Quick & Easy
Back to School Breakfasts
by Belinda Mooney

Back to school means rushed mornings. This means we often grab something quick on the way out the door or we go without. Here are some easy to prepare foods that will make breakfast a snap and may even save your parents a few dollars. You can even make it easier by preparing many of them the night before and heating them up in the microwave in the morning.

Make Your Own Instant Oatmeal
Ingredients
• 3 cup Quick oats
• salt
• sugar (optional)
• powdered milk
• Ziploc sandwich baggies

Blend 1 cup oats in a blender, 1/2 cup at a time, until powdery. Into each sandwich bag you want to put 1/4 cup of quick oats, 2 Tablespoons of the powdered oats, 1 teaspoon powdered milk, 1/8 teaspoon of salt and small amount of sugar if you like. This will make 8 - 10 packets.
To cook the oatmeal - dump the packet into the bowl and add 3/4 boiling water. (Adult suprevision required). Let stand for two minutes. YUM!

Here are some ideas for different flavors:

Brown Sugar/Cinnamon Oatmeal - To each packet add 1 tablespoon brown sugar & 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon or to make Apple & Cinnamon add 2 tablespoons dried apples instead of brown sugar.
Oatmeal w/Raisins & Brown Sugar - To each packet add 1 tablespoon packed brown sugar and 1 tablespoon raisins.
Peaches & Cream Oatmeal - To each packet add 1 tablespoon non-dairy coffee creamer and 2 tablespoon. dried peaches or use dried fruit and make Cherries & Cream, Strawberries & Cream or Blueberries & Cream
Nutty Oatmeal - add 1/2 teaspoon chopped nuts and 1/2 teaspoon wheat germ.

Canadian Bacon Breakfast Bagels
Make these ahead of time and freeze them individually until ready to use.
Ingredients
• 6 slices HORMEL® Canadian Bacon (cooked)
• 2 tablespoons butter or margarine
• 6 eggs, beaten
• 6 slices (1-ounce each) American Cheese
• 6 bagels, sliced and toasted

In skillet, sauté Canadian Bacon over medium heat until lightly browned. Remove from skillet; keep warm. In same skillet, melt butter; pour in beaten eggs. Cook and stir to desired doneness. Layer scrambled eggs, Canadian Bacon and cheese on bagel bottom. Cover with bagel top. Reheat in microwave 1 - 2 minutes.
Here's a quick tip for everyone who likes cold cereal and milk for breakfast from Terra Wellington, Wellness editor of REAL magazine.
“The quickest and easiest breakfast is a bowl of cereal and glass of 100 percent juice, such as orange juice, apple juice, or cranberry juice. If you can add a fresh fruit, such as a banana, orange, plum, or grapefruit, you are doing even better. Look for cereals that have at least 1 gram of fiber. That doesn’t seem like much, but many cereals have no fiber or will list something like “<1 g” which means there is less than a gram of fiber.
“Also, look for cereals that have wheat flour or oat bran listed in the ingredients. Wheat is especially good because it will sustain energy levels longer. Also, when possible, compare the sugar content of your choice of cereals; it’s hard to keep sugar down, but just look to make the best selection with the least amount of sweetener. Some examples of some cereals that might work are wheat puffs, frosted shredded wheat squares, and Life.”

Scrumptious Cinnamon Toast
Makes 2 servings
Ingredients
• 2 slices whole wheat bread
• 2 teaspoons butter or margarine
• 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Toast bread to desired darkness in a toaster. Spread butter or margarine onto one side of each toast slice. In a small cup or bowl, stir together the sugar and cinnamon, if not already mixed in advance. Sprinkle generously over both hot slices of buttered toast. With the butter spreader, smear the cinnamon/sugar mixture until melted into each slice of toast. Enjoy while warm!

Fruit Sundae Cones
Makes 6 servings.
Ingredients
• ¾ cup cut-up strawberries
• 3 cups cut-up fruits such as apples, bananas, cherries,
seedless red grapes, kiwifruit, plums, and/or peaches
• 6 large waffle cones
• ¼ cup toasted coconut (optional)

Place strawberries in blender container; cover and blend until smooth. Place desired fruit in bowl; gently toss together. Spoon fruit into cones. Drizzle with the strawberry puree. If desired, top with coconut.

Ambrosia
Makes 4 servings
A perfect mixture of citrus graced with orange marmalade and lemon yogurt
Ingredients
• 3 oranges, peeled and sectioned
• 2 small grapefruits, peeled and sectioned
• ½ cup orange marmalade
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 8-ounce containers fat-free lemon yogurt
• 2 tablespoons shredded coconut

Combine sectioned fruit in medium bowl. Add marmalade and vanilla and stir gently to coat all citrus sections. Spoon equal amount into 4 glasses or fruit bowls. Spoon and spread 4 ounces of lemon yogurt on top of each portion and top with shredded coconut. Chill for 20-30 minutes before serving. From 5 a Day the Color Way.