, baking powder and soda.
Add in the cinnamon, salt, ginger and cloves and toss again to combine.
Break the two eggs into a separate bowl.
Pour the buttermilk and oil into the eggs and whisk until completely combined.
Fold in the apples and pecans until blended in well.
Grease a griddle or skillet and place over medium heat.
Pour the batter by 1/4 C on to the hot griddle.
Cook 4 minutes or until bubbles begin to appear around the edges.
Flip and continue cooking an additional 4 minutes or until golden brown.

Makes 1 1/2 dozen flapjacks

These flapjacks are not only sweet but filled with spices. They make breakfast a special event. Serve them with apple jelly instead of syrup for something a little special. Leftovers can be frozen for up to 2 months.

I want to add at this point as well that despite what you may have heard; eggs and sausage on occasion is NOT a bad thing. There should be moderation in all things but always try to include foods from all of the food groups every day. That being said, there is also nothing wrong with spreading cream cheese on a tortilla and slicing some fruit on top, rolling it up and handing it to the kids for breakfast. That one they wlll probably love!

Parents have a lot to worry about these days. We are in tough economic times, most of us have our own jobs we need to tend to; then there is the housekeeping, PTA and everything else that takes up our time and energy. Balance, balance, balance. As noted, bacon and eggs or sausage and eggs on occasion won't hurt. Neither will the occasional yogurt and fig newtons for a snack. As long as there is balance in the long run, don't let the food gurus scare you.

Breakfast is probably the meal that is skipped the most because people are either in a hurry and don't have time, they don't feel like eating or don't have an appetite early in the morning. However, as studies have shown, breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Eating breakfast gets your metabolism going, supplies your energy for the day and stabilizes your blood sugar levels.

To help with the issue of not enough time to make breakfast and to give you some added motivation to encourage you to eat breakfast, here are some great tasting breakfast ideas that you can make ahead and freeze. Then all you have to do is grab them, heat up quickly in the microwave, and go!

Quiche Cups

Quiche cups are easy, quick and healthy to make. You can use a wide variety of ingredients and they heat up in as fast as 30 seconds in the microwave. Plus they are easy to eat on the go.
Simply whip up some eggs in a bowl (you can use egg substitutes if you desire). Then add any of the following ingredients you wish.

Shredded cheese (cheddar, mozzarella, Colby)
Chopped onion
Chopped, cooked spinach
Mushrooms
Diced ham
Crumbled sausage
Bacon, chopped
Chopped green peppers

You can use any combination of vegetables, meats and cheeses to suit your taste buds.
Mix well, and then pour the egg mixture into a muffin pan lined with small cupcake holders. Bake on 350F for 20 minutes. Let cool. Place two to four cups in quart size freezer baggies and freeze. When re-heating, place in microwave for 30 seconds to one minute. Grab and go!

Peanut Butter and Jelly Pancake Roll Ups

Another idea for a quick, easy-to-reheat, on-the-go breakfast is to make extra pancakes on Saturday morning. Freeze the extra pancakes in a large freezer bag. When you need a quick, hot breakfast, grab a couple, place on a paper towel or paper plate, then microwave for 30 seconds to a minute. Spread with peanut butter and jelly, roll up and go.

Sausage Biscuits

When you are making Sunday morning breakfast, be sure to make some extra sausage patties for these delicious, on-the-go sausage biscuit sandwiches.

Prepare a can of refrigerated biscuit dough (usually makes about 8 biscuits) according to package directions. Place a cooked sausage patty between two biscuits and freeze in a quart size freezer bag.

To microwave, remove from freezer bag, wrap in a paper towel and microwave for 1 minute to 1.5 minutes. You can add a slice of cheese if you prefer before heating. Grab and go.

Breakfast Burritos

Growing up in the Southwest, I usually like to throw a Mexican or Spanish twist to lots of the foods my family eats. Here's a favorite that can be made ahead, frozen and reheated.
Combine scrambled eggs with your favorite ingredients, like: chopped onion, chopped green pepper, diced ham, crumbled sausage, mushrooms, olives, diced tomato, sliced jalapenos and shredded cheese. Place on flour tortilla and sprinkle with hot sauce. Roll up and secure with toothpick if necessary. Place in freezer bag and freeze. When reheating, place burrito in a paper towel and microwave for 30 seconds to one minute. Grab and go!

With a little planning and thinking ahead, breakfast doesn't have to be a cold bowl of cereal, or non-existent!

One way to get the nutrition we need to start our day is by making a morning smoothie, shake or other breakfast drink. As moms we don't think we always have the time to make a smoothie in the morning with all the slicing and blending required. But, with the following recipes, you will find there is little or no slicing required, and they are made with ingredients you probably already have on hand.

Easy Orange Cream Smoothie

Combine the following ingredients in blender for a quick and easy, but delicious smoothie:
1-6 oz. can frozen orange juice concentrate
1 cup water
1 cup milk
1/4 sugar
1 tsp vanilla
10 ice cubes

If you don't have frozen orange juice use regular and omit the water. Pour into containers and freeze for consumption at a later time, if needed. Since this recipe is so easy, however, you may find you have time to whip it up in the morning.

Easy Banana Latte Smoothie

This is another easy to make smoothie recipe especially for coffee lovers.

1 cup milk
3/4 cup strong coffee, chilled
2 bananas
6 ice cubes

Combine all of the above ingredients and blend until smooth.

No Monkey Business Here Smoothie

Kids will enjoy this one, as well as adults.

1 cup milk
1/2 cup vanilla ice cream
2 tbsp. peanut butter
1 banana, frozen

Break banana into chunks, then combine with other ingredients and blend until smooth. This smoothie is thick enough to eat with a spoon. To thin it out some, add more milk until you get the desired consistency.

Berry Fruity Smoothie

This recipe calls for frozen fruit and you can use whatever combination of fruit you like or have on hand.

1 cup frozen fruit
1 cup milk
1 tsp. vanilla
1/4 cup sugar

Combine all ingredients and blend until smooth. Easy-schmeezy and ready in just a couple of minutes.

Making smoothies and serving them for breakfast is not only a fun treat your kids will love, but they will also give you the needed nutrition to start your day. Next time you don't have time to cook breakfast, think smoothie.