The only thing I like about morning time is that waking up means I’m still alive. If I had my way, school would start promptly at noon, giving me the much needed time to do all the things I was supposed to do the night before but didn’t – I’m looking at you school lunches and reading logs (haha, just kidding, I never fill out reading logs). One way to save a small piece of my sanity is to have a few easy make ahead school breakfast recipes on hand so that I can check “Feed The Troops“ off my morning To Do list with minimal effort on my part.
Three Quick & Easy Make Ahead School Breakfast Recipes
Breakfast Sandwich or Mini Frittata Omelette
If you are looking to get some protein into your kids before you send them off to fill their brains with knowledge, eggs are one really good way to go. I use a silicon jumbo muffin pan to make individual portions of eggs that can be easily warmed up in the morning. You can leave them plain and use them for breakfast sandwiches or add in veg, meat, and cheese for a mini frittata omelette.
This recipe is only a sanity saver because of the silicon jumbo muffin pan. I tried this recipe in a regular muffin pan and it was a disaster. Lets just say that there is not enough pan preparation you can do to have a cooked egg slip easily out of a metal muffin tin and leave it at that.
- silicon jumbo muffin pan (I’m afraid you didn’t read what I wrote above. I’m trying to save you here, please use a silicon pan)
- 6 eggs
- 6 tbsp milk
- 2 tbsp butter, melted
For Breakfast Sandwiches you will also need:
- sliced ham
- grated cheese
- english muffins
For Mini Frittata Omelettes you will also need:
- whatever additions your child likes. Some good options are:
- veg: sweet bell peppers, baby spinach, tomato, mushrooms, onions
- meat: ham, cooked turkey, bacon, or breakfast sausage
- cheese: cheddar, mozzarella, parmesan, feta
- Preheat oven to 375
- Spray the silicon jumbo pan with non stick spray.
- Whisk the eggs, milk, and melted butter together and pour into the prepared muffin pan.
- If you are making Mini Frittata Omelettes, divide your additional ingredients between your egg muffins. I do this after the egg is poured into the muffin pan so that I can add as much of each ingredient as I want. It is also helpful if you want to make different varieties within a single batch.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes until eggs are set and the centers are no longer wobbly.
Pop your eggs out of the muffin pan and right into the fridge. They will keep for five days. When it comes time to make your breakfast, you can reheat your egg in the microwave while your english muffin or side of whole grain bread is in the toaster. After a quick assembly, you have a hardy, protein rich breakfast on the table in a matter of minutes.
Banana Muffins
This recipe is based on the Banana Nut Bread recipe found in the Chatelaine Food Express Quickies cookbook. I’ve been using it for years and it has saved me many times.
Ingredients:
- 1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
- 1/4 cup ground flaxseed
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 3 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 egg
- 3/4 cup milk
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 2 over ripe bananas, mashed
- chocolate chips (Optional. I usually put a couple on top so my kids think they are having a treat for breakfast.)
- Preheat oven to 350
- Whisk dry ingredients together in a large bowl.
- Whisk egg, milk, and oil in a separate bowl then stir in mashed bananas.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir until mixed. The batter will be lumpy.
- Line or grease your muffin pan and distribute the batter equally.
- Bake for 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the centre of your muffins comes out clean.
I like these muffins because I control the sugar and salt. I serve these up with half a banana and a glass of milk to up the nutritional value of this tasty breakfast.
There are a few things that I really like about having a few easy make ahead breakfast options available to me in the morning. One is that the clean up is done when the cooking is done (usually) and that means that my kitchen is not an utter disaster after breakfast. I also like that these breakfasts are things that my older kids can get in the morning on their own. Don’t forget yourself either parents – you need quick, healthy breakfasts too and these are options that offer up some staying power. Before you know it the kids will be home and looking for after school snacks. Good luck!
Alison Pentland
Forget the kids, I’m making the mini frittata for myself 😉
Kelly Given Williams
They are super yummy. I put a couple aside when I made the batch for this post to make sure I got in on the frittata action:)