April Fool’s Day was yesterday and it’s a fun time to play a practical joke or shake up your usual routine.  Some families I know will have dinner for breakfast and breakfast for dinner on April Fool’s Day, which is especially fun for kids.  However, having breakfast for dinner isn’t something that should be a once-a-year occasion!  Having breakfast for dinner once a month (or even once a week) is a great way to have a quick, inexpensive, satisfying meal.

            Because Easter is just around the corner, eggs seem to be on sale everywhere right now.  Eggs will keep a few weeks past the “Sell By” date stamped on them, so it’s a good time to stock up on a few dozen.  And even without a sale, eggs are still a cheap source of protein.  Pancakes and waffles are also a great breakfast-for-dinner option.  Recently, my Uncle John Phetteplace gave me his coveted homemade pancake recipe.  They are the most delicious, fluffiest pancakes I’ve ever had!  Fortunately, he’s agreed to let me share the recipe with you.  Once you’ve tried them, you’ll have a hard time going back to a boxed mix.

            This week, I’m going to give you seven different ideas for making a great breakfast dinner for your family.

1.  Omelets ~ Make a “build-your-own-omelet” station.  Set out several types of cheeses, chopped veggies, diced ham, and bacon or sausage crumbles.  Let each family member whip up their own omelet masterpiece!

2.  Pancakes ~ Mix it up and try different add-ins in your pancake batter, such as chocolate chips, pureed ripe banana, nuts, or berries.  Do you like pineapple upside down cake?  Put a pineapple ring with a cherry in the middle on the skillet and ladle the pancake batter on top for a real treat!

 3.  Breakfast Casserole ~ The great thing about breakfast casseroles is that they taste better when they have been refrigerated for at least a few hours or overnight.  You could whip one up and put it in the fridge on a Sunday night so that on Monday after work, you’ll just need to pop it in the oven.  If you don’t already have a recipe for a great breakfast casserole, you can find one here.

 4.     Egg Sandwiches ~ Just like regular sandwiches, you can jazz up your egg sandwiches however you’d like!  Think beyond the stand-by toppings of bacon, sausage, and cheese.  My favorite egg sandwich is an egg and cheese panini with pesto, sundried tomatoes, and fresh spinach leaves – yum!  Experiment with different types of breads, English muffins, and bagels, too.

 5.     Waffles ~ Sure, waffles are great with butter and syrup, but why not try topping your waffles with yogurt, fruit, and nuts for a change?  Top two waffles with vanilla yogurt, pineapple tidbits, and chopped macadamia nuts for a tropical treat!

 6.     Breakfast Burritos ~ Stuff your burritos with scrambled eggs, sausage, cheese, and your favorite veggies for a satisfying meal.

 7.     Cereal ~ When you’re just too tired for anything else, there’s nothing wrong with having a bowl of cereal and milk for dinner.

Uncle John’s Pancakes

• 1 cup of vanilla yogurt
• 1 cup of milk
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten
• ¼ cup of melted butter

 Mix together the first four ingredients.

•  2 cups flour (I use 1 cup white and 1 cup whole wheat)
• 2 tsp. baking powder
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1 tsp. sugar
• 1 tsp. salt

 Blend dry ingredients together in a separate bowl.  Add yogurt, milk, egg, and butter mixture to the blended dry ingredients.  (Add blueberries or other add-ins of your choice.)  Fry in a non-stick pan over medium heat.