The Most Important Meal

When I was growing up with my two sisters and brother, Mom didn't work so she would actually cook us breakfast before school. Don't be jealous because you didn't grow up in the sixties. I don't remember eating breakfast on the weekends, but during the school year we always had a hot meal. As my sisters and brother left home and I was the only remaining child left to be looked after, Mom wouldn't even get out of bed in the mornings. I don't blame her. She was forty when she had me and I'm sure she tired of making waffles or pancakes or oatmeal. I was resigned to heating up Pop-Tarts or having Count Chocula. I never gave up on the meal, more out of routine than actual hunger.

I tried to make breakfast a habit for my daughters, even though I worked through much of their childhood. The Golden Child, Beth, caught the fever and still starts her day with a bite to eat, even after 27 years. Starting the day with  anything in your tummy activates metabolism, which starts the process of burning calories. The Silver Child(not my choice of words, but by the one who felt slighted), Kayla, eventually rebelled against breakfast. She was too busy choosing the right outfit and applying the complimentary make-up. She could give a rat's ass about metabolism. I tried.

It isn't the sixties anymore but you don't have to have a sit-down breakfast for the kids or adults. And as delicious as McMuffins are from McDonald's and Taquitos from Whataburger, you don't have to spend the money or the time through the drive-through. Check the frig the night before and see what you have on hand to make a quick meal to take on the road to school or work. I've got the process down to 10 minutes. If you can wake up 10 minutes earlier in the morning, you can give yourself or your family a meal worth starting the day with. What says Love more than a hot meal to start a boring school or work day? Ok, the Hope diamond would be better. I agree.

I like to make breakfast burritos, and these are a flexible enough meal to please anyone. My next blog will be how to create a Breakfast on a Bun(or biscuit or English muffin), but for now we stick with the folded deliciousness of the tortilla.

Before starting breakfast, to save time, grab everything you need out of the frig at once: eggs, meat, cheese, salsa, tortillas, whatever. It makes the process smoother-you only have 10 minutes.

Once your eyes are open enough to feel confident to handle a hot stove and microwave, start with the meat. If you want bacon on your burrito, start cooking that first. I use two strips cooked in the microwave, in between two paper towels, for two minutes. 2-2-2. If using sausage I would cook that the night before because it takes so much longer. It can be reheated in the microwave for less than a minute. Any meat will do, especially leftover meat, like steak, ham, pork chops, or I guess chicken, even though I've never tried a breakfast burrito with chicken. I like just egg and cheese, so I save even more time by not messing with meat.

While the meat is cooking, spray a small fry pan with Pam and set over a flame on medium heat.

Crack 2 or 3 eggs in a bowl, depending on how large an appetite someone has or how big your tortillas are. Beat the eggs with a fork just until they are blended. You can over beat eggs.

While the pan is heating, get out how many tortillas you need and place them on a paper towel.
Put the unused eggs and tortillas and any leftover meats by the refrigerator, so you can replace all items at once, just like you removed them.

Pour the blended eggs in the hot fry pan. By this time the bacon or meat should be done. Remove the meat from the microwave and place the tortillas on the paper towel inside. I like to heat the tortillas up on 10 seconds, adding 5 for each additional tortilla. Set the microwave for the appropriate time but don't start it yet.

Using a spatula, start scrambling the eggs. I like to add salt and pepper at this point, but you could wait until it's finished cooking or omit completely. While the eggs are cooking, take a minute to tear pieces of foil, enough pieces to wrap each burrito in.

Start the microwave because the eggs will be nearly finished cooking.
When the microwave goes off, place a paper towel on each piece of foil. Put a tortilla on each foil/paper towel.

Spoon eggs on each tortilla. Add the cheese next, if using. The hot eggs melt the cheese. If using bacon, crumble the strips on top of the cheese. Put whatever meat of your choice on top of the cheese. Add salsa if you want.

Fold each tortilla up on one end, then roll, leaving one end of the burrito open. Wrap in the paper towel in the same manner as the tortilla. Next roll the foil in the same way as the tortilla. I used to just wrap the burrito in paper towels, but the salsa would soak through, tearing through the paper towel and eventually the tortilla would tear. I also used to just wrap the burrito in foil. This is what I've found with using the paper towel/foil method: the paper towel comes in handy for absorbing filling that might come lose and mopping up your mouth from messy salsa, plus it acts as a steamer for the tortilla; the foil keeps the burrito warm, so when you get to school or work you still have a hot meal.

Throw dirty dishes in the sink and put the rest of the food back in the refrigerator.

Miles isn't awake enough in the mornings at home to eat, but by the time he gets to work, his stomach has come alive. A home-made burrito is better than any fast food, plus it's such a pleasure to eat something that was created just the way you like it. Make it cheesier, meatier, bigger than you can get anywhere else. That's the beauty of cooking.

The breakfast burrito I love the most is chorizo with fried potatoes and refried beans, but that's another post when time isn't a factor. Let me know if this works for you!

Happy Cooking!