When I originally imagined this blog it was going to be me doing fabulous things in fabulous places, eating fabulous foods with other fabulous people. But like, I just can’t keep up with that level of fabulousness. I’m going to leave that to you millennials. I’m too tired.
Most days if I get a chance to shove a slice of cheese and a few Triscuits into my mouth when I get home it’s a win. Triscuits are good. Cheese is great. Neither is fabulous.
But I do eat. And I do cook. What I lack in time and money for social dining on a regular basis, I make up for with a robust library of cookbooks, some of my mom’s best recipes, and a few tried and true staples in heavy rotation.
On weekends I make a big breakfast for everyone in the house. Eggs, bacon, sausage, pancakes, french toast. It is a feeding frenzy. High calorie, high sugar, high level of work! But also some serious High-5s for mom with their sugar and batter, and meat-filled bellies. I eat some eggs and bacon and just appreciate that they all get exactly what they want and that we get to eat together.
Weekdays are just for me. I will not be standing at the stove for 30 minutes watching the bacon bake and flipping pancakes. I also firmly believe that a protein-packed breakfast is the best and most important meal of the day. Which means I need something quick and healthy.
Know this! No matter what anyone tells you, you DO have time to make a healthy breakfast. Don’t settle for snack bars and donuts!!
So today I am sharing with you my standard weekday breakfast.
Meat & Veggie Fried Eggs
Ingredients below.
- 2 eggs (if you want more throw some egg whites in)
- 2 cups spinach (if you know spinach you know why)
- additional veggies (if desired)
- 2 turkey sausage patties or 2 pieces bacon
- 2 slices of deli meat (chicken, turkey, or ham)
- salsa (as much as you want)
- guacamole (2 tbsps) or 1/2 an avocado
- tumeric and pepper
*note that these vegetables can be interchanged with any veggies you have in your fridge. Some days I just throw in the leftover Florentine from the previous night’s dinner.
The very long list of instructions…
if you’re into hot add some fresh sliced jalapeños here too!
- Heat the pan to medium/medium high
- Cut up your meats and throw them in the pan
- Add the salsa, and the guacamole/avocado
- Heat it to warm (not too long-just long enough to take the chill off
- Throw the 2 cups (and only 14 calories) of spinach on the top. **You may be saying “Good Lord! Why would anyone want that much spinach? And how big of a plate do you need for that much spinach? But spinach is super low in calories and shrinks up to the size of parsley when cooked.
- Turn the heat down to medium/medium low
- Clear two holes in that pan for the eggs. You want your egg bottoms to cook faster without over cooking the eggs
- Pepper to taste (not salt)
- Cover and turn to low (about 2-3 minutes)
- Remove from heat and let rest uncovered. The egg whites should be solid but the yolk should have some jiggle.
Post-cooking instructions
- Begin yelling at children that they only have 5 more minutes until it’s time to go. This is a lie. They have 10 minutes. But they lollygag so you won’t actually “go” for another 15 minutes-meaning you’re late.
- Look for shoes. Yes. You did put their shoes by the front door last night but now they are not there. And also-where are your shoes? Shit!
- Walk swiftly through the house repeating “Let’s go! Let’s go! Let’s go!” Over and over again while looking for shoes—and also keys! Shit!
- Get out the door and realize you forgot to grab your coffee. Go back in while kids get in car.
- Get back out the door and realize you forgot your amazing breakfast. Go back in.
- Get back out the door and have your daughter tell you she has to potty. Go back in.
- Leave house 20 minutes after initial “5 minute” announcement. Shit!
Now remember, this is a weekday breakfast. There will be no picture of this dish beautifully plated with mimosa(s) and cloth napkins. This meal gets thrown into Tupperware and thrown in my backpack. I eat at my desk and spend that time overlapping while I read email and review my daily meetings.
The setting isn’t romantic. The timing isn’t always ideal. But the breakfast? The breakfast is FABULOUS!