The Most Important Meal of the Day

December 16, 2024 8:26 AM

#FreeThread time, friends. Let's start this week off right by talking about how we start our day. What's for breakfast? What's your typical breakfast? What's your little treat? What's your favorite restaurant splurge? Maybe you start with simple protein or a chocolate croissant. Maybe sometimes you need a little breakfast spaghetti or a really big pancake. Or circumstances require you to order all the bacon and eggs they have. Even when you've finished breakfast, there's still the question of second breakfast.
posted by DirtyOldTown (138 comments total)

My typical breakfast is yogurt, because I am an old. But this weekend, we went to Luella's Southern Kitchen in Chicago and I had the biscuits and sawmill gravy with andouille sausage, fried chicken, pimento cheese, and jalapenos and I think I might have had an out-of-body experience.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 8:29 AM on December 16 [7 favorites]

I had Eggo waffles for breakfast because I'm a degenerate.
posted by phunniemee at 8:35 AM on December 16 [5 favorites]

Having a full English breakfast is on my bucket list.
posted by Lemkin at 8:41 AM on December 16 [1 favorite]

My standard work breakfast is oatmeal (soy milk, with apples, pb, chia seeds, hemp seeds, pumpkin seeds if I have them, a ton of cinnamon). I love it so much - it helps me look forward to work. I don't usually eat oatmeal at home; usually I'll make something eggy maybe with some roasted veggies or something along those lines. I do feel the need for something a little sweet after I have a savory breakfast though, a nice pastry or something.

My husband is working on a new pizza technique and made 4 pizzas this weekend. So today I had pizza and everything-bagel beets for breakfast. And then a shit-ton of candy because it was there.
posted by obfuscation at 8:41 AM on December 16

Cold brew all year round. Steel cut oats during the winter, sometimes tofu scramble if I need a savoury hit. Summer is smoothies or toast.

I am definitely learning I cannot have a second cup of caffeine if food has not been had.
posted by Kitteh at 8:41 AM on December 16

I've been making a baked apple, oatmeal, banana and peanut butter thing that I share with my oldest rat Jasper. It's the highlight of his day.
posted by Zumbador at 8:41 AM on December 16 [11 favorites]

Maybe you start with ... a chocolate croissant

When I get this urge, prep begins the night before with those frozen croissants from Trader Joes. (Could you even get a chocolate croissant in New York, in 1961? I always thought Audrey was eating a donut, in that first scene; breath-taking now for its lack of traffic.)
posted by Rash at 8:42 AM on December 16 [2 favorites]

My retirement plan is being Zumbador's rat.
posted by phunniemee at 8:42 AM on December 16 [24 favorites]

The former housemate moved out over the weekend, so I took advantage of the newly uncontested kitchen to make some eggs and toast this morning. I had been avoiding almost all cooking for a month or so, because of the tense environment.

In other news, the downstairs furnace conked out overnight, it’s getting repaired now. I was hoping it was just the igniter or flame sensor, but apparently the gas valve had gotten stuck, so they’re replacing that because if it sticks once, it’ll stick again. At least it picked an unseasonably warm day to happen. Almost 50F today. Back down to more typical temps in a day or two.

The top floor furnace kept working, so all the cats are sacked out in my room.
posted by notoriety public at 8:43 AM on December 16 [3 favorites]

Yeah, my usual breakfast is a container of greek yogurt or something similar, but today I decided to treat myself to a pastrami, egg, and cheese on an everything bagel from my local really good bagel place. Not cheap, but worth every penny.
posted by SansPoint at 8:44 AM on December 16 [1 favorite]

Typical weekday breakfast options (homemade):

- Yogurt (single service from Aldi)
- Oatmeal (w/ cinnamon, cream, a tiny bit of maple syrup and fresh fruit if there is any)
- Cereal (chex, corn flakes, cheerios, maybe with sliced banana on top- occasionally Count Chocula or something if it is in season, but not lately)
- A smoothie (banana, frozen fruit, milk, cinnamon, a little simple syrup maybe)

Typical weekend breakfast options (homemade):

- Baked oatmeal (https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/51013/baked-oatmeal-ii/)
- Eggs (2, over medium, flipped in the air like a pro, yo), bacon/sausage, maybe breakfast potatoes, toast w/ butter and jam
- Lemon ricotta pancakes
- French toast
- Breakfast sandwiches (fried egg, ham and a slice of American cheese on a toasted English muffin w/ mayo, salt & pepper)
- Or maybe just another yogurt, it depends on my schedule
posted by grumpybear69 at 8:44 AM on December 16

I had a hot dog for breakfast today. It would have been Grape-Nuts (plain, just milk), but the milk had gone bad. I'm not into sweet breakfasts. A veggie burger (no bun) and an egg make a pretty good breakfast for me. Sometimes I'll do a whole wheat tortilla with some lunch meat and cheese, warmed in the microwave. A splob of cottage cheese works somedays as well. My splurge breakfast includes pork roll, scrapple, or bacon, and maybe tater tots as a hash brown stand in. That's one day a week at most, though.
posted by mollweide at 8:44 AM on December 16

i didn't include it because it's not a fun jumping off point for discussing actually eating breakfast, but the very best breakfast sequence in film, to my eyes, is the two and a half minute montage from Citizen Kane that effortlessly shows the disintegration of the Kane marriage over a series of quick breakfasts.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 8:45 AM on December 16 [2 favorites]

If you have a Costco, these breakfast sandwiches are the absolute best.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 8:48 AM on December 16 [1 favorite]

Daily breakfast is whole milk plain yogurt with almond butter granola and a lot of raisins. Dried cherries if I have them. A whole pot of tea, either cardamom tea or Mariage Frères Ruschka.

Weekend breakfast is sometimes bacon and pancakes with maple syrup, but I don't make it - the kid asks for it and the partner provides.

Fancy breakfast/brunch, especially with company coming, is waffles (either the buttermilk recipe from Fanny Farmer or the Smitten Kitchen overnight batter) with bacon and fruit salad. Those buttermilk recipes also contain an ungodly amount of melted butter, once I doubled the recipe and was kind of upset at how much in fact.
posted by Lawn Beaver at 8:49 AM on December 16 [1 favorite]

Every day: a small bowl of Great Grains cereal with 1% milk, and one cup of some variety of Irish tea. On the rare occasions where we eat out for breakfast (like on vacation), I'll generally get scrambled eggs, hash browns/home fries, sausage links, and toast. If we're going out for fancy brunch, I get eggs Benedict, Florentine style. We love diners and have had some amazing breakfasts. The best hash browns in the world (FACT) were at a little diner in the sketchy part (according to the hotel staff we asked) of Niagara Falls, CA.

We really like breakfast for dinner, though, and change it up depending on mood. Just last night I made an omelet, sausage, and toast. I'll do biscuits and sausage gravy, pancakes, waffles, whatever mood strikes.

When my son was little, my dad introduced him to SOS (creamed chipped beef on toast, or what the armed services called "shit on a shingle". The boy called it "special breakfast" and it was a staple for him for a couple of years. Sometimes I'll get the urge to make it when I see Budig beef at the grocery store.

Also, not gonna lie and you can put me in whatever food snob box you like, but I love a sausage McMuffin from McDonald's. That's my road trip breakfast.
posted by cooker girl at 8:50 AM on December 16 [2 favorites]

I have been puzzling over DoT's breakfast because while I have lived in the south my whole life, I've never heard of applying pimento cheese to a biscuit? Sandwiches, yes, dipping crackers in it, yes, scooping it out of the container with a spoon, sure. (And, if you're my grandma, wash out the container and put it in the cabinet where you keep your crisco cans.) But somehow the idea of using a biscuit as the delivery medium has never come up!

But then I am pretty anti-breakfast. Eating too early feels weird and heavy to me, so I survive off coffee alone. Which then wrecks my stomach because there's nothing in it but coffee.
posted by mittens at 8:51 AM on December 16 [3 favorites]

Two slices of sourdough toast with honey, a bottle of sparkling water, and some coffee. I grind the coffee myself, and I make the sourdough myself.

Of course, the most important meal of the day is second breakfast, which is very variable.
posted by The River Ivel at 8:51 AM on December 16 [2 favorites]

we make a pot of "neutral" oat groats about twice a week in the Instant Pot (no seasonings). so most weekdays are oats, usually with fruit and maybe a sprinkle of chocolate granola. but sometimes I like my groats savory and will have some avocado with olive oil and S&P, or maybe some chili crisp if I am feeling wild. or some beans or lentils from the fridge.

weekends: saturday is usually eggs with some avo and some whole wheat bread thing (toast, bagel, english muff). sundays is homemade whole wheat waffles, they are incredibly good.

breakfast is my favorite meal. I love everything from simple buttered toast, to fancy Benedict variants or champagne brunch with all the things.
posted by supermedusa at 8:53 AM on December 16 [1 favorite]

I've never heard of applying pimento cheese to a biscuit?

I had not heard of believe pimento cheese on biscuits until the last couple of years either. I know folks in Georgia put that on all manner of sandwiches and bread from way back, so I can't believe it's new.

My guess is that it's one of those things that existed for a long time in scattered family restaurants and grandma's kitchens that leaked into the mainstream recently, like hot chicken.

The first time I had it was at Sunrise Memphis, on their Dirty South biscuit, which comes with pimento cheese, fried green tomato, and pepper relish. It's pretty frigging great.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 8:55 AM on December 16

Unless I am in a hotel that has a free breakfast, I don't eat breakfast. When I am in a hotel with a free breakfast, a lot of eggs and sausage and/or bacon and any potatoes they are offering. With lots of Tapatio on them, (I always bring my own bottle).
posted by Windopaene at 8:56 AM on December 16 [2 favorites]

I'm into savory hot cereals. Oats, rye, multigrain etc.

I like to top it with soy sauce, sesame oil, sometimes something a bit spicy like gochugaru or chili crisp. Maybe an egg, sometimes furikake.

People are usually intrigued or appalled, if you're the former try it out!
posted by SaltySalticid at 8:56 AM on December 16 [6 favorites]

This is my go-to as often as not at the moment:

Slice a large vine tomato horizontally into quarters, making four thick slices, and fry in a small pan in a knob's worth of melted butter, with sea salt, a grind of black pepper and a little sugar sprinkled on each slice. When their bottoms brown, turn the slices over and fry a little longer to caramelize. Serve on a buttered slice of sourdough toast.

Tomatoes fried this way are also good over scrambled eggs, or served with a fried egg on top—with bacon on the side, if you like.
posted by rory at 8:59 AM on December 16 [6 favorites]

I have been puzzling over DoT's breakfast because while I have lived in the south my whole life, I've never heard of applying pimento cheese to a biscuit? Sandwiches, yes, dipping crackers in it, yes, scooping it out of the container with a spoon, sure. (And, if you're my grandma, wash out the container and put it in the cabinet where you keep your crisco cans.) But somehow the idea of using a biscuit as the delivery medium has never come up!

I first heard of this at the Flying Biscuit location at Candler Park years ago. I dunno if they still do it, and I, another native Southerner, have seen it pop up more when I visit family back home.
posted by Kitteh at 9:01 AM on December 16 [3 favorites]

Just coffee. Unless I have a lunch meeting, I usually don't eat at all until 3 or 4 in the afternoon. When I was younger, I used to have to have a proper breakfast to get anything done during the day, but I gradually grew out of the habit and now feel weird if I eat in the morning.
posted by outgrown_hobnail at 9:01 AM on December 16

A bowl of cereal and a mugful of tea.
Linlin tries to stick his little orange nose in the bowl several times before I let him have the dregs of the milk.
Flansie tried to supplement my meal with a small bird (bushtit?) yesterday but it wasn't dead yet. I keep telling him to go after the mockingbird, dammit.
posted by The Ardship of Cambry at 9:02 AM on December 16 [2 favorites]

Part of my yogurt ritual is that my dog Rango gets to lick the container clean.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 9:03 AM on December 16 [5 favorites]

"Mexican". Almost every morning. I have the time to make this.

Start at the bottom.
Plate
Jalapeño Salsa Verde from https://freshchileco.com
Tortilla de maiz from Pochitos Tortilla Factory
Refritos from Pochitos
Prepared cooked ground turkey (turkey, taco seasoning, Hatch chiles from https://www.yghatchchile.com)
Chile Verde from Pochitos
Tortilla de maiz
575 Matador Hatch Green Chile (XHot) from Fresh Chile Company
Shredded mild cheddar cheese or "Mexican" mix

Microwave for 2+ minutes until cheese is completely melted

Top with:
Pico de gallo
Shredded lettuce
Sour cream
posted by davebarnes at 9:10 AM on December 16 [4 favorites]

My breakfasts are either:
- banana and eucalyptus honey sandwich on granary bread
- hot oats/porridge with sliced banana
- a quality marmalade on top of a sliced, sharp, cheese, on top of either rye or walnut bread
- miniature Christmas pudding (September to December)

I'm very much enjoying the many comments in The manifesto of the MeFite thread, and hope more MeFites add the things they would make law, if they were prime minister, king, despot etc of their country.
posted by Wordshore at 9:11 AM on December 16 [4 favorites]

coffee soaked french toast
posted by HearHere at 9:13 AM on December 16

We have a soy milk maker in which I make almond/date/rice milk. 3/4 c almonds, 1/2 c brown rice, 6 pitted dates, + water. That's the base for the cherry/berry smoothie I have in the mornings, which is frozen fruit, a splash of honey and a dash of salt.

That goes with a plate with some cheese, some preserved meat, a few more pitted dates, and whatever fruit is in season and/or cheap from the grocery store. This morning the cheese was brie, the meat was Japanese mozzarella sausage, and the fruit an apple and a clementine.

Plus whatever lovely tea my partner has made. And a multivitamin alternating with 2500iu of vitamin D because Canada.
posted by seanmpuckett at 9:13 AM on December 16

When we're in Romania, my breakfast splurge is papanași, which are rich doughnuts made with urda (shepherd's cheese), and then topped with smântână (sort of like creme fraiche) and sour cherry jam. They're pretty otherworldly.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 9:22 AM on December 16

At daylight: Cold brew and dark roasted peanut butter on whole grain toast.

At Mid morning: eggs Florentine or Spicy chicken and bean roasted vegetables.

"Sawmill gravy" sounds like they swept the wood shavings from the floor and put them in your breakfast. I'm not Paul Bunyan, folks.
posted by effluvia at 9:23 AM on December 16 [1 favorite]

I am overcome with pity for you not having had sawmill gravy.

FWIW, it's called sawmill gravy because it was a typical breakfast for workers in the lumber industry in Appalachia, who needed something very calorie dense (but very cheap) to start their day.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 9:25 AM on December 16 [1 favorite]

I'm not a breakfast person and most of the time I am not hungry in the morning, and usually I am feeling kind of sick until like 11. I remember reading a story in Cricket magazine as a kid about how this one girl liked LUNCH and not breakfast and people did not get how that could be, and I related so well. (Not to mention that "oh, I had a breakfast, so now nobody gets to have lunch, because we breakfast people are still so full!" always happens.) However, PEOPLE WILL NOT STOP HOUNDING YOU ABOUT EATING A DAMN BREAKFAST, they WILL NOT STOP no matter what you say or how you beg, so I have learned to choke one down to be polite. That said, I'm annoyingly kinda hungry right now but nothing sounds good to eat, so...bleah.

This weekend was pretty good, I went to more craft fairs, got some fun things, went to a cookie decorating party where people burned out on sugar after a half hour, lol. I'm hoping to do an online play reading of my goat play today, but the way things have gone with them of late, I sort of expect some kind of shit to happen. Of course it's raining in one person's location which means her Internet will go out, but I can fill in for one person. If multiple people end up being out, then not so much. I feel like one should not get their hopes up.

I have to work during the holiday weeks and I seriously will have nothing much to do or that I can even pretend to do, because my job involves working with other people who will be either out or too swamped to do anything else. I really hope I don't have to do much pretending to be working (I swear I'd volunteer to help others do their work, but no dice) because there will be not much to do.
posted by jenfullmoon at 9:28 AM on December 16 [2 favorites]

Half a toasted sesame bagel with peanut butter and a wee bit of melted butter to go with the cuppa hot tea.
posted by Oh_Bobloblaw at 9:30 AM on December 16

Breakfast is coffee. Coffee is breakfast.
posted by tommasz at 9:32 AM on December 16 [1 favorite]

Dirty Old Town, I grew up in Kentucky, have eaten at my grandmother's southern cooking tables, and plenty of Cracker Barrels, and had sawmill gravy on those occasions. I do appreciate your sympathy.
posted by effluvia at 9:33 AM on December 16 [1 favorite]

sawmill gravy

I'd assumed this was just white gravy, but learning that it includes cornmeal makes it all the more intriguing.
posted by mittens at 9:34 AM on December 16 [2 favorites]

Most mornings my breakfast is small -- a pair of PopTarts (raw, uncooked), or a bowl of "twigs and gravel" (i.e. the healthy cereal my doctor wants me to eat), or two slices of white bread toast with butter and honey, and usually with a glass of milk. I'll go long stretches eating the same thing every morning; I'm currently in a transition phase when none of those sound any good and force myself to pick one.

I do get a wild hair once in a while, and my breakfast is a bag of the greasiest, butteriest, saltiest microwave popcorn I can find. Which reminds me, I'm out, maybe that's what I should be eating now if nothing else sounds good.

On days when I'm not sure when I'm going to get to eat lunch, I grab a Egg McMuffin meal, with an extra hashbrown, and that usually will get me to 3pm -- which brings me to the two Egg McMuffins I had this week:

Free thread film student update: last week was the end of classes so the only thing I have is a short film we're doing a quick shoot this Friday for -- but if you remember the last free thread I posted I got a gig for ESPN!

NDSU's football team is one of the best in their division, and it's playoffs time so you don't know where or when the next game's going to be until the previous game finishes. So, NDSU won the weekend before and ESPN starts scrambling to staff the next game, which was last Saturday in Fargo. They had originally reached out to me through a gig-finding website as a 'runner' -- a PA, which means you make sure there's plenty of fruit snacks and donuts and coffee for everyone -- but I've set up cameras and worked production for live sports in the Fargodome before so I talked my way into a "Utility" role, which in this case is running cables and carrying cameras around. During the game my job was on the sidelines, feeding triax cable to the handheld cameraman and try not to trip anyone.

The job is technically through a staffing company, but I think there were some union-based shenanigans where they said everyone working on the broadcast has to be under the union umbrella, so after onboarding with the staffing company, I was told, no, it's airing on ABC, so you need to onboard with ABC Sports and sign the NABET-CWA contract, they'll be in touch.

If you're following along, both ESPN and ABC are owned by the Disney Corporation, but I didn't make the connection until I started getting onboarding emails from disney.com addresses.

Yes, folks, I went from dude finishing his college finals to an employee of The House of Mouse in 48 hours.

I'm still just a day-hire and answer to the staffing agency so it's not that big of a deal, but it's like, what the heck, who knows where this stuff will get you!

AND - NDSU won its game last weekend, so the semifinals are back here next Saturday, and literally all of the day-hires had only one question at the end of the day: how do we get back on the roster for next weekend?

(Also, yes, I recorded the game and did find myself in the background for like 10 frames, and got a screenshot as proof I was seen on national television if you don't blink and pause it at the right time)
posted by AzraelBrown at 9:37 AM on December 16 [10 favorites]

It's coffee and something small like a plain donut or a NutriGrain bar or a pot of yogurt for me. I do like a good sausage-egg-cheese on an English muffin, but that's only an occasional treat. Lunch is where I'm a Viking.
posted by briank at 9:39 AM on December 16

Strong black coffee, Gevalia brand. No fancy coffee maker. I put one or two teaspoons of coffee in a mug. Pour boiling water into mug. Stir a few times. Pour thru cheesecloth strainer into my coffee cup. Then next meal is 6pm.Often pasta and a sauce or egg salad sandwich and a small salad.Maybe a big salad some days. Snack in evening, soup or cheese and crackers. Canned pears or peaches. I found a wonderful.predh pear at Wegmans yesterday. Unusual in December. It was sweet and fragrant. I love any citrus also.
posted by Czjewel at 9:42 AM on December 16

Dear Mittens: Never taste toasted cornmeal made into bread with bacon drippings and baked in an iron skillet. You will dream of the taste for the rest of your life.
posted by effluvia at 9:49 AM on December 16 [2 favorites]

One of the consequences of my oldest boy's medication is an almost total lack of appetite, especially in the morning. As we continue the search for a better medication/dosage I've been making whatever he will eat for breakfast just to try to keep weight on him. the thing he eats consistently is bacon, scrambled eggs, and avocado toast, so that's what I've been eating too (this is a terrible breakfast for a 45 year old man to have everyday).
posted by Dr. Twist at 9:52 AM on December 16 [2 favorites]

Two Reese's Peanut Butter Trees, plus coffee. Tis the season.
posted by paper chromatographologist at 10:02 AM on December 16 [7 favorites]

I am all over the damn place with breakfasts.

* During the work week it is usually something portable (slice of a quick bread, fruit, etc.) or I go without. I am EXTREMELY limited in morning kitchen prep because we have a weird apartment layout and my roommate would wake up if I did too much that early. I do make a cup of coffee for the morning.

* Weekends are more flexible. I upgrade the coffee to cafe au lait. Sometimes it'll be the same thing as the weekday, sometimes I'll go for my go-to breakfast sandwich order (sausage egg and cheese on a roll) from the bagel shop near my old apartment. Sometimes I'll pop across the street to the little coffee shop for one of my 3 usual orders: yogurt and granola with berries (and a side of bacon), a croque monsieur on a croissant, or just a croissant. Sometimes I'll make cheese grits or oatmeal.

* Thursday morning I plan to be extremely indulgent - my last day at this hellscape of a job is on Wednesday, and I plan to do ABSOLUTELY NOTHING on Thursday. I have oatmeal and yogurt in the house, and I also have this fruit compote thing I made that I'll add to the oatmeal. In fact, here's the recipe - I got it from one of my favorite food writers, Cloitilde Dusolier, from one of her recent cookbooks. It looks like I shared the recipe here: you just need 2 cups of water, 2 pounds of fruit, a tablespoon of loose leaf tea and a quarter cup of honey. You can use any kind of fruit or tea, even just-about-to-be-overripe fruit.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 10:05 AM on December 16 [2 favorites]

Eleven months of the year my breakfast consists of a glass of 1% milk with one of three breakfast options: two homemade muffins, or two slices of whole wheat toast with butter and jam, or oatmeal with maple syrup and raisins. In December I have a glass of eggnog with four pieces of buttered homemade Christmas bread (stollen) every morning.
posted by orange swan at 10:05 AM on December 16 [1 favorite]

It's a great life, I gotta tell ya.
posted by Zumbador's Rat at 10:15 AM on December 16 [29 favorites]

I'm eating a delicious breakfast sandwich of egg with caramelized onions and cheese, on excellent soft bun (brioche perhaps?)
posted by honey badger at 10:17 AM on December 16

Chopped cucumber salad garnished with ghost pepper wasabi.
posted by y2karl at 10:24 AM on December 16 [1 favorite]

Toasted bagel with cheddar & ham.

Then a bowl of diced mango, with yogurt & granola.

After my shower, a large, black coffee (sometimes made in the Moka pot with a little frothed milk, for a treat). Every damn day.
posted by wenestvedt at 10:26 AM on December 16

Bagel and cheese. My stash of frozen bagels is depleting, so I'll need to stock up soon. The place I get my chai has a good asiago bagel, but they don't put the cream cheese on. I just get it toasted now with no smear. If I can sit down somewhere, I like the typical scrambled eggs, wheat toast, bacon. The hashbrowns need to be brown, though, or I'd rather have the American fries.
posted by soelo at 10:29 AM on December 16

Diet Coke and cold pizza. Sometimes I heat up the pizza but not today.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 10:42 AM on December 16 [2 favorites]

Diet Coke is also my morning caffeine. Cold fizz cuts through morning throat gunk.

Most days it's oatmeal with a little brown sugar. Some days that isn't enough and I have to seek out a protein...cheese sticks work in a hurry, eggs if I have time.

McDonald's bacon egg cheese McGriddle is an occasional treat.

I got burned out on big brunches so most times I'll just order eggs and toast.
posted by emjaybee at 10:46 AM on December 16

I was a navy brat. When my Dad was in port[smouth] my mother would take the family to stay in The Nuffield United Services Club so we had sight of him . . . or his ship. For breakfast as an 8 y.o. I could put down prodigious quantities of buttered toast, which the waiters delivered in triangular half slices on a toast-rack. Any empty toast rack on a table was replaced with one fully charged. I, otoh, couldn't leave a bit for master manners and allow 'free' toast to sit before me enracked and uneaten. It was a war nobody could win.
I guess it set my clock, because I still have tea [weak, A Lot] and toast [buttered + marmalade, a modest amount] for breakfast.
posted by BobTheScientist at 10:49 AM on December 16 [5 favorites]

I don't really eat breakfast officially anymore, but i'll eat whatever people leave in the breakroom for the office community. Nothing today but often stale cookies or stale cake. Delicious and apparently healthy since I have to hunt for it.
posted by The_Vegetables at 11:06 AM on December 16 [1 favorite]

eggs with salsa verde (I grew a lot of tomatillos this year), lox or bacon or Taylor ham, fruit, toast with guacamole. I love breakfast and should probably eat less of it. But somehow the process has become a comforting way to start the day, now that my kids are grown and I'm not making *them* breakfast instead.
posted by Ella Fynoe at 11:14 AM on December 16

Today's breakfast was an omelette made from leftover pizza toppings (mushrooms, sausage and cheese). Usually I do an open face grilled cheese w/ some kind of bacon/ham/sausage or tomato, or granola and yogurt. Sometimes just a couple of eggs and hot sauce. I usually make myself a nice pour-over as well. I often do breakfast at 6am and second breakfast at 10am or so.
posted by bashos_frog at 11:16 AM on December 16

It's a great life, I gotta tell ya.
posted by Zumbador's Rat


OMG! 😂
posted by Zumbador at 11:16 AM on December 16 [21 favorites]

I love breakfast food. My current favorite breakfast is a warm, maybe lightly browned corn tortilla with arugula, salsa and scrambled eggs. Dairy eaters may choose to add sour cream, cheddar, and/or pepper cheese. Refries would not go amiss.

Is sawmill gravy what we always called biscuits-n-gravy? It's nutritionally indefensible, but so good.

When I get a new stove and have a working oven, I'll make apricot-walnut-pumpkin-bran muffins.

Today I had chili on linguine and it was delicious. Reading this thread makes me crave a bagel with cream cheese, lox, tomato, capers.
posted by theora55 at 11:26 AM on December 16

Going to a Messiah sing later, looking forward to it.
posted by theora55 at 11:27 AM on December 16 [3 favorites]

Peanut butter and chocolate spread on toast and a homemade latte is my usual breakfast. Then I have a second breakfast of Greek yogurt, maple syrup, and fruit. Basically when I wake up in the morning I have no appetite, so I need to eat a couple of small meals and give things a chance to settle down in between.

If we have bagels I like everything toasted with way too much butter. I also like the good old fashioned two eggs over easy, bacon, hash browns, and toast if it’s later in the morning, or as breakfast for dinner.
posted by eekernohan at 11:35 AM on December 16 [1 favorite]

My go-to (though somewhat time consuming) super healthy cereal breakfast:

In a coffee grinder, grind together "forbidden" black rice, black sesame seeds, and perhaps either chia seeds or burdock root

Start to boil water, add salt and perhaps spices (cinnamon, cardamom, allspice)
Add a handful of oatmeal
And ground up black paste from before

Towards the end of 5 minutes or so add some ground flax seeds

Top with walnuts, blueberries, pomegranate, strawberry

Other days:

Fried egg over toast, lately I've been frying the eggs with porcini mushroom and bell pepper

Tinned sardines or mackerel over toast
posted by Schmucko at 11:41 AM on December 16

I survive off coffee alone. Which then wrecks my stomach because there's nothing in it but coffee.
But that's what the nicotine is for.
posted by yyz at 11:42 AM on December 16 [1 favorite]

When I was a kid my standard breakfast was almost a pound of bacon, oatmeal, 3 or 4 eggs and pancakes or French toast, with milk and orange juice. On weekends the bacon was replaced by several thick slices of ham (fried in bacon grease, of course), scrambled eggs or an omelet, and many more pancakes or waffles.

I didn’t realize this was unusual 'til I got to college and everybody seemed to be eating half or less what I ate. It was very awkward at times, and once one of the cafeteria workers rolled her eyes very dramatically at me and said 'Few more like you and we'd be raising the rates 'round here!' and I said 'well, maybe if it wasn’t so good …' and she snorted, but that was only a little bit flattery because it truly was pretty good.

And it was always a watershed moment when any of the women I’ve lived with realized how much I was actually eating. An ex who's now my best friend loves recounting the time she padded down the stairs at 2 in the morning and caught me at the kitchen table with a large 3/4 consumed batard, a jar of honey, a jar of peanut butter, and a cube of butter, and startled me half to death by hissing 'what are you doing?!' out of the darkness surrounding the hanging light over the table.

In the latest retelling, the batard has miraculously multiplied into two batards.
posted by jamjam at 12:03 PM on December 16 [7 favorites]

Never eat breakfast, do not enjoy eating that early. Noon or later please.
posted by GoblinHoney at 12:41 PM on December 16 [2 favorites]

I used to have a soft boiled egg, 2 slices of Morningstar Farms fake bacon and 2 pieces of toast, either whole wheat or sourdough. Now I don't seem to have time to do anything at all in the morning and the kitchen is always trashed, so on workdays I usually take a microwavable breakfast burrito. The Monterey egg and green chile ones are cheap and (barely) edible, the fancier vegan or egg and cheese ones from the healthfood stores are more expensive and generally (barely) edible. For a beautiful moment there Jimmy Deans was selling a frozen croissant breakfast sandwich with impossible sausage but alas, that moment has passed and in fact it's harder and harder to find breakfast options without meat.

If I do have time or I'm out of burritos I'll have toast and peanutbutter or maybe toast and cream cheese, sometimes with smoked salmon if we have any. Things I can eat in the car. On weekends it's grits and cheese and poached eggs or toad in the hole or, oh, many things. Eggs fra diavolo. Huevos rancheros. Simple crepes with grated cheese or jam. I love breakfast. I much too much love breakfast. I don't, alas, love oatmeal. Once in a while I'll make some and enjoy it but then I'd rather not bother again for a few months. I tried doing the overnight oats thing for a while, take them to work, etc., but I always felt like I was doing penance for some sad egg related sin.
posted by mygothlaundry at 12:48 PM on December 16 [1 favorite]

Since I bought a Vitamix blender a few months ago my breakfast most weekday mornings has been a smoothie. It's a recipe I cobbled together in an attempt to compensate somewhat for the potential deficiencies of my regular diet. It's a very vivid green color! Yet despite its glaring "upscale Health Drink" posture, I look forward to it every morning as it's surprisingly tasty and enjoyable.

Smoothie à la Greg_Ace
(makes 4 16oz or 6 10oz servings)

2 C yogurt or kefir milk
2 C water
2 Tbsp (heaping) spirulina powder
6 Tbsp (level) of a mix of chia, flax, and hemp seeds (i.e. about 2 Tbsp each)
1 handful walnut pieces
3 handfuls dried blueberries
2 large handfuls baby spinach
A generous splash (~2 Tbsp) of apple cider vinegar
1 banana
(extra water as needed during blending to keep the consistency from getting too thick)

The smoothie business started around the same time I discovered my local Winco carried all 3 seeds, walnuts, and dried blueberries in its "bulk" section, meaning it's pretty cheap to make. The only thing I have to buy online is the spirulina powder, which lasts about 6 months per 2lb tub so still not very expensive.

The weekdays I don't have a smoothie I'll make something quick and simple like an English muffin with butter and jam. Weekends are a little more ambitious and indulgent, anything from leftovers (could be literally anything) to eggs (such as an ersatz shakshuka with fried eggs in store-bought marinara sauce; stir-fried eggs and leftover rice; eggs and bacon; eggs and sausage; Spam, Spam, Spam, eggs, and Spam; etc.)

I used to drink coffee as soon as I woke up, before doing anything else and often instead of breakfast. But in recent years that's changed; now I tend to wait until late morning to have my first cup of the day.

---

I spent an enjoyable Sunday afternoon with a friend, having a few excellent beers and talking about music - which is a rare and very welcome treat, because ever since my best friend of almost 30 years (and fellow music enthusiast) died a few years ago it's a topic I have limited opportunities to discuss with anyone else.
posted by Greg_Ace at 12:53 PM on December 16 [2 favorites]

I hope you can forgive me for this, Greg_Ace, but I feel compelled:

Microbiota and Cyanotoxin Content of Retail Spirulina Supplements and Spirulina Supplemented Foods

Cyanobacterial biomass such as spirulina (Arthrospira spp.) is widely available as a food supplement and can also be added to foods as a nutritionally beneficial ingredient. Spirulina is often produced in open ponds, which are vulnerable to contamination by various microorganisms, including some toxin-producing cyanobacteria. This study examined the microbial population of commercially available spirulina products including for the presence of cyanobacterial toxins. Five products (two supplements, three foods) were examined. The microbial populations were determined by culture methods, followed by identification of isolates using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF), and by 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing of the products themselves and of the total growth on the enumeration plates. Toxin analysis was carried out by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Several potentially pathogenic bacteria were detected in the products, including Bacillus cereus and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Microcystin toxins were detected in all the products at levels that could lead to consumers exceeding their recommended daily limits. Substantial differences were observed in the identifications obtained using amplicon sequencing and MALDI-TOF, particularly between closely related Bacillus spp. The study showed that there are microbiological safety issues associated with commercial spirulina products that should be addressed, and these are most likely associated with the normal means of production in open ponds.

posted by jamjam at 1:13 PM on December 16 [1 favorite]

When I was a kid, my breakfast resembled that of many other kids I knew: weekdays it was cereal and milk (my brother and I fought over the cream on top of the milk), Saturdays we'd have a soft-boiled egg (remember to eat the soldiers or there'll be mice in your tummy), and Sundays my stepdad would cook up a full English.
That was then. But there was already a sign that I would become a breakfast renegade. We almost always spent Christmas with my grandparents in Northern Denmark, and there we always had goose. And I would always be the first person to get up and I would take out the goose carcass from the fridge and peel off some scraps to make little sandwiches on rye bread with plenty butter, stuffing and red cabbage.
I also realized that cereals are not good for me. I get a headache and can't really handle anything before lunch, when I get real food.
Since then, that has evolved. I don't eat breakfast every day, but when I do, I like it to be savory and a meal, not just a habit. I often buy yogurt and stuff and imagine it would be good for me to start the day the way the health-blogs tell me, but I end up throwing out the yogurt. I do drink a lot of ayran through the day, though. Often, I eat leftovers, sometimes I cook up something like shakshuka or beans and rice or ful mesdames.
If I am in a hurry in the early morning and can't cook a meal, I will definitely have second breakfast.
posted by mumimor at 1:51 PM on December 16 [2 favorites]

Going to grandma's house was always a treat because breakfast meant blueberry Eggo waffles. But on occasion they weren't Eggos. They were knockoff square waffles. Square! Not even the right shape! I wasn't fooled and no they didn't "taste the same".
posted by downtohisturtles at 2:11 PM on December 16 [2 favorites]

Buttered toast with runny fried egg, crunchy peanut butter and sriracha.

Buttered toast sandwich containing two sausages halved lengthways, a runny fried egg and two hash browns. Brown sauce or hot red sauce is optional.

I think I know what I did with 2024, but looking back at it, there's a lot of "never again" that needs to be said.
posted by k3ninho at 2:21 PM on December 16

When I'm functioning, I make a batch of fruit/chia/spinach/yogurt smoothie bowls for the week and freeze them, thawing one per day for breakfast. I top them with sliced fruit or whatever berries I can acquire, some granola, maybe some honey. If I haven't managed the smoothies for whatever reason--or forget to defrost them, more likely--I'll probably fix avocado toast with some everything bagel seasoning.

When I'm really functioning (only happens on long weekends, tbh) I will make a breakfast sandwich with a fried egg, melted gouda, and garlic chili crisp.

These days, however, I'm at the level of burnout where I try to make a piece of toast for breakfast, but if the butter isn't softened I might just eat cold dry bread over the sink, so as not to create a dish.
posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese at 2:24 PM on December 16 [4 favorites]

Another noper on breakfast being something eaten within hours of being awake. Coffee, as I am a slow starter and need to do something with the hands but not the brains just yet. The search for some kind of biscuit/cookie/bar that pairs well with coffee but isn't sweet, gooey, too fruity or (shudder) peanut butter or chocolate.Toast with jam, sometimes, but it still doesn't work with coffee correctly.
Second breakfast is whatever looks good, leftover Thanksgiving stuffing or spaghetti with bolognese or meatballs is the best. Once in a great while, making congee very slowly on the stove, top with scallions and maybe char siu.
Best of the best is hauling my stumbling uncaffeinated self out to dim sum, where I can have as much jasmine tea as possible (a lot, can't have other days, caffeine delivery is wrong) and delicious steamed broccoli with oyster sauce, har gow, siu mai, etc etc, and sesame balls and egg tarts.
I will gladly make brunch a couple times a year, a whole bunch of sweet savory stuffed and/or topped with eggy type things, juices and teas and beverages, cheeses, etc, as long as folks know to leave so I can nap before I get up and have my proper meal, dinner.
posted by winesong at 2:57 PM on December 16 [2 favorites]

Aw, AzraelBrown - congrats on working for (hopefully the better divisions of) the Mouse! I've so enjoyed reading your film school updates, and I'm really happy for you to have that gig, even if it is a day gig for now!

Yay you!
posted by kristi at 3:17 PM on December 16 [5 favorites]

Always: hot coffee

Work at court days: usually pop tarts or granola bars

Work from home days: usually yogurt with granola or steel cut oatmeal

Saturdays: 2 spicy pork empanadas from the empanada stand at the farmer's market

Sunday: sausages, toast and over easy eggs for him; then use the same egg pan to make scrambled for me, with lots of hot sauce

If dining out: something with breakfast potatoes, yum
posted by the primroses were over at 3:50 PM on December 16

Spirulina is often produced in open ponds, which are vulnerable to contamination by various microorganisms, including some toxin-producing cyanobacteria.

*sigh* This is why we can't have nice things!
posted by Greg_Ace at 4:10 PM on December 16 [1 favorite]

If I'm eating at home, which is 99.9% of the time, I eat four ounces of Minute Maid pulp-free orange juice, 3/4 cup Kashi Heart-to-Heart cereal (the kind that looks like Cheerios and hearts made out of Cheerio stuff, and which is now officially called Organic Honey Toasted Oat Cereal, but I refuse to call it that) and Fairlife ultra-filtered skim milk.

I eat the same thing every day because I have diabetes and if it's all the same food and measured the same then I don't have to count carbs. BUT, I have to note that while this has been my regular breakfast for decades, I've been known to stick with the same breakfasts for all the years of my life. When I was a kid, I had cinnamon toast or a cinnamon-toasted Eggo just about every day. In college and grad school, it was a Carnation breakfast bar and orange juice. (I tried to go to the dining hall to have a real breakfast, but morning isn't/wasn't my forte.)

All that said, when I've traveled to Europe and the hotels have huge breakfast options, I eat as if I don't know when my next meal will come. In the UK and in Italy, I had, almost daily, cereal of a flake variety and milk, hard boiled eggs, smoked salmon, and sometimes even pastry, and was hungry again at lunch time. (In my defense, we were walking a good 10+ miles every day.)
posted by The Wrong Kind of Cheese at 4:13 PM on December 16 [1 favorite]

I wasn't fooled and no they didn't "taste the same".

I am an adult who makes my own purchasing decisions and has a chemical addiction to name brand Eggos. Sometimes I'll try a different brand of frozen toaster waffles. They are always wrong and always inferior.

I feel so strongly about this that several years ago I was at Target and saw a woman putting a pack of Kodiak Power Waffles into her cart. I said hey none of my business what you eat, but have you had those before? And she said no. And so I said okay I'm going to save you from a mistake, these taste terrible, the texture is unpleasant, and there's something in them that burns at normal toaster temperatures. And she said okay good to know, and didn't take them out of her cart. And I said "no really, you're going to regret eating those." And she laughed and said "I'm shopping for Instacart, these people gotta make their own bad choices."
posted by phunniemee at 4:27 PM on December 16 [7 favorites]

Typically, a cold breakfast is either Shredded Wheat or Sugar Smacks. A hot breakfast is Garlic Grits & Cheese or Eggs
& Hash Browns or just some French Toast.. Sometimes, I'll add link sausages to those. If I go to a restaurant, Eggs, Bacon and Biscuits and Gravy. I'm a simple man when it comes to breakfast.
posted by JustSayNoDawg at 4:37 PM on December 16

Instant maple brown sugar oatmeal, healthy pinch of flax, and recently due to a recent thread - a small scoop (<= eighth of a cup) of grape nuts.
posted by JoeXIII007 at 4:39 PM on December 16

Instant oatmeal at home, on vacation today and I ventured out to the fancy bakery and got a variety of baked goods for breakfast, delicious!
posted by Higherfasterforwards at 5:18 PM on December 16

monday, wednesday: balkan yogurt with strawberry jam, morning round with half almond butter, half honey. Coffee and orange juice

tuesday: boiled egg, porridge (rolled oats), toast and marmalade. Coffee and orange juice

thursday: Tim's egg/sausage/bacon biscuit, medium black coffee, sour cream glazed donut (if I'm going down the lake at dawn, that is. If I'm not, as Tuesday

friday: sometimes just an amazing pastry from La Bastille plus an americano-type coffee from somwehere. If I'm really hungry, add monday/wednesday breakfast

weekend: boiled egg (two on sunday), porridge (pinhead/steelcut), oatcakes and honey. Coffee and orange juice
posted by scruss at 5:36 PM on December 16 [1 favorite]

I used to make an elaborate concoction based on oatmeal, corn, and peas. I may go back to making that later. These days I just make a pot of coffee. Around noon, I'll make a cheese and tomato sandwich.
posted by Multicellular Exothermic at 5:54 PM on December 16

Someone else here who usually just starts the day with coffee--strong, black, sometimes hot but sometimes room temperature--and will have a little something protein-rich two to three hours later and maybe a little something more around lunch-ish. Today was a bit different, though; I was submitting to a teeth cleaning first thing in the morning, and in between the blood-soaked brutality of the procedure itself and stern lectures on how I had to change up my tooth-brushing after half a century in order to keep my gums and ultimately my teeth, I decided to treat myself afterwards to two sausage-and-egg biscuits and one McGriddle, courtesy of the golden arches. Carbs early in the morning tend to crash my energy just a bit before my lunch break, but more coffee can help me get through that.
posted by Halloween Jack at 6:14 PM on December 16 [1 favorite]

Breakfast is an almond milk iced coffee, and/or an iced tea, with krill oil and vitamin tablets.

I need to be awake for several hours before I can deal with solid food.
posted by chariot pulled by cassowaries at 6:34 PM on December 16

Breakfast was much nicer before I had to go low-carb (all the best breakfast foods are carbs). These days it's a 4-ounce container of Breakstone's cottage cheese with Trader Joe's Everything But The Bagel seasoning on top, or half a small container of Publix chicken salad, or an avocado, or if I'm feeling really motivated, a 2-egg omelet with cheddar cheese and pico de gallo. I try to put this meal at around 10:30 or 11 am, so I don't have to eat anything else before dinner time. I dream of pancakes with maple syrup, and hash browns, and cheesy grits, and freshly squeezed orange juice, and croissants with butter, and bagels with cream cheese, and donuts, and all the forbidden things I can't have anymore. (Even things you'd think nobody in their right mind would miss, like oatmeal, or even cold cereal! What kind of freak misses Frosted Flakes? Me! I can't even walk down the cereal aisle of the grocery store without feeling a little wistful.)
posted by Daily Alice at 7:38 PM on December 16 [2 favorites]

Had to give up a solid, eye-opening cup of Peerless dark-roast for a less stomach-churning cup of Earl Gray.
posted by fubar at 8:22 PM on December 16

It's sausage biscuits for me: I have to have something solid with protein and carbs to go with morning meds.

Metafilter, I am very pleased with myself. I have been phobic of needles (medical trauma related) since I was a kid and too young/too early to get a diagnosis of medical PTSD. I had a course of hypnotherapy when I was a kid but a number of things in the last few years (COVID, taking an injectable medication, two surgeries this year) had re-traumatized me. So I got into therapy (exposure) for it and on Saturday I donated blood for the first time ever. It was scary and I did have to use my therapy skills but I managed to donate my pint. I am not yet signed up to go back in eight weeks but I'm going to make donating blood a regular part of my life now.
posted by gentlyepigrams at 8:52 PM on December 16 [13 favorites]

I'm envious of all of you with your fancy breakfasts. I love breakfast food but CANNOT eat anything right when I wake up. By the time I get hungry, it's 9:30 or 10, at which time I've already been at work for a few hours. So if I do eat, it's a Nutrigrain / FiberOne bar or similar. I keep an assortment in a drawer at work.

I used to drink the better part of a pot of coffee before noon, but several years ago I started to limit that in an effort to solve some sleep issues, and a couple of years ago I discovered I'd accidentally weaned myself off coffee entirely. I guess that's probably good, but I sometimes wonder if some of my perimenopausal brain fog could be helped by a bit of caffeine.

Today's grumble: A couple of months ago we had an ammonia leak at work, during which it was discovered that our evacuation plan was not up to snuff (lots of newish management staff), so we've been having drills every couple of weeks. The problem is that the gathering place is a block away from the office, which is a tough trek when you have severe arthritis in your hips (awaiting joint replacement) and walk with a cane on icy streets. While I understand the need for these drills and approve theoretically, every time we do one I'm in even worse pain than usual for the next day and a half. My car is RIGHT THERE by the front door in the handicapped spot, why can't I just drive from there? (I know why, I'm just in pain and grumbly.)
posted by cinnamonduff at 8:54 PM on December 16 [3 favorites]

My favorite meal is brunch. There used to be a place called the Orange Table in Phoenix, which had a green chile pancake that was pretty great. I miss it.

On weekends we either go to one of our brunch staples, or we make pancakes (sometimes with blueberries) or waffles at home. Weekdays are just yogurt and granola.

As for the coffee game, we’re usually aeropress people, just one cup for each of us. On weekends we use our little milk steamer to make it fancy.

But now, Mr Nat has gotten the decaf tasting kit from James Hoffman (YouTube coffee dude), so I guess we’re going to have to try that somehow?
posted by nat at 10:11 PM on December 16

Hmm.. maybe these are a decent replica… guess I misremembered and it was jalapeños.
posted by nat at 10:18 PM on December 16

I typically eat a large breakfast and skip lunch...

* Coffee with heavy cream and sometimes a bit of coconut oil
* Smoothie: rolled oats or cooked whole barley, avocado, walnuts or a nut butter, sweet potato, homemade whole-milk yogurt, a handful of cooked unflavored tofu, unflavored casein powder, a pinch of flavorful seeds like fennel, ground cardamom or five spice powder, ginger powder, psyllium seed, black pepper, turmeric. And a teaspoon of local honey, which makes it just sweet enough.
* Homemade rye quick bread topped with cured goat cheese and a small slice of turkey breast. Whole grain mustard on top, sometimes.

Typically keeps me going till 8 pm!
posted by rabia.elizabeth at 3:32 AM on December 17 [1 favorite]

Double espresso latte (from my kitchen). Then at some point between 10 am-1 pm, leftovers, or tuna salad, or sometimes I'll order something, usually an omelet, or my husband makes me something – usually omelet, creamy scrambled eggs and toast, or frittata. Tomorrow it's going to be pepper steak and glass noodles, because that's what we're making tonight, and we always have leftovers. Mmmmm! Peppery, glassy breakfast!
posted by taz at 7:20 AM on December 17 [2 favorites]

Breakfast: usually a cup (max two, can't have more caffeine early in the day, makes me feel awful) of tea, usually green. Two-three sandwiches, today I was extra hungry so a couple of slices of rye bread, couple of fried eggs, black pepper and salt, edam cheese and cucumber slices.

In other news: I've been mildly sick for a week and a half, just a low fever and some aches and tiredness, but seem to be getting over it slowly. I've been tinkering around the apartment, doing some maintenance on my guitar gear and reading and just taking it easy. Read Nathan Hill's Wellness in eight days, now I'm starting another big book, Roberto Bolaño's 2066, which I'm sure I heard of here first a number of years ago. A couple weeks ago before the flu/fever I slipped on some ice and hurt my arm, nothing major but a pain nonetheless. A good friend from the neighborhood has been helping me with groceries, today was the first day I had no fever and felt like walking to the bigger supermarket and did and almost saw the sun!

We are approaching the solstice, here at 65th parallel north the day is almost at it's shortest at 3 h 37 min. We've had very little snow so far. Must be a bit of a downer for the tourists.
posted by fridgebuzz at 8:08 AM on December 17 [3 favorites]

I usually have a sandwich for dinner, but that doesn't mean that sandwich can't be a breakfast sandwich. Here are a few.

Veggie hash brown casserole and breakfast links, toasted with cheddar and Sriracha, sandwich.

Grilled tocino topped with fried eggs, with refrigerator pickles, lettuce, tomatoes, and goma dressing on a baguette.

Scrapple, grilled Lebanon ring bologna, scrambled eggs, and cheese sauce on a butter broiled baguette.

Scrambled egg, sausage, American, and bacon jelly on a French toasted baguette.
posted by Stanczyk at 8:40 AM on December 17 [1 favorite]

I also occasionally do a savory donut for dinner. Here are a couple.

Garlic, tarragon, and chervil donut with a minced mushroom filling and marinara, lemon ricotta sauce, and hollandaise for dipping.

Rosemary, basil, oregano, garlic, and Parmesan donuts with more Parmesan sprinkled on top. With marinara, fig/olive relish, anchovies, bruschetta, red pepper pesto, and chunky garlic and jalapeño sauce for dipping.
posted by Stanczyk at 8:44 AM on December 17 [2 favorites]

Part of what I wrote on the subject of what I've eaten every morning since March 2020 (though now I share it with my dog Pepper!):
"When the plague came, people fled into the forest.
Hiking, riding, playing, dying.
Though they’ve gone home, somehow I’m still walking here.
In the mornings, I hear blackbirds in the birches.
Rustling, flying, croaking, crying.
I leave them gifts of apple cores half eaten near."
I wonder how many apple cores are sitting on the forest floor now. It's been nearly five years, and my mandatory daily forest walks, each with one apple, still help me stay sane while isolating.
posted by Flight Hardware, do not touch at 9:28 AM on December 17 [3 favorites]

Grad school update (MA in Public Administration & Public Policy): 4.0 for fall semester! 4.0 cumulative GPA!
posted by cooker girl at 9:48 AM on December 17 [12 favorites]

Wow, not breakfast stuff, but someone has been blasting their horn and CURSING VERY LOUDLY for the last 15 minutes. I mean reaaallllyy loud, reaalllyy long and all the dogs are barking reaaallllyy loudly. (Surely someone has blocked someone else from getting out of their parking space). If this were US, one or more of the someones would probably be shot by now.
posted by taz at 10:26 AM on December 17 [3 favorites]

These days, however, I'm at the level of burnout where I try to make a piece of toast for breakfast, but if the butter isn't softened I might just eat cold dry bread over the sink, so as not to create a dish.

We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese, I've been there, and you're still doing something, because I'm likely to just say meh, no breakfast. I have an idea: please ask for a ceramic butterkeeper for holiday or whatever gift. It sits on the counter with nice spreadable butter available any time. Just put in as much as you are likely to use in a week, say, when you are up to it, then replace. I'm in Greece, where it gets very hot indeed, and only had it go bad once when I really didn't use it at all for quite a long time.

Mine has a little knife that fits into the lid (will look for brand if anyone is interested), so I don't even have to fetch a knife. I wipe it with a paper towel after, no muss no fuss.
posted by taz at 10:45 AM on December 17 [2 favorites]

Okay, I found this (or one like it) on Amazon US. I would love to gift you this for Mefi gifties, if you are comfortable with that!
posted by taz at 10:54 AM on December 17 [1 favorite]

If this were US, one or more of the someones would probably be shot by now.

Cool.
posted by phunniemee at 10:55 AM on December 17 [1 favorite]

Well, the anger was off the charts, is what I'm saying, and there's tons of news stories about road rage shooting incidents in the US (not in Greek media, in US media), which, yeah, maybe are exaggerated?
posted by taz at 11:05 AM on December 17

please ask for a ceramic butterkeeper for holiday or whatever gift

I have one, and it works great, but the issue here in Chicago (and I think We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese lives hereabouts as well), we have the reverse of your problem: In the winter, the butter is still pretty firm even on the counter, because I only have the thermostat set at 68. It’s softer than coming out of the fridge, but a little challenging to spread still. I still recommend a butter dish anyway!

Important safety tip- only use salted butter in a butter dish like this. The salt is preservative, and adds significantly to the shelf life outside the fridge.
posted by notoriety public at 11:28 AM on December 17 [2 favorites]

aaah. I did not think of that. Good point.
posted by taz at 11:39 AM on December 17

I use unsalted butter exclusively; I keep a stick on the counter year-round (in a butter bell with a water seal during hot weather) and have never had any go bad, although to be fair each stick generally gets used up within 2-3 weeks. Just another data point...
posted by Greg_Ace at 12:11 PM on December 17

Don’t go through butter nearly as fast here, and I also use Kerrygold in the thick slabs rather than the skinny sticks. So it needs to last a lot longer than 3 weeks. Plus a butter bell is a lot better equipment! I was tempted to get one of those but I felt more comfortable getting a regular butter dish instead, given my relatively modest butter consumption.
posted by notoriety public at 12:20 PM on December 17

We use a bit a budda in our house so we keep a two-stick dish on the counter, but my wife is lactose intolerant so half is a really yellow and obviously plant-based stick, and the other side is real butter. What I love about the dish is it came with a butterknife that slips into a magnetized slot on the top, and the knife has tiny holes on one side so when you scrape over the toast, the excess butter squirts out the holes pre-softened and ready to spread. Changed my buttering game.
posted by Stanczyk at 12:59 PM on December 17 [1 favorite]

Oh lol we have a butter bell -- but someone must still PUT the butter INTO the keeper, and if they have not done, or if they have only just done...then yes, as notoriety public notes, the Chicago winter will not soften it in time for toast.

We go through butter so fast in this house (hence often finding the butter bell empty) that between the speed and the temps, unsalted butter works just fine in our bell.
posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese at 1:01 PM on December 17 [1 favorite]

That butter curler knife is genius, Stanczyk. Going straight onto my shopping list.
posted by notoriety public at 1:13 PM on December 17 [1 favorite]

Metafilter: some sad egg related sin

lol ❤️
posted by taz at 1:21 PM on December 17 [2 favorites]

Just remembered a very delicious sweet breakfast that I don't eat much, because I'm more of a dinner for breakfast person. You need tahini, date syrup and a freshly baked whole grain flatbread. Take a small plate and make a little lake of the date syrup on it. Drizzle tahini over the syrup to make a nice Jackson Pollock painting for breakfast. Eat using the still warm bread to scoop up the salty-sweet deliciousness. (Heat up a frozen pita in your toaster or oven or toaster oven if you don't live next to an Arab bakery). I'm certain this is very healthy and it goes well with both tea and coffee. Have a fruit if you need even more health, that too is delicious.

Today has been crazy. I've mentioned before that on September 7th I had a very complicated fracture in my right shoulder. Then 7 weeks of forced immobility. Amazingly, during that time almost all of my PTSD symptoms disappeared, and I lost 10 kgs. Also, the surgeons had warned me that there would be at least 9-12 months of rehabilitation and I might never get full mobility again, but I'm doing quite well.

Then after a bit of gentle rest and recreation, I went back from the ancestral farm mentioned somewhere above, where I broke my shoulder, to Copenhagen, where my doctor and physiotherapist reside. The second day I was there, I fell again (DEXA scan is in January). This time it wasn't really bad at all, no bones broken. But it re-triggered the PTSD, and within a week I was back in hospital, unable to move. I had all the scans and blood tests and everything else you can imagine, and the good thing is that I am in very good physical health. the bad thing is that paralysis is a completely new and scary symptom of PTSD for me. I've put half of the weight back on, and I can't sleep. So I decided to move back to the country, and today was the day.

I haven't spent much time in my car, afraid to be paralysed while driving. So it was a big surprise when I had packed the car with stuff and dog that a tire was completely flat. Luckily, exactly the same thing happened last year, so now I know who to call. There is this really cool guy with a mobile shop who will come out wherever you are. When I told him I had a ferry to catch, he promised to be there in six minutes, and he was. He solved the problem and I went on my way. But it is dark now in Scandinavia. When I drove off of the ferry at half past four, into the afternoon rush hour of Aarhus, the sky was pitch black and I was blinded by all the lights. I was anxious and scared and tense and both shoulders hurt.

There is a happy ending. When I came out of the tunnel under Limfjorden, my shoulders fell back into place and everything seemed good. I haven't even taken painkillers this evening, though I have had a glass of wine with my smørrebrød.

Now it's time for bed. There aren't too many cobwebs here, and the dog is happy too. Good night everyone, when you get there.
posted by mumimor at 2:06 PM on December 17 [11 favorites]

Jesus god but that is a hell of a story. Be better soonest mumimor.
posted by y2karl at 2:17 PM on December 17 [5 favorites]

Wow! Your body knows where it wants to be. I'm so glad you're feeling better and dog is happy!
posted by taz at 6:59 PM on December 17 [5 favorites]

I laid the plans for tomorrow's breakfast tonight, by stopping at the store on my way home to pick up some corn tortillas, salsa, and cheese. I did fried eggs and toast the last two days, gonna change it up a bit tomorrow with some basic scrambled egg breakfast tacos. I have previously remarked that in times of crisis, my reaction is to cook at people. Food is my love language. What I'm trying to do right now is show a little love for myself. It's working okay so far.
posted by notoriety public at 7:43 PM on December 17 [4 favorites]

At a Gwen Stefani private concert tonight at the Sphere -- on the floor front row against the stage. Dear reader - in 20 mins I will discover if I am indeed a hollaback girl…..
posted by inflatablekiwi at 7:45 PM on December 17 [4 favorites]

……and history will now show I am.
posted by inflatablekiwi at 9:37 PM on December 17 [5 favorites]

……and history will now show I am.

That's your shhh! That's your shhh!
posted by notoriety public at 9:43 PM on December 17 [3 favorites]

it’s B A N A N A S
posted by inflatablekiwi at 10:19 PM on December 17 [4 favorites]

Thanks!
posted by mumimor at 2:12 AM on December 18 [1 favorite]

With spouse’s blessing and encouragement, I am on retreat this week. My original intent was to rent a hotel room downtown, sleep for a couple of days and order room service, which was quashed by spouse with the reasoning “you are wasting money staying downtown, if you are going to go away, go away.

So I went away to Bedford Springs. Monday afternoon I drove through some gnarly fog and had a flashback to a drive down the mountains in western North Carolina through a fog so thick that you couldn’t stop. This fog was milder - I could see cars pretty clearly and there were lots of banana cracker drivers still zooming along at 70 miles an hour without a care in the world, while I was plodding along at a safer speed.

Yesterday I swam approximately 200 meters in an indoor pool, walked to a couple of the natural springs, sat on a porch, rocking in a rocking chair, and finished reading two novels. Today will be more of the same, with a massage thrown in.
posted by theBigRedKittyPurrs at 2:59 AM on December 18 [7 favorites]

Here's official info on the snow situation in Finland, in english, for those who may be interested. We here a little bit south of Lapland got some snow yesterday night, and it is supposed to snow all day tomorrow and a little on friday as well. On friday my 73-year-old aunt is picking me up in her tiny yellow Kia and we are going to visit some second hand shops and of course.. the cemetery to light some candles. And we are supposed to go to this suburb pizzeria for lunch which has the hugest "normal size" pizzas around here, I've never been there and am looking forward to it.

Also on friday a very good old friend is coming to town, and might stay at my apartment for the weekend. He had some plans of his own, but it is very nice to see him. The last time we hung out was in March when I was visiting Tampere for our mutual friend's housewarming party. I also received a nice christmas card in the mail from another old friend, who teaches in Rovaniemi (which yes, is in Lapland). I hadn't heard from her for a while and was just the other day wondering how she is doing.

These are basically my social plans for christmas, next week I'll spend by myself and maybe hanging out a little with the good friend from the neighborhood whom I've mentioned a couple times before.
posted by fridgebuzz at 4:39 AM on December 18 [9 favorites]

Is the moon full today or something? In the past 10 minutes 5 different people have honked aggressively multiple times along the street in front of my house... Weird.
posted by Greg_Ace at 8:13 AM on December 18 [2 favorites]

They have made their way from Greece to the front of your house. I call that progress!
posted by taz at 10:17 AM on December 18 [2 favorites]

I enjoyed the new Criterion Closet video with Pamela Anderson.

She comes off very much like any other aging Gen X film nerd in a sweater, very relatable and definitely knows her stuff.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 2:12 PM on December 18 [2 favorites]

I listened to her memoir a couple months back and really enjoyed it. Got her, Paris, and Brittney all in the same Libby checkout period.

If anyone has any other reccos for similar memoirs from other bombshell/bimbo archetype folks who actually seem to be quite lovely and complicated relatable people, please share.
posted by phunniemee at 2:25 PM on December 18 [2 favorites]

Hear, hear.
posted by y2karl at 6:31 PM on December 18

RIP, Slim Dunlap of The Replacements.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 8:57 AM on December 19

So... What's everybody doing this weekend?
posted by DirtyOldTown at 6:19 AM on December 20 [1 favorite]

DOT, today is my last day of full-time employment. Now for a holiday break, and in the new year a part-time schedule with the same job. It's the first time in 15 years I will be underemployed and my feelings are decidedly mixed!

This weekend is for dropping the rope. Just laying it all down. Later I will think and plan, but not now.
posted by Lawn Beaver at 6:38 AM on December 20 [2 favorites]

Lawn Beaver, I think you're gonna love it. I'm COMPLETELY unemployed right now, and yesterday I went on a long walk, discovered a great little cafe I hadn't known about earlier, and made an indulgent dinner; today is going to be a bit more adventure and another indulgent dinner. I've done all my Christmas shopping, the roommate is still away until January, and I'm LOVING THIS.

This weekend: hitting up a library in Brooklyn to finish my pursuit of their Browse the Branches game (hit up all 62 branches in the system by the end of the year and get a small token gift), and I'll be in a neighborhood where a person I'd lost touch with now lives so I reached out to ask if they wanna hang. If the weather holds I'm also considering popping down to the Dyker Heights neighborhood to see the insane Christmas lights they have. On Sunday night is a streaming revival of a thing my old theater company did for its Christmas parties - a live group-participation readthrough of the IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE script. (Think, like, karaoke but for a movie instead of a song.) They did this live until the company closed last year - but it's such a beloved thing that our old AD decided to bring it back this way.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:34 AM on December 20 [2 favorites]

My spouse just got offered a new job, which: pays better than her current one; will be a more interesting challenge; and frees her from the doldrums of a place where she is burned out pretty badly.

Wishing that positive job energy to all who need it.

Please accept this image of Johnny Paycheck in a bigass hat as a symbol of the positive mind atoms I am sending your way.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 7:50 AM on December 20 [1 favorite]

So... What's everybody doing this weekend?

I purchased a ham.
posted by Wordshore at 9:25 AM on December 20 [1 favorite]

Tell me more.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 9:36 AM on December 20 [1 favorite]

This weekend:
(a) seeing Matilda tonight with Theater Group #1 (Theater Group #2 also wants to see Matilda NEXT weekend, so I'm going twice, hope it doesn't suck!).
(b) going to Dickens Fair and having dinner with a friend Saturday
(c) doing an online play Sunday, followed by going to see Christmas lights with friends.

I'm perennially busy, which is why I'm behind on writing up them Hallmark reviews. I am cramming in the shows when I have time, making notes, and then still need to write stuff. I only have like...12 more for this year to go?
posted by jenfullmoon at 9:37 AM on December 20

I work 3 16 and 1 8 hour shifts between Thursday and Sunday. I like not being at the halfway house when every else is there. The population has increased with the cold weather and we now have 26 guys.

The newer guys are a mess. Straight out of detox and hanging on by their fingernails. Fentanyl is rough stuff.

Residents here are required to go to 3 12-step meetings a week. I find it hard to take. Bunch of whiners at the one I go to.

I worked until seven this morning and had to be back at three. The guy who never showers has showered without prompting and I am pleased. 1rst shift took Gary and Jimmy to the holiday party so they are both stuffed and content. I'm looking forward to an easy night.
posted by Mr. Yuck at 3:52 PM on December 20

I filled the hummingbird feeders.
posted by y2karl at 4:59 PM on December 20