MAKING BREAKFAST EXTRA-SPECIAL

"Breakfast is the most important meal of the day." How many times have you heard that truism without giving it much thought or wondering what it really means? People cite the importance of breakfast for various reasons. Educators say that students who eat breakfast display sharper concentration and memory, don’t run out of steam mid-morning, and tend to do better in school than those who skip the first meal of the day. Nutritionists say people who eat a healthy breakfast are less likely to be overweight or obese, because having breakfast jump starts their metabolism for the day and helps to ensure they will eat a series of small meals rather than loading up on calories in the evening when they won’t get much exercise. Avoiding fatigue, thinking more clearly, and keeping your weight under control are all good reasons to make a healthy breakfast part of your morning routine—but I say they’re not the only reasons. 

If you want to get yourself and your family off to a great start each morning, start at the beginning. Instead of letting everyone rush out the door with nothing to eat—or , nearly as bad, after grabbing just a cup of coffee or a slice of toast—slow things down. Gather everyone around the table, serve them a nutritious breakfast, and take time to let everyone share a few thoughts about the day ahead. To cook a good breakfast for your family and have enough time for them to enjoy it together, everyone may need to get up a little earlier. If that’s what it takes, then do it. The rewards will be worth the extra effort. 

Homemade granola is a great way to start the day.  Serve it over Greek yogurt, in a bowl with milk or eat it plain, by the handful

....our son's favorite method! He eats raw oats right out of the box!

HOMEMADE GRANOLA

Makes 6 Servings

INGREDIENTS

• 3 cups old-fashioned oats
• 2 cups unsweetened coconut chips
• 1 cup chopped dried apricots
• 1/2 cup coarsely chopped pecans
• 3 tablespoons canola oil
• 3 tablespoons real maple syrup
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1/4 tsp. Kosher salt
• Fresh blueberries, for serving
• Sliced fresh strawberries, for serving

WHAT TO DO

• Arrange the racks in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• Toss the oats, coconut chips, apricots and pecans in a large bowl. 
• Whisk together the brown sugar, canola oil, maple syrup, vanilla, and kosher salt in a second bowl and drizzle over the oat mixture. 
• Stir well so everything is evenly coated. Use your hands to toss and make sure every piece of oat is covered.
• Spread the mixture in an even layer on a rimmed baking sheet. 
• Bake until golden and brown, 15 minutes, rotating the baking sheet tray halfway through baking and stirring the granola with a spoon so it will cook evenly. 
• Remove from the oven and pour into a large bowl so it will stop cooking. 
• Let cool before serving.
• Serve over a bowl of Healthy Yogurt and top with berries.

Enjoying a delicious, home-cooked family breakfast sets the stage for a great day. Make a point of having breakfast with everyone in the family at least once this week.....you'll be glad ya did!

ENJOY!

~THE DOMESTIC CURATOR~

RONDA

Chances are you’ll enjoy eating breakfast with your family so much that you’ll want to make it a regular part of your morning routine.