Breakfast is widely accepted as the most important meal of the day. But why restrict all that delicious buttery yolky goodness to the morning? Imagine, instead of wolfing down your burnt toast at the wheel in rush hour traffic, you could be savoring your eggs benedict by candlelight – with a large glass of wine.
Let me introduce you to Brinner – all of the joy of breakfast at dinner. Just think, classic breakfast dishes without any of the morning tantrums, rushing around or general stress. Why hasn’t anyone thought of this sooner?
Pancakes – Savoury or Sweet
Pancakes are the ultimate of all brinners. If you have a sweet tooth then slather on the syrup and chocolate spread. Slice up a banana and a few strawberries and you’re on your way to five a day. For a zesty kick, you can’t go wrong with the old lemon and sugar combo. For a more savory twist on the classic pancake try it with bacon or sausage – add a splash of tomato ketchup and jobs a good un’.
For some great recipes ideas on how to make pancakes (in many different forms), check out My Great Recipes.
Helpful hint: Keep a sieve at the ready and be wary of adding too much mixture to the frying pan.
Spanish Omelette – Bring the Costa Del Sol to Your Kitchen
If you fancy getting exotic with your brinner then there’s no tastier or simpler way than with a Spanish omelet. If you like your evening meal meaty then chuck in the chorizo. If you’re indulging then adding in extra potato and lashings of cheddar cheese tastes phenomenal, or if you’re calorie counting opt for veggies and a side salad. For the super health-conscious, an egg white omelet with fresh tomato is super low in fat and will help you feel fuller for longer. This recipe from Jamie Oliver is described as a ‘Spanish omelet meets Italian frittata mash-up’ and serves two.
Suggestion: Mix up a pitcher of Sangria to wash it down.
Bacon Buttie – The Old English Classic
Nothing tastes – or smells – better than hot sizzling bacon. Forget brinner, a bacon sandwich is welcome at any time of the day. Best served with lashings of tomato ketchup and topped with a fried egg or some fried mushrooms. If you’re watching your weight try some lean turkey bacon cooked on the grill with the fat stripped off. Top it with some grilled tomatoes and use wholemeal bread for the ultimate guilt-free feast.
Best served with: A nice strong cup of tea or coffee.
Eggs Benedict – For When You’re Feeling Fancy
Eggs Benedict is without a doubt one of the most delectable of breakfast dishes and the perfect option for a fanciful brinner. The dish hails from New York City and compromises of a split English muffin, topped with bacon or ham, and finished with a poached egg and lashings of hollandaise sauce. If you’re feeling ambitious then you can have a crack at your own hollandaise sauce, or there are plenty of packet mixes available which are easy to whip up and taste just as good.
Perfect for: Date night
Waffles – The Ultimate Comfort Food
Go full on American with some fried chicken and waffles complete with a dusting of icing sugar and a splash of maple syrup. It sounds sickly sweet but it’s a surprisingly good combination and the kids will love it. Your waistline might not thank you but your taste buds certainly will.
Top tip: Try adding some chocolate chips to your waffle mix.
Cereal – The Easy Option
Cereal might sound like a cop-out when it comes to brinner options, but it is the most varied and easy to prepare dish, of them all. In recent years cereal’s popularity has soared thanks to the opening of cereal cafes in London and New York and there have never been more varieties available to the cereal-lover. Chop some fruit into a bowl of bran flakes if you’re being good or warm up some Weetabix with honey to beat the winter blues.
Watch out for: sugar content.
Breakfast Burrito: Save the Best for Last
For the ultimate brinner you can’t beat a breakfast burrito. Think of a full English breakfast with a Mexican twist and a ton of cheese. The breakfast burrito consists of scrambled eggs, chorizo, red pepper, onions and refried beans. Spice it up with chilies, salsa and a dash of hot sauce for an authentic Mexican brinner that will definitely warm the cockles. Simple, delicious, and relatively healthy, the breakfast burrito is the gift that keeps on giving.
Pushed for time? Breakfast burritos can be frozen and defrosted easily.
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