Breakfasts that can set you off to a fast start in the mornings

If you’re like me and every minute counts for that extra sleep in the morning and getting up is just too hard, well here’s something that may change your mind.

The latest reports are that breakfast is your most important meal and that expressions like “Breakfast like a King” “Lunch like a Prince” and “Dinner like a Pauper” are good advice.

One reason why breakfast is so important is that it can make the difference between good humor or a contagious crank.

Active people need a hearty breakfast meal packed with protein to start the day.

Lunch should be light and mellow and if there is to be no late dancing afoot, dinner should be the lightest of all three meals.

Once your breakfast starts to become a lively imaginative meal, the morning will be something to look forward to and those hot summer nights will be cooler with a light stomach.

There are many scrumptious dishes for breakfast and here are just a few:

PORTUGUESE EGGS

Cut the top off a ripe, juicy tomato; scoop out the seeds and core. Season inside with salt and pepper, add a few snips of fresh basil.  Break an egg into the cavity and bake in a hot oven until the egg is set.

This method poaches the egg in the juice of the tomato which is very tasty and light.  Several can be done in one pan.

RICE CAKES

One and one-fourth cup rice, boiled, still hot

½ stick butter

2 cups of milk

¼ teaspoon salt

Two eggs, lightly beaten

1 cup flour

Stir butter into rice; add milk, salt, eggs; mix well.  Sprinkle in flour and knead into a soft dough.  Divide into ½ inch thick patties and cook on a hot griddle until both sides are brown and crisp.

If the rice cakes are not crisp enough, they can be dried out a little in a warm oven.  Make four servings.

GIANT EGG ROLL

Two eggs

¼ cup flour

½ teaspoon salt

½ cup milk

Two Tablespoons butter

Crisp filling (recipe below)

Slightly beat eggs with salt.  Add flour and beat until smooth.  Add milk and beat again until smooth.  Heat butter in a large heavy frying pan over medium-high heat until it bubbles.  Add batter. Transfer to a 350-degree oven and bake for 25 minutes.  Gently loosen pancake with a flexible spatula and slip onto a serving platter.  Spoon the crisp filling inside and roll the pancake up like a jelly roll.

Crisp filling; ½ cup bean sprouts, ten green onions cut into julienne strips, ½ cup cooked ham or chicken.  Fill above ingredients inside the giant egg roll.  Be imaginative and have fun with unusual fillings

BREAKFAST SHAKE

¾ cup plain low-fat yogurt or 1 cup buttermilk

¼ cup low-fat milk

1 cup fresh fruit, like mango or pineapple-the riper the better

1 teaspoon sugar

½ teaspoon vanilla

Three ice cube or ¼ cup crushed ice

Place all the ingredients in a blender and process until well combined.  Serve immediately.

LOW-FAT BREAKFAST DANISH

1 cup low-fat cottage cheese

Cinnamon-sugar mixture

Four slices of bread

Divide the cottage cheese among the four pieces of bread. Spread the cottage cheese evenly then sprinkle with the cinnamon-sugar mixture.  Place under broiler for a few minutes till cottage cheese and cinnamon-sugar mixture hot.