breakfast

healthy living

Low-Sugar Morning: Cereals With 5 Grams or Less

A quick and easy breakfast, cereal can be an excellent source of protein and fiber.

A quick and easy breakfast, cereal can be an excellent source of protein and fiber. It can also be loaded with sugar, making your bowl not as healthy as you thought. I'm not talking about Frosted Flakes or Lucky Charms either — seemingly healthy cereals have sugar, cane juice, or the like as one of the first few ingredients. Check the label on your box and if it's high in sugar, choose one of the low-sugar options below. If these don't seem flavorful enough, jazz up your bowl with some naturally sweet fresh fruit.

Cereal Serving Size Calories Sugar (g) Fiber (g) Protein (g)
Barbara's Bakery Brown Rice Crisps 1 cup 120 1 less than 1 2
Barbara's Bakery Corn Flakes 1 cup 110 3 less than 1 2
Barbara's Bakery Hole 'n Oats: Fruit Juice Sweetened 1 cup 120 1 3 4
Barbara's Bakery Puffins Original 3/4 cup 90 5 5 2
Barbara's Bakery Shredded Wheat 2 biscuits 140 0 5 4
Cascadian Farm Multi Grain Squares 3/4 cup 110 4 2 3
Cascadian Farm Purely O's 1 cup 110 1 3 3
General Mills Cheerios 1 cup 100 1 3 3

Keep reading for more cereals that are low in sugar.

Breakfast

5 Ways to Add Pizzazz to Your Scrambled Egg Routine

Whether you prefer your scrambled eggs just-barely set, dry, or somewhere in between — a topic we could discuss ad nauseam — let's agree that the breakfast staple can often benefit from a bit of jazzing up via toppings and mix-ins.

Whether you prefer your scrambled eggs just-barely set, dry, or somewhere in between — a topic we could discuss ad nauseam — let's agree that the breakfast staple can often benefit from a bit of jazzing up via toppings and mix-ins. Sometimes that can be as simple as a hefty handful of parmesan cheese or a sprinkling of chopped fresh herbs like chives, parsley, or tarragon (or a combination of the two), but on days when more feels better, try one of these enticing ideas:

  • Pesto, basil, sun-dried tomatoes, and parmesan: Either drizzle the pesto on top of cooked eggs, or swirl it into the eggs as they cook. Add a chiffonade of basil, sliced sun-dried tomatoes (or slow-roasted tomatoes), and grated parmesan.
  • Brie, chives, and mushrooms: Slice up a handful of mushrooms and cook them till browned and tender in butter, add eggs, cook until set, and then top with chopped brie and minced chives.
  • Bacon, cheddar, and leek: Cook bacon however you prefer — we're partial to the hands-off approach of oven roasting — meanwhile, sauté sliced leeks in butter until translucent and beginning to brown, then add the eggs, cook until set, and top with crumbled cooked bacon and grated cheddar cheese.
  • Bell peppers, caramelized onions, and Italian sausage: Remove a sweet or spicy Italian sausage from its casing, break it up into crumbly pieces, and cook it through. Remove to a plate, add chopped roasted bell peppers and caramelized onions and eggs seasoned with a pinch of paprika, cook until just set, fold in the sausage, and serve.
  • Mushrooms, fontina, and truffle salt: Cook the mushrooms and eggs as in the brie, chives, and mushrooms iteration. Once cooked, top with grated fontina and a pinch of truffle salt.

Did we leave your favorite scrambled egg combination off the list? Enlighten us in the comments — we're always looking for new ideas!

recipes

Curing Gravlax at Home Is Easier Than You Think

Home-curing gravlax, while perhaps not on par with dry-aging steaks at home or transforming a slab of pork belly into bacon, might still seem like a culinary experiment best left to the experts, but that's not the case.

Home-curing gravlax, while perhaps not on par with dry-aging steaks at home or transforming a slab of pork belly into bacon, might still seem like a culinary experiment best left to the experts, but that's not the case. Minimal effort and time are required — the salmon cures for a mere three days — to yield results far superior to the majority of store-bought options. This is largely because you, not the producer, are in control of the quality of fish you select, as well as the choice of flavoring agents. And at a third of the price, home-cured gravlax is far more economical than store-bought, even when using top-quality ingredients.

Seek out the freshest salmon you can acquire: the flavor of the fish intensifies as moisture is lost in the curing process. Instructions here are for gravlax with a classic dill and anise flavor profile, but feel free to experiment with other spices and herbs; just keep the ratio of sugar, salt, and fish consistent.

Keep reading for the easy recipe.

recipes

Cinnamon Rolls: Sinfully Sweet and Simple

There's nothing better in the morning than a warm, gooey cinnamon roll, but traditionally these pastries take forever to make, thanks to yeast and rising time.

There's nothing better in the morning than a warm, gooey cinnamon roll, but traditionally these pastries take forever to make, thanks to yeast and rising time. Skip the overnight process and try our recipe for cinnamon rolls, which taste just as good as the original but only require 30 minutes of time from start to finish. We promise they're so good, it'll be hard to stop at just one.

healthy living

A Healthier Bowl: Cereals High in Fiber and Protein

When you're in a rush in the morning, cereal is the perfect meal — just pour it, spoon it, and you're good to go.

When you're in a rush in the morning, cereal is the perfect meal — just pour it, spoon it, and you're good to go. There's probably over a hundred different boxes to choose from, and while I'm sure you know Apple Jacks isn't the healthiest (a serving has as much sugar as three Chips Ahoy! cookies), even seemingly healthy cereals aren't the best choice.

It's important to fill your bowl with a cereal that's both high in fiber and protein, since both help keep you feeling full. Here's a list to choose from — and all contain at least five grams each of fiber and protein.

Cereal Serving Size Calories Fiber (g) Protein (g)
Barbara's Bakery Shredded Oats 1 1/4 cup 220 5 6
Barbara's Bakery High Fiber Original 1/4 cup 180 14 5
Barbara's Bakery High Fiber Flax & Granola 1/4 cup 200 10 5
Barbara's Bakery High Fiber Cranberry 1/4 cup 190 10 5
Bear Naked Fit Autumn Blend 1 cup 210 6 6
Bear Naked Fit Almond Crisp 1 cup 230 7 7
General Mills Wheat Chex 3/4 cup 160 5 5
Kashi Berry Fruitful 29 biscuits 170 6 6
Kashi Go Lean Original 1 cup 140 10 13
Kashi Go Lean Crunch! 1 cup 190 8 9
Kashi Go Lean Crunch! Honey Almond Flax 1 cup 200 8 9

Keep reading for more cereals that are high in both fiber and protein.

recipes

Green Eggs and Ham For Adults

Like many children, much of my early exposure to the written word — and, at least in my case, inspiration to become a writer — came from a quirky lyrical genius: Theodor Geisel (also known as Dr. Seuss).

Like many children, much of my early exposure to the written word — and, at least in my case, inspiration to become a writer — came from a quirky lyrical genius: Theodor Geisel (also known as Dr. Seuss). Now, this childhood legend may not seem immediately connected to culinary pursuits, but I've always been fascinated with the idea of translating an iconic, and admittedly quite fanciful, dish of his to the table. This brings us to today's recipe: a fun take on green eggs and ham.

As I pondered how to tackle this slightly goofy task, potential variations came up aplenty: scrambled eggs with greens and prosciutto, or even pesto-drizzled eggs baked in ham cups. But I eventually settled on an option that was tucked away in my recipe binder all along: a spinach, egg, and cheese breakfast casserole that's easily transformed into green eggs and ham with the salty-smoky addition of crumbled bacon. It may not match up visually to Seuss's version, but its comforting flavor and ability to be reheated more than make up for it. My inner child is satisfied indeed.

Get the recipe for the nostalgia-inspired dish.

Breakfast

Caramel-Topped Baked French Toast Needs No Adornment

To be quite honest, my dad's not much of a cook, but that which he does make he does with great enthusiasm (and to delectable effect).

To be quite honest, my dad's not much of a cook, but that which he does make he does with great enthusiasm (and to delectable effect). Trays of meaty lasagna are at the center of his annual Super Bowl party, and Summer hasn't officially started 'til his tangy marinated chicken hits the grill, but it's his french toast, waffles, and pancakes that he is best known for in our family. Now, this recipe isn't his go-to — his is a classic stove-top affair — but I choose to take the lazy lady's route and pop mine in the oven to avoid flipping slice after slice.

Now I'm loathe to knock my dad's breakfast routine — I'll happily devour anything he cooks up given the opportunity — but this recipe is not only less labor-intensive and thus perfect for bleary-eyed mornings and group entertaining, but something truly magical happens as the sugar and butter bubble up in the oven. Tender like bread pudding in the center but with a crisp caramel-topped lid, this is, and will continue to be, my go-to recipe for the classic brunch and breakfast staple. I encourage you to follow suit.

Cooking Basics

The Art of Perfect Toast

Before we proceed, the instructions I'm about to expound upon are not for the most convenient way to make toast.

Before we proceed, the instructions I'm about to expound upon are not for the most convenient way to make toast. Rather, this is how to make the platonic ideal of toast. While that is not to say that other methods are bad, unsatisfying, or wrong, you should follow these steps when nothing but the best will suffice.

Here's what you'll need:

  • A toaster oven
  • Your favorite bread
  • The best unsalted butter you can get your hands on, at room temperature
  • Flaky sea salt, such as Maldon or fleur de sel
  • Jam, marmalade, or preserves (optional) if you're jonesing for a sweet and salty breakfast treat
  • Black pepper (optional), for savory toast

The six steps to perfect toast:

  1. Turn your toaster oven to the toast setting, place the slice of bread on the rack in the toaster oven, and toast until the bread has just begun to hint at browning.
  2. Spread a generous pat of butter over every square inch of one side of the bread, nestling it in every nook and cranny.
  3. Sprinkle with flaky sea salt.
  4. Return the bread to the oven and cook until the butter is bubbly, the bread (and more importantly the butter) is a deep golden brown, and the bread is crisp on the outside, but tender inside.
  5. Spread with jam or fruit (if using) for a sweet, salty, and buttery treat. Alternatively, dust with a few cracks of black pepper.
  6. Enjoy, repeat, and tinker until you find your perfect toast formula.
Breakfast

Ultra-Simple, Elegant Brunch Star: Oeufs en Cocotte

Whether you call them oeufs en cocotte or coddled eggs — both are correct — one thing's for certain: these gently cooked eggs are exceptionally simple to prepare, are great for a crowd, and are sure to impress with their natural beauty.

Whether you call them oeufs en cocotte or coddled eggs — both are correct — one thing's for certain: these gently cooked eggs are exceptionally simple to prepare, are great for a crowd, and are sure to impress with their natural beauty. When baked in a water bath, eggs cook reliably, and are easy to scale up or down according to how many mouths you have to feed.

They're easy to cater to one's tastes, whether you prefer your eggs barely licked by heat with seductively runny yolks oozing forth, or are more of the fudgy-centered hard-boiled egg persuasion. Just adjust the cook time accordingly (directions are given according to my preference, runny yolks). Additionally, while coddled eggs shine in their simplest, stripped-down form, they can easily be jazzed up with any assortment of toppings. Here I added a dash of color and fresh flavor with a sprinkling of minced parsley. Alternatively, try a drizzle of zesty pesto, a sprinkling of gruyère, parmesan, cheddar, or fontina, or a dash or two of hot sauce. Even better, set out a toppings bar for your brunch guests to garnish according to their proclivities.

Get the easy — and ultra-customizable — recipe.