TGIB

I love food.  I really, really love food, but dammit, why does it take up so much of my time (unless of course it comes in a box, in which case, is that really food)?  Shopping for it, preparing it, cleaning it up later.  Ain't no body got time for that!

Thankfully, there is breakfast. In our household, we have breakfast for dinner at least twelve times a week, and luckily my daughter still thinks that is a treat.  We love it, and it is so quick and easy ... I mean, how long does it take to whip up some scrambled eggs.  No longer than it takes to throw some bread in the toaster and some bacon in the microwave (and for those of you out there thinking "Eww, microwaving meat ...", just shhh.  Try it, about one minute per slice, you'll thank me later).  And don't get me started on the magic that is Biscuits and Gravy.

Funnily enough, though, we never seem to have breakfast for breakfast.  Driving to school the other day, the Toots looks over at me and asks, "Mommy, how come I never get breakfast before school?"  After my initial wave of panic over being a negligent mother passes, I think back on all the wasted bowls of cereal and half-eaten PopTarts and realize she's asked a really great question.  "I don't know, baby, why don't you ever eat your breakfast before school?"  Well as it turns out, I'm raising a real food snob here (she doesn't want junk?!?!  Score one for Mommy!) and she wants me to cook her breakfast in the mornings (okay, maybe take back that score for a minute). 

So I really am not trying to raise a spoiled girl here, but if she is asking for more wholesome food in the morning, I'm gonna do what I can.  Losing that extra 15 minutes of sleep in the morning will be worth it.  And I'm making her get her butt out of bed to help, 'cause baby girl is just as lazy as her mama in the mornings, and if I'm suffering for the sake of nutrition, you can bet she will be too.  Seriously, it has been a good time preparing breakfast together in the mornings, even if her part is usually to sit in one of the bar stools and tell me about her dreams the night before while she finishes waking up.  On good days, she'll even make the eggs!  Having involved her in the planning and letting her choose what we have, I find there are fewer half eaten meals and more "I'm sorry, baby, you don't have time for seconds."

Some of her quick and easy favorties are:

• Peanut butter toast and bananas
• Scrambled eggs with bacon
• Overnight French Toast (find it here; top with some fruit instead of syrup to ease your Mommy conscience)
• Sausage or bacon breakfast sandwiches (make the biscuits ahead of time)
• Strawberry Smoothies

Of course, we'll always have Donut Wednesdays.