“When you wake up in the morning, Pooh,” said Piglet at last, “what’s the first thing you say to yourself?” “What’s for breakfast?” said Pooh. “What do you say, Piglet?” “I say, I wonder what’s going to happen exciting today?” said Piglet. Pooh nodded thoughtfully. “It’s the same thing,” he said.”
― A.A. Milne
A Good Start to the Day
Of course, Pooh would be happy with a jar of honey, but with the fall from grace of English favourite bacon and the ongoing debate regarding breakfast cereal, choosing my good start to the day seems to get more and more difficult. We also have to navigate the often conflicting breakfast nutrition health advice bombarding us across all media channels. I don’t yet have a nutri-bullet and have thus far failed to regularly squish and blend kale with 
bananas and beetroot for something super wonderful with great anti oxidant properties (but would love to hear from those of you who do!)
A Grand Start
Porridge is my great breakfast friend. It is simple to make, soothing and now alarmingly trendy (you will find a version of it on every decent hotel and all trendy eaterie menu these days.) I can assuage both my appetite and also my guilt regarding my lack of trendy smoothie making gadgetry by chucking in a handful of fresh raspberries and with a liberal sprinkling of seeds and a glug of organic honey my day is off to a grand start!
Italian Eggs
My other favourite breakfast is a rustic dish I first experienced in Florence a quarter of a century ago. I have no idea how it is referred to locally, but we have always referred to it as ‘Italian Eggs’. Simply, put some good olive oil in a heavy based pan, break in up to four lovely large fresh eggs and cover them with tomato passata. Sprinkle on some rubbed oregano and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Cover with a tight fitting lid and cook over a high heat for a couple of minutes taking care not to remove the lid whilst the pan is over the heat as the tomato can spit and will come out of the pan like molten lava! once ready (I like my egg yolks runny so a couple of minutes is enough) slide the entire contents of the pan onto a warmed plate and serve with slices of fresh bread for a seriously good breakfast – or light meal at any time of the day!
Exciting Appetites
I fully intend to keep up with the latest advice regarding breakfast, but old habits are hard to break and the scent of bacon crisping under a grill still excites my appetite in the morning! What excites yours?
