Hot Up Your Breakfast

This month is Hot Breakfast Month, a cause we can most definitely get behind. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and having something lovely and warming to eat first thing is just what we need to set us up for the day in the winter.

But we know time can be scarce in the mornings; what with trying to get the kids into their school uniforms without using unnecessary force, battling with the car to start and attempting to contort yourself into today’s five yoga positions before giving up, declaring that the instructor in the video must have a detachable head, the task of making a healthy, filling breakfast can often take a backseat.

via GIPHY

So, with this in mind, we’ve compiled some ideas for hot breakfasts that are quick to make but will provide you with enough fuel to get through your busy morning. Of course, hot can also mean spicy, so there’s a few recipes with an extra kick too, which will be ideal to perk you up if you’re struggling with a cold as well.

Oats are great for filling you up in the morning, and while porridge is relatively quick to make, it does take longer than a minute, and sometimes that’s all we’ve got. This doesn’t mean you have to miss out on brekkie though, as Genki Bunny has a super simple recipe for microwave oat breakfast muffins that take just one minute to make. Yep, one minute – you can spare that, can’t you?

You just need a mug, some oats, an egg, a bit of honey and cinnamon (if you like), and some fruit. Frozen berries are ideal for throwing in, as they’ll defrost while cooking and you can keep them in the freezer for ages without having to worry about them going off. Even better, you can eat it straight out of the mug, so less washing up too! Perfect, and lovely and warm.

Scrambled eggs are so easy to make and eggs are really filling, especially if paired with a couple of slices of wholemeal toast – you’ll be full up for hours and won’t need to reach for a snack.

As it’s Hot Breakfast Month, we want our eggs hotter than usual, so follow The Kitchen Shed’s recipe for spicy scrambled eggs. You can put in whatever spice you like – paprika, chilli flakes, chilli powder. You could even go totally out there and try something like Chinese five spice – seriously, whatever you’ve got in your cupboard, try it! Your new favourite breakfast could be waiting to be discovered.

Breakfasts that use minimal pots and pans are exactly what you need if you actually want to spend some time relaxing in the evening, so this one-pan spicy shakshuka with feta from Jessica in the Kitchen is ideal.

The protein contained in the eggs makes it really filling, while the tomatoes and other veggies will provide you with a few of your five a day, making it a gorgeously healthy start to the day. Crumble the feta on top and let it melt into the dish for a tasty finish.

“What’s a toast cup?” we hear you ask. Well, it’s a bit like a cupcake case, made from toast. Intrigued?

Steamy Kitchen has come up with this great little recipe for bacon and egg toast cups that essentially gives you a fry up on the go. Line a muffin tin with bits of broken-up bread, line your bread cups with bacon and crack an egg in the middle. Leave to cook for a few minutes while you force those school jumpers over heads (sometimes, force is needed), then tuck in.

The handy toast cup means you can eat these on the go too, without the need for cutlery. And there’ll just be a muffin tin to clean when you get home in the evening, so this hot breakfast has got pretty much everything going for it, in our opinion.

Another fab way to cook your eggs in the morning is to make a quick microwave quiche in a mug. Yes, quiche in a mug – unconventional perhaps, but also genius.

You just need some broken-up bits of bread, eggs and whatever other bits you have lying around: ham, tomatoes, cheese, cooked sausage, whatever you like. Or have it plain if you’ve got nothing to add – it really doesn’t matter, make these muffins your own.

Follow Full-Thyme Student’s recipe for guidance on quantities. It takes just one minute in the microwave, so is just the thing for those mornings when you’re starving but pushed for time. If you’re anything like us, that’ll be every day…

Breakfast hash does need longer than a minute to make, but after you’ve chopped up your potatoes, thrown the veg in the frying pan and cracked in your eggs, you can pretty much just leave it to itself to cook while you get on with trying to keep your eyes open/force feed your children breakfast/try to sound convincing while telling them there IS a point to algebra.

This recipe for kale and potato breakfast hash from Amuse Your Bouche is the perfect accompaniment to your morning chaos – at least your kitchen will be filled with a lovely smell while you’re trying to hold everything together…?

No matter how chaotic your life is, you need a good breakfast to set you up for the day ahead, so make it a warm one this February. Everything always seems much more manageable after a hot meal, trust us. And after a steaming cup of tea, of course. Don’t forget to put the kettle on too.