When it comes to winter, it’s easy to feel down and, with the passing of the holiday season, it might feel like there’s not a lot to look forward to until spring. Getting through the cold snap is all about taking care of yourself, starting from the moment that you wake up. Beginning the day with a hearty breakfast is a great way to put a spring in your step, even if the real season is still months away. When it comes to winter breakfasts, it pays to be even kinder to yourself than normal and, while these recipes might seem too indulgent to whip out every morning, allowing yourself them once or twice a week is more than enough to cheer up any gray day.
With minimal work and maximum flavor, these tasty breakfast treats are guaranteed to make it feel like a sunny day, even if it’s still January.
Sometimes, you want a breakfast food that covers all corners and incorporating a number of ingredients into one dish is a great way to go. Whipping up a breakfast casserole couldn’t be easier and in the heart of winter, is the perfect way to get that cosy feeling from the start of your day. This one comes packed with sausages, cheese and a crispy dough base that is bound to keep you going for hours. Make it the night before and finish it off the in oven; you won’t say no to grilled cheese, even at 7am.
We all know that pancakes are the breakfast of kings – or should that be queens? – but even they can stand a little adaptation from time to time. Finished off with ginger, vanilla and molasses, these gingerbread pancakes are as sweet as they come. If the recipe is a little on the saccharine side for you, you can try cutting down on the extra sugar or syrup and serve them up with a side of fresh fruit. Complete with a cup of coffee, these will more than put a smile on your face in the morning.
Packed with potato, smoked haddock and the fluffiest eggs you can imagine, the breakfast frittata takes a lot of beating. While it has all the makings of an omelette, the frittata comes filled with a little extra flavor punch, which will keep your senses alive in the morning. If you’re not a fan of smoked haddock, you can try substituting it for a different type of fish such as mackerel, or foregoing it entirely. The beauty of the recipe is the ease with which it can be adapted; you’re always in charge.
When the words “breakfast” and “cake” come together in a sentence, you know that you’re in for a treat. Packed full of buttermilk, this breakfast cake is as light and fluffy as they come and is in no risk of drying out after a day or two. While the recipe calls for a large quantity of ingredients, it means that batching out the cake into smaller portions is much easier. You can slice up your breakfast for the week to come or, if you want to be really nice, hand slices around when you get to the office. You’re guaranteed to be the most popular member of the team.
Starting your day off with a hearty breakfast doesn’t mean that you have to forgo healthy eating entirely and if you’re looking for a way to eat well and stay full, then this french toast recipe might be the answer. Adding whole grain bread, coconut oil, almond butter and fresh berries into the mix, this recipe is a great deal nicer than its name suggests and won’t leave you feeling heavy for hours afterwards. Serve it up with freshly sliced banana and a green tea and you’re onto a healthy breakfast winner!
While eating well is a great way of feeling your best during the winter season, allowing yourself an indulgence from time to time is the perfect way to treat yourself when the outside world is blowing a storm. Making your mornings all about great food ensures that you will feel much happier throughout the day, even if things elsewhere don’t go entirely to plan. There’s always tomorrow for that!