Quiche can be made ahead and nuked. They freeze well, too.

This strata is delish and I make it ahead often. In fact I am making it on Saturday for a family brunch I am hosting on Sunday. If there are any leftovers I'll have them for breakfast during the week.

Potato Florentine Strata
source: Byerly's

INGREDIENTS
1 (26 ounce) package frozen country style hash browns, thawed
1 medium onion, minced, (1 cup), divided
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon seasoned pepper medley
2 tablespoons melted butter
3 cups half and half
6 eggs, slightly beaten
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon fines herbes
1/2 teaspoon seasoned pepper medley
3 cups finely shredded colby and Monterey Jack cheese
1 (10 ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed, completely drained
1/2 cup marinated sun dried tomatoes, drained, chopped

DIRECTIONS
Press hash browns with paper towels to absorb moisture. In large bowl, combine hash browns, 1/2 cup onion, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper medley. Press into bottom of buttered 9x13 inch glass baking dish. Brush with melted butter. Bake in a preheated 425 degree oven until lightly browned around edges (20-25 minutes). In large bowl, whisk together half and half, eggs, 1 teaspoon salt, fines herbes and 1/2 teaspoon pepper medley. Stir in cheese, spinach, remaining 1/2 cup onion and tomatoes. Pour mixture over potato crust. Bake, uncovered, in a preheated 350 degree oven until center is set (35-45 minutes). Let stand, covered, 10 minutes; cut into squares.
Amount: 8-10 servings

Linda

1. Try returning frozen French Toast or Pancakes to the griddle for a few minutes, instead of the microwave. You may like the re-heated product much better.

2. Quick breads can be sliced and portioned in the freezer. I sometimes prepare them like I would French Toast.

3. Bread pudding can be made ahead and portioned in the freezer. Add some extra fruit on the top when serving.

4. Make-ahead breakfast casseroles can be portioned, frozen and reheated.

5. Make-ahead Breakfast Burritos
1 dozen eggs
1 pound cubed ham
1 cup grated or cubed cheese
Salt and pepper to taste
8 tortillas (flour holds together better; you can also use pita or naan bread)

Beat the eggs until blended, then scramble in a large skillet. Stir in the cubed ham and cheese just when the eggs are almost done. Salt and pepper to taste. Let the mixture cool, then divide evenly among the tortillas. Wrap each tortilla individually in wax paper, then store all in airtight containers in the refrigerator (up to one week) or freezer (up to three months).

6. Spread an oatmeal pancake with peanut butter and wrap it around a peeled banana.

7. Homemade protein bars:
1 1/4 c. chocolate protein powder
1 c peanut butter
1/2 c honey
1 1/2 c. oldfashioned oats

Melt honey and peanut butter together in microwave, mix in dry ingredients, press into an ungreased square pan. Chill for 1 hour. Cut into 9 bars.

8. A great recipe posted here by glenda al Aug. 27, 2007
BACON BREAKFAST COOKIES
1/2 pound bacon
1/2 cup butter
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg
1 cup of flour
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
2 cups of multi-grain flakes or corn flakes
1/2 cup raisins (optional)

Cook bacon until very crisp, drain well and break into 1/2 inch pieces. Beat together butter and sugar till light and fluffy. Beat in egg. Combine flour and baking soda; stir into butter mixture. Stir in bacon, mult-grain flakes and raisins.

Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet. Space 2 inches apart. Bake for 15-18 minutes. Remove to rack to cool--about 2 minutes, then remove from rack. Store in refrigerator.

-Grainlady

any cooked cereal not of the instant type will reheat very well in the microwave.
Don't know what you want for breakfast....for me I want something sweet and grainy...so granola and yogurt does, or a raisin bran muffin...made with oat bran, or whole wheat toast, or a bagel with cream cheese and pepper jelly or strawberry jam.
I have even had fritatta that I froze in 1 serving squares and nuked. Get it out of the freezer and into the refrig the day before then nuke for about 45 seconds in the AM....
Whole wheat toast and peanut butter is always good too.
Linda C

I just kind of liked the idea of a bowl of hot porridge waiting for him when he got down into the kitchen that he could just scoop out and eat. I like that idea for me too, once I start working. I hate to fuss with food at any time, but particularly in the AM.

Here's a recipe for steel cut oatmeal you can make in five minutes. Soaking overnight helps move the process along immensely.

Overnight Steel Cut Oats

1 cup steel cut oats
1-3/4 cups fat free milk
2 Tablespoons brown sugar
4 ounces all-natural applesauce
1 teaspoon cinnamon
a pinch of salt

In a nonmetal bowl combine oats, brown sugar, applesauce, cinnamon and salt. Stir in milk; cover and chill for 8 to 24 hours.

Transfer oatmeal mixture to a medium saucepan. Heat just to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes or until oatmeal is done, adding additional milk if desired and stirring occasionally.

Remove from heat. Add your favorite mix-ins. Spoon into 2 bowls. Serve with additional milk, if desired.

We also do a lot of oatmeal pancakes or waffles on the weekend for the freezer, so they can be popped in the toaster in the mornings for something quick. They are much better toasted!

I cook oatmeal, beans, and whole grains in a Thermos in order to save on energy. The link below gives instructions for overnight oatmeal in a Thermos. The instructions omit this helpful hint -- it's important to lay your Thermos on it's side so the water and food-of-choice get distributed over a larger surface.

-Grainlady

Here is a link that might be useful: Overnight Oatmeal In A Thermos

I have make-ahead breakfast every day. It is called d-i-n-n-e-r. You people make me feel like such a barbarian.

Anyway, wraps and breakfast burritos microwave through fine, plus he can eat them while driving if need be. Unless your area has passed laws against holding cellphones, texting, applying makeup, trimming toenails, and eating burritos while driving. In that case you will need the hands-free burrito holder. It sticks to the windshield with suction cups, and holds the burrito in front of the driver. With each bite, you have to push and lean further forward. By the time you've eaten to the last bit of the burrito, you're going 110 mph. The bare holder then works as a sight, so that you can tag that old guy on crutches. 10 points already, and you haven't even started work!

L, this recipe is from one of my favorites, and I know yours, Eating Well. I've made a half batch but frankly, it refrigerates well and I just reheat it in the microwave at work, so I make the whole batch. I've added chopped apple and I've been known to sub some of the oatmeal with long cooking barley, brown rice or 9 grain cereal that I have here. I always add a little flaxseed.

Overnight Oatmeal

8 cup(s) water
2 cup(s) steel-cut oats (see Ingredient note)
1/3 cup(s) dried cranberries
1/3 cup(s) dried apricots, chopped
1/4 teaspoon(s) salt, or to taste

Combine water, oats, dried cranberries, dried apricots and salt in a 5- or 6-quart slow cooker. Turn heat to low. Put the lid on and cook until the oats are tender and the porridge is creamy, 7 to 8 hours.

Ingredient Note: Steel-cut oats, sometimes labeled "Irish oatmeal," look like small pebbles. They are toasted oat groats -- the oat kernel that has been removed from the husk -- that have been cut in 2 or 3 pieces. Do not substitute regular rolled oats, which have a shorter cooking time, in the slow-cooker oatmeal recipe.

Pancakes are better reheated if they are thin and tender instead of fluffy and thick, IMO, and waffles and french toast reheat well in the toaster.

I used to make "McMuffins" the night before and then just heat the egg/cheese/meat in the microwave while the muffin toasted but truthfully, it doesn't take that much longer to make the egg. Breakfast burritos freeze well and can just be grabbed from the freezer and nuked.

Annie

I think Grandpa had the best breakfast idea, he had pie for breakfast nearly every morning of his life and he lived well into his 90s. He'd just smile and say it wasn't so much different than having toast and jam and when he put it that way, well, it wasn't.

Annie

DH is wondering why I'm laughing out loud. John, your burrito holder cracked me up! It's been a long day and it felt awfully good to laugh out loud. Thanks!

I was going to suggest breakfast casserole too. Below is the recipe I normally use. A cooworker couldn't eat pork, so I started making it with turkey sausage. It's also good for its low fat content but you can use regular pork sausage instead.

NTT's Breakfast Casserole

1 French Bread Baguette,cubed
8 oz. (1 pkg.) grated cheddar cheese
6 eggs, beaten
2 cans Carnation Evaporated Milk
1 tsp. sea salt and a dash of pepper
1 tsp. dry mustard

Turkey Sausage:
2 pkg of Honeysuckle White 85/15 Ground Turkey
2 Tbs of olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
2 Tbs of chopped garlic
2 Tbs Italian seasoning
1 to 2 tspn ground black pepper or to taste
1 tsp sea salt or to taste

To make Turkey Sausage:
In a deep pan, warm up olive oil. Add onion, garlic and Italian seasoning, sautee until onion sweats. Add ground turkey, salt & pepper. Stir until the turkey is cooked. Leave as is, allowing the turkey to soak back some of its juices.

Meanwhile, preheat oven 350F degrees. In a bowl, beat together eggs, milk, salt, pepper, mustard. Place cubed bread in a 9 x 13 x 2 inch greased baking dish. Spoon turkey sausage over the bread. Sprinkle with cheese. Pour egg mixture over and let it stand for about 10-15 minutes. Bake for 45 minutes uncovered. Cheese will rise to top during baking.

We make quick oats and they only take 5-10 minutes to fix. In fact, that's what I do when I get up with him, make the oatmeal. But since I won't be getting up, I want something he can just scoop out or take out of the fridge and nuke. Yes, we can make oatmeal and make toast from scratch, and yes, it only takes five minutes. But I often do not have that five minutes in the morning, and I am totally NOT a morning person so I'm just not in the mood to even slice bread, lol! I like the idea of little breakfast pies, both fruit and savory!! I can try overnight oatmeal in my crockpot but I have a feeling it is going to run too hot. I was looking at fuzzy logic rice cookers online yesterday, they have porridge settings. Again, I know you can make rice without a rice cooker but I don't do it well, I don't have the concentration. I either burn it or it turns out mushy.

When I was commuting an hour (which I may be again) my breakfast was coffee and either an oatmeal cookie, muffin or chocolate donut for the road. That's why all my work clothes have chocolate or coffee stains on them! :) Then when I got to work, later in the morning I would eat some healthy protein snack like yogurt, cheese and nuts, cottage cheese, hummus and carrot sticks, etc. I had a desk job. Carpenter BF on the other hand has an appetite in the early morning and wants a substantial breakfast before leaving.

John I think I need to invent some kind of food tube or robot for feeding yourself while driving. Then I can make millions and leave this vale of tears that is my life!

John, I also like the burrito holder idea, you could make a zillion dollars on that, sort of like Steve Martin did in "The Jerk". (grin)

I also like dinner for breakfast, and breakfast for dinner. I'm not a morning person either and don't eat anything as substantial as pancakes, usually, but I'll have them for supper. Breakfast is usually peanut butter on a high fiber English Muffin.

the girls, though, wanted breakfast. For Ashley that often included soup and a grilled cheese sandwich. Three women and one bathroom required some "make ahead" breakfasts, though.

I made the calzones I've posted here before with various fillings, including egg/cheese/bacon/whatever, and Amanda liked "breakfast pizza", which was a piece of dough with the scrambled eggs/cheese/veggies on top. That she could put in the microwave, then fold it in half and eat it like a sandwich on her way to school. We did the breakfast sandwich thing, and quiche reheats well. If BF likes fish, you might try SharonCB's salmon quiche, it's delicious. The hash brown quich Linda (doucanoe) makes is very substantial and reheats well too, I'll bet BF would love that. Biscuits can also be made ahead and frozen, along with the muffins, take a couple our the night before along with the frozen eggs, and in the morning BF just nukes them, slaps them together, add a patty of sausage if he likes it, and he's good to go.

I know there are also recipes out there for breakfast cookies and bars, but I like the idea of pie the best. Pumpkin, maybe, all those eggs and pumpkin and milk, heck, it sounds like breakfast already!

Annie

Laurie, I have had success in cooking breakfast in an old (got it at a thrift store for a couple of $$) appetizer crock pot--I think it was for keeping cheese dip hot.

It takes 45-55 minutes on the stove so it does well in the crockpot. I set it up before going to bed; it's ready when DH gets up at 5:30am and he can scoop into a bowl.

I have a fuzzy logic (Zojurishi) rice cooker that does a great job of making steel-cut oatmeal as well as a breakfast version of rice pudding. I just cook up a batch and re-heat in the microwave with a little extra milk in the mornings. It does have a timer (similar to that on a coffee maker) so it can cook at the same time each day and that way you can prepare a fresh batch each day. It's a pricey gadget, but I've had mine over 7 years and it's still going strong.

QUIT SPOILING HIM! Men have a biological need to do the spoiling. Go eat some bonbons.

Oh, darn, you didn't ask for relationship advice, did you? You asked for breakfast recipes. I like baked oatmeal. Homemade hotpockets are good. If you go light on the yeast, you can leave them raw in the fridge for a couple of days and pop them in the oven in the morning. They get a little puffier as they sit in the fridge, and a little more like sourdough. You can probably freeze them raw but I haven't tried it. Poached eggs that are slightly undercooked reheat in the microwave really well (without cooking the yolk!) so I'd probably try that for a make-ahead sandwich.

Some of these look delicious : http://busycooks.about.com/od/breakfastmenus/a/Crockpot-Make-Ahead-Breakfast-Recipes.htm but it looks like you'd need a thrift-store crockpot.

This is delicious and fairly simple to make ahead. It will stay in the fridge for a few days.

Bircher Muesli

3 cups rolled oats
3/4 cup fresh orange or apple juice
1 1/3 cups milk (you can use low-fat or soy if preferred)
2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons honey
1/2 cup plain yogurt
1/2 teaspoon vanilla essence
1/4 cup sultanas or golden raisins
1/2 cup light cream (for whipping)
2 tablespoons slivered almonds
1-2 granny smith apples, peeled and grated
small bunch of grapes cut in half
ground nutmeg or cinnamon (optional)
1-2 cup mixed fresh fruit, peeled and diced (such as raspberries, strawberries, melon, apple, banana, Kiwi fruit, pineapple, mango)

In a large bowl, combine the rolled oats, juice, milk, sugar, honey, yoghurt, vanilla essence and sultanas.
Mix well, cover and refrigerate.
The next morning, whip the cream, and fold it through the muesli with the slivered almonds, grated apple and sliced grapes.
If the consistency is firmer than you prefer, add more milk or cream to taste.
Sprinkle with cinnamon or nutmeg (optional).
Serve with fresh fruit.

Believe me Jessica, he fulfills his biological need for spoiling in plenty of other ways, lol! ;)
Plus, I'll be eating the breakfasts too, and I am so seriously NOT a morning person. BF is starting to notice that! He told me this morning that he likes it when he can see my smiling face across from him in the morning at breakfast. Then I proceeded to give him heck for getting up 15 minutes earlier than he had to! He seems to believe that 7 hours a night is enough, and I can barely get by on 8!

QUIT SPOILING HIM! Men have a biological need to do the spoiling. Go eat some bonbons.

This is insidious feminine disinformation. In reality men are terribly fragile and require constant pampering. Not getting it is why we have a shorter life expectancy than women. I agree with the bonbon prescription. Your should feed BF bonbons for breakfast. And freshly peeled grapes.

John, I'm so glad that you are allowing us to see your delicate nature, but I'm afraid that all men in my life have informed me otherwise.

Men are strong and just better at everything. They're even better and more efficient at sleeping which is why they never hear the waking child or the dog that needs to go out at 3 am. They must arise at 4:45 am to do manly things like run 10 miles/work out/work on the tractor/fish while it's still cool/shoot something (depending on the season). They require a manly breakfast for such activities, hopefully something that will include copious amounts of protein with a side of hot sauce.

Yes, that's what I was told by my father and his father before him. And that's why Elery never hears that his old Chihuahua, who takes Lasix, needs to go out in the middle of the night.....

Annie

Lpink, I am glad to hear that.

John, you forgot the skinless Spanish peanuts (for protein). I suppose that's why married men live longer.

This thread made me finally look up something that I've been wondering for years but I guess didn't care enough about to find out. Never knew what porridge was!

Turns out I eat it regularly. In the form of oat bran, which I greatly prefer over oatmeal. (Mixed with a few healthy spoonfuls of sambal oelek - yum!) Have the water premeasured and in a pot on the stove. When he wakes up he can turn on the water. Have his clothes laid out in the kitchen. By the time he's ready to get dressed the water will be boiling and he can add the premeasured oats. Give one stir each after socks, underwear, pants, shirt. Oats are done. If he can't work that into his morning routine at least a couple days a week, then I suggest having a hot breakfast isn't as important to him as you may think!

That said, you're very sweet to get up and make him breakfast. My wife did that once, way back when we were first dating!

Lpink - I found this recipe online a while back and have made it several times. It's a keeper.

4 cups of water to 1 cup of oats will result in 4 servings

Find a bowl that:

1) Holds four cups of liquid

2) Fits inside your crock pot with the lid on.

Measure out one cup of Steel Cut Irish Oatmeal. Pour that into the inner bowl. Add the four cups of water. Stir.

Fill the crock with water to a little more than halfway. Set the inner bowl in the crock and see how high the water rises with the displacement. Add water in the crock if necessary.

Place the lid on your crock pot. Set on low. Go to bed.

When you awaken the next morning, your oats will have cooked to perfection overnight in the steamy bath.

You can add all your favorite goodies the night before and let them cook along with your oats�raisins, nuts, etc.

By using your crock as a double-boiler, the oats don�t get all crusty and burnt on the sides of the crock pot, as they do when you cook the oats in the crock itself. Put the oats in their own bowl, and there�s no waste, no lost oats. No soaking and scrubbing the crock pot afterwards.

My favorite reheated breakfast is garlic cheese grits, which I sometimes make with sausage. Here's the recipe (more or less) as I remember it:

2 cups chicken stock (or water)
2-3 tbsp unsalted butter (Paula Deen uses half a cup!)
3 garlic cloves, minced
1-2 jalapenos, minced (optional) or dash of hot sauce
2 tsp chicken or vegetable soup base (or 1 tsp salt)
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp dried basil
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp dried sage (if using a breakfast sausage)
3/4 cup quick (not instant) grits
2 sausages, sliced (can be cooked or uncooked), optional
3/4 cup grated cheese (Swiss or Cheddar, or a combination)
2 eggs, beaten, with 2 tbsp water

Add the stock or water to a large saucepan, along with the rest of the ingredients down to (but not including) the grits. Bring to a simmer and remove from heat while you add the grits, stirring constantly. Add the sausage, if you will be using it, and return the pan to a very low heat to simmer covered for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. If it is too thick, you can add a bit more water, but it should be fairly thick.

Remove from heat and add 1/2 cup of the cheese. Then temper the egg mixture with some of the grits, and add the eggs back into the grits. Pour into an 8" square casserole dish (I use corningware) and sprinkle the remaining cheese on top. Bake covered for 25 minutes at 350 degrees; remove cover, and bake for an additional 10 minutes, or until set. Allow to cook slightly before serving.

This is really good microwaved the next day. You can add whatever proportion of sausage you want, or leave it out.

Makes about 4 servings.

Lars

Lars, the grits sound really good to me. I am not much of a hot cereal person. I prefer savory breakfasts. Do you use hominy grits or regular corn grits? Maybe it doesn't matter.

Shambo, I normally use hominy grits, but I have also used polenta, which I think is corn grits. It's good either way, and I make this recipe a lot, which is why I have it memorized! I make it frequently because it's the best leftover breakfast that I make and it stores well. I only recently started adding sausage to it at the beginning. I used to add the sausage when I reheated it and then decided to add it at the beginning.

Lars

I make egg, canadian bacon and cheese sandwiches on English muffins. I bake the eggs in muffins tins, saute the canadian bacon and toast the english then assemble adding a slice of cheese. Then I wrap them individually in plastic wrap and refrigerate. For a quick breakfast on the run, 45 seconds in the microwave and they are good to go.

I can't wait to try all these recipes. What a great keepr thread! Thanks!!
Lpink

I can't believe I haven't checked out the cooking forum before today. Such yummy ideas! I love you guys!! Oats, milk & applesauce are soaking, and I'll definitely be coming back to this thread for other ideas. (johnliu had a good idea on leftovers, though! One of my more productive mornings was after reheating leftover rotisserie chicken & candied carrots) Mornings...bleh.

Welcome Jessica!!

Thanks, Lpink! :)

If y'all haven't tried the oatmeal recipe posted by claire_de_luna yet, you must! Scrumptious hearty breakfast goodness.

Welcome to the Cooking Forum, Jessica. Beware, though, there are other Jessica's here and one is EVIL. Watch out. (grin)

Annie

At least one is evil. Maybe two. . . >-D

LOL it's like being in school all over again! The nice jessica, the smart jessica, the anti-social jessica, the skanky jessica... ;)