Chapter One

Breakfast

Apple and Cottage Cheese Breakfast Bowl

I had never tried cottage cheese before coming to college and was frankly a little scared by it, but I now realize that it is a total sleeper hit as a breakfast item. In a lot of typical dishes that call for yogurt, you can use cottage cheese to make them a lot more filling — like this recipe, which pairs cottage cheese with lemon- and cinnamon-coated fruit for a really hearty start to the day.

Ingredients

Equipment

Instructions

  1. 1. Coat the apple slices with a heaping spoonful of brown sugar and a shake or two of cinnamon.
  2. 2. Squeeze a little lemon juice over the apples. If you’d like, microwave the apples for about 1 minute to warm the fruit and melt the sugar.
  3. 3. In a separate bowl, mix a little more brown sugar into some cottage cheese. Add the apple mixture to the cottage cheese, and stir it all together.

French Toast

French toast is sometimes overshadowed in the brunch department by its more popular cousins, the pancake and the egg. But as a dish, it has so much to offer: cinnamon and syrup-soaked bread with fresh fruit and melting butter on top — the perfect lazy Sunday breakfast.

Ingredients

Equipment

Instructions

  1. 1. Crack the egg into a bowl and beat it with a fork. Mix in a few big spoonfuls of milk or soy milk and a few shakes of sugar, and cinnamon, if you'd like.
  2. 2. Lightly toast the bread, then soak it in the egg mixture for a minute or so.
  3. 3. Microwave the bread on high for 1 minute on each side, or until the egg has cooked into the bread.
  4. 4. Spread butter on top of the piece of French toast. Drizzle honey or maple syrup and add chopped strawberries on top.

Raw Eggs

Most dining halls will not have plain eggs out for the taking, but it’s easy to ask for one wherever you see eggs being served.

Chilaquiles

Chilaquiles are a super flavorful Mexican breakfast dish made of tortillas and eggs. I had this meal for the first time when I attended summer camp in Cuernavaca, Mexico, during high school. If you are into breakfast burritos or huevos rancheros, you should definitely consider adding chilaquiles to your morning routine.

Ingredients

Equipment

Instructions

  1. 1. Rip the tortillas into bite-size pieces and spread them out on a plate. If using tortilla chips, just put a big handful on a plate.
  2. 2. Pour a large scoop each of tomato sauce and salsa over the tortillas.
  3. 3. Add grated cheese, beans, and eggs, and microwave the dish for 1 minute, or until the cheese melts.
  4. 4. Top with avocado slices and more cheese, if you’d like.

Tortillas vs. Tortilla Chips

Use tortillas if you want your chilaquiles to taste more enchilada-esque, and tortilla chips if you want a little extra crunch in each bite.

Oatmeal Yogurt Breakfast Pudding

I discovered this combination while I was studying abroad in London, and I think I ate it almost every single day for breakfast. If you aspire to fall into a similar routine, I definitely suggest changing it up with different kinds of sweeteners, fruits, and yogurts to avoid repetitiveness.

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. 1. Let the oatmeal cool down for a minute, or longer, depending on how hot it is.
  2. 2. Slowly stir the yogurt into the oatmeal.
  3. 3. Slice the banana into the bowl and mix it into the oatmeal and yogurt. Top with a drizzle of honey.

Eggs Carbonara

Carbonara is traditionally associated with dinner, but its main components — eggs, bacon, Parmesan cheese, and pepper — work even better as a simple breakfast dish. These eggs can make a quick transition to lunch or dinner, though — just add pasta!

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. 1. Crumble a few bacon strips into pieces over the eggs. Drizzle olive oil on top.
  2. 2. Finish with a sprinkling of Parmesan and a healthy dusting of pepper, freshly ground if possible.

Avocado Toast

When my mother can’t decide what to make for breakfast when I am at home, she spreads half of an avocado on a piece of toast and tops it with our secret family spice. While I can almost guarantee that your dining hall does not stock the Krishna spice blend, you can top a piece of avocado toast with virtually anything (barring a few exceptions) to make a super-satisfying breakfast.

Ingredients

Equipment

Instructions

  1. 1. Toast the bread.
  2. 2. Mash about half of an avocado onto the toast and sprinkle salt and pepper on top.
  3. 3. Add more toppings to suit your mood.

Mango Parfait

Mangoes and cinnamon make this dish a little more interesting than your everyday granola parfait, and it is always my go-to as a healthy breakfast or post-workout snack.

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. 1. Add a scoop of plain yogurt to your cup of mango pieces.
  2. 2. Top with a small handful of granola, a few shakes of cinnamon, and a drizzle of honey.