Don’t you just love summer mornings with early sunrises, warm summer breezes and waking to sounds of nature. Following a good stretch, I always look forward to breakfast in the summer. You don’t have to be a chef to incorporate summer in your breakfast(s). Here are some simple tips for freshening and livening up your breakfast with a “touch of summer”.
Hot Cereal
Summer up your oatmeal by adding a handful of blackberries, blueberries and/or strawberries. For a finishing touch, drizzle a little honey on top. It’s simply delicious.
Summer Beverage
Most of us have a cup of orange, apple or cranberry juice for breakfast. To “sparkle” up your summer beverage, add 1/2 cup of sparkling water to your juice.
Breakfast Fruit Salad
No matter what’s on the menu, be sure to add a fresh summer breakfast salad. Pamper yourself by serving it in a champagne flute or wine glass. You can use any combination of fruits. Top it off with walnuts, granola and/or a spoonful of yoghurt.
Waffles/French Toast
These are great any time of the year. In the summer, top them off with fresh fruit. Some ideas include sliced bananas and assorted berries. Drizzle with syrup or top with whipped cream.
Pancakes
Make your pancakes a little thinner than usual. Then take cream cheese or yoghurt, and mix with a fruit puree or fresh fruit. Then roll the mixture into the pancake and fold it with the fold side down. Top with powdered sugar, whipped cream, honey or syrup.
Breakfast Smoothies
You can’t go wrong with incorporating a fruit smoothie into your summer breakfast. You can use any fruit but some really tasty smoothies are – Mango, Peach and Strawberry. An easy way to make a smoothie is to take your main fruit(s) (i.e., 1 peeled mango and 1 peach), add a banana (Optional – but good for texture), 1 cup of orange juice, 1 cup of yoghurt and 1 cup of ice. Sweeten with honey if desired. Combine together in a blender, top with fresh fruit and/or whipped cream.
Grilled Fruit
Add grilled fruit to any breakfast menu. These can be made like kebabs on your outdoor grill. If you don’t have access to an outdoor grill, you can use a grill. You should probably dip the fruit in lemon juice before grilling to keep it from browning. Some of the best fruits to grill are – kiwi, strawberries, pineapples, peaches and nectarines.
Finally, presentation is everything. Simply put a fresh flower in a vase for that special touch. Enjoy!
