Remember breakfast? No, not some skimpy continental affair, nor those instant meals where all you do is add water, but a real breakfast. Breakfasts with Halwa Pori, Cholay, Parathay, Sunny side up eggs, Omelet, grilled meat, muffins, biscuits, - all served in dinner style with Chutney and some gravy.
Breakfasts like this have fueled Pakistani families for generations, and though such hearty cooking is too filling and time-consuming to be eaten regularly by most modern working people, it is just the thing to warm the body and soul on a frigid winter's morning. These traditional breakfasts like Halwa Pori, connect us to the roots of Pakistani food, to a time when the good life comprised little more than working hard and eating well.
Preparing such breakfasts are much complex than slipping a piece of bread in the toaster, it is not nearly as time consuming as you might expect. You can make a hearty breakfast by using leftover meat from the previous night.
A sure way to make a breakfast meal would be to serve it in courses, so that you include everything in the most important meal of the day. Have a hot cereal before eggs and later, serve, Egg Halwa as simple dessert.
Most people don't like cooking first thing in the morning. Many of these recipes don't take a lot of time and are so tasty. All recipes make 4 servings.
1. Scrambled Eggs with Cheese
Beat together 8 large eggs, 1/2 teaspoon hot pepper sauce, salt, pepper, and 3 tablespoons milk. Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over high heat until foamy and add the eggs. When a film of egg sets up across the bottom of the pan about 5 seconds, move it toward the center with a spatula. Continue in this way, until all the egg is mostly set but still quite wet. turn heat to low, sprinkle 4 ounces of shredded over the eggs, cover the pan, and cook for 30 seconds more. Fold the egg over itself.
2. Grilled Tomatoes
Cut 2 large tomatoes in 3/8-inch slices. Brush with 1/4 cup melted butter and season liberally with salt and pepper. Grill 2 minutes per side and serve with eggs.
3. Stir-Fried Scrambled Eggs with Shrimp
In a wok, stir-fry 1 cup cleaned, shelled baby shrimps, and 1/4 clove minced garlic in 2 tablespoons hot oil until shrimps are opaque. Add 6 eggs beaten with 1 tablespoon water, salt, pepper, and 1 teaspoon hot pepper sauce. As eggs set on the floor of the wok, scrape up with a spatula until all the egg is set.
4. Real Good French Toast
Beat together 1/4 cup maple syrup, 4 eggs, 1 cup milk, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and a pinch each of grated nutmeg, and salt. Soak 8 thick slices bakery quality white bread in the custard until all has been absorbed. Brown in the batches over moderate heat, in 4 to 6 tablespoons unsalted butter. Serve with honey or sautéed fruit salad.
5. Sautéed Fruit Salad
In a pan, warm 3 cups chopped fruit (cherries, berries, peaches, plums, bananas, apples), 1 tablespoon butter, and 2 teaspoons sugar until fruit becomes shiny and starts to release its liquid. Remove fruit from pan and deglaze pan with 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract. Serve immediately.
6. Orange Butter
Beat 1/4 pound butter until light and fluffy. Beat in 1/4 cup sweet orange marmalade, 2 teaspoons frozen orange juice concentrate, and 1 teaspoon lemon juice. Use as a spread or a topping for French toasts.
7. Real Oatmeal
In a heavy saucepan, bring 4 cups water and 1/2 teaspoon salt to a boil. Slowly add 1 cup oatmeal, stirring constantly. Do not allow the water to stop boiling. Cook oatmeal briskly until water starts to cloud. Turn down to a bare simmer, partially cover the pan, and simmer 30 minutes more, stirring briefly every 10 minutes. Stir in 2 tablespoons brown sugar and 2 tablespoons butter, if desired. Serve with cold milk, cream, or buttermilk.
8. Muesli Cereal
In a large deep iron skillet, mix 2 cups quick or old-fashioned oatmeal, 1 cup slivered almonds, 1/2 cup sesame seeds, 1/2 cup flaked coconut, and 1/2 cup wheat germ. Stir until small pieces begin to color lightly, remove from heat, and continue stirring until cereal is uniformly lightly toasted. Stir in 1 cup raisins and a pinch of salt. Cool completely and store in a tightly closed container. Eat as is or in a bowl with milk. This makes 5 1/2 cups or about 8 servings.
Enjoy your first most important meal of the day and be energetic all day!!
Breakfasts like this have fueled Pakistani families for generations, and though such hearty cooking is too filling and time-consuming to be eaten regularly by most modern working people, it is just the thing to warm the body and soul on a frigid winter's morning. These traditional breakfasts like Halwa Pori, connect us to the roots of Pakistani food, to a time when the good life comprised little more than working hard and eating well.
Preparing such breakfasts are much complex than slipping a piece of bread in the toaster, it is not nearly as time consuming as you might expect. You can make a hearty breakfast by using leftover meat from the previous night.
A sure way to make a breakfast meal would be to serve it in courses, so that you include everything in the most important meal of the day. Have a hot cereal before eggs and later, serve, Egg Halwa as simple dessert.
Most people don't like cooking first thing in the morning. Many of these recipes don't take a lot of time and are so tasty. All recipes make 4 servings.
1. Scrambled Eggs with Cheese
Beat together 8 large eggs, 1/2 teaspoon hot pepper sauce, salt, pepper, and 3 tablespoons milk. Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over high heat until foamy and add the eggs. When a film of egg sets up across the bottom of the pan about 5 seconds, move it toward the center with a spatula. Continue in this way, until all the egg is mostly set but still quite wet. turn heat to low, sprinkle 4 ounces of shredded over the eggs, cover the pan, and cook for 30 seconds more. Fold the egg over itself.
2. Grilled Tomatoes
Cut 2 large tomatoes in 3/8-inch slices. Brush with 1/4 cup melted butter and season liberally with salt and pepper. Grill 2 minutes per side and serve with eggs.
3. Stir-Fried Scrambled Eggs with Shrimp
In a wok, stir-fry 1 cup cleaned, shelled baby shrimps, and 1/4 clove minced garlic in 2 tablespoons hot oil until shrimps are opaque. Add 6 eggs beaten with 1 tablespoon water, salt, pepper, and 1 teaspoon hot pepper sauce. As eggs set on the floor of the wok, scrape up with a spatula until all the egg is set.
4. Real Good French Toast
Beat together 1/4 cup maple syrup, 4 eggs, 1 cup milk, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and a pinch each of grated nutmeg, and salt. Soak 8 thick slices bakery quality white bread in the custard until all has been absorbed. Brown in the batches over moderate heat, in 4 to 6 tablespoons unsalted butter. Serve with honey or sautéed fruit salad.
5. Sautéed Fruit Salad
In a pan, warm 3 cups chopped fruit (cherries, berries, peaches, plums, bananas, apples), 1 tablespoon butter, and 2 teaspoons sugar until fruit becomes shiny and starts to release its liquid. Remove fruit from pan and deglaze pan with 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract. Serve immediately.
6. Orange Butter
Beat 1/4 pound butter until light and fluffy. Beat in 1/4 cup sweet orange marmalade, 2 teaspoons frozen orange juice concentrate, and 1 teaspoon lemon juice. Use as a spread or a topping for French toasts.
7. Real Oatmeal
In a heavy saucepan, bring 4 cups water and 1/2 teaspoon salt to a boil. Slowly add 1 cup oatmeal, stirring constantly. Do not allow the water to stop boiling. Cook oatmeal briskly until water starts to cloud. Turn down to a bare simmer, partially cover the pan, and simmer 30 minutes more, stirring briefly every 10 minutes. Stir in 2 tablespoons brown sugar and 2 tablespoons butter, if desired. Serve with cold milk, cream, or buttermilk.
8. Muesli Cereal
In a large deep iron skillet, mix 2 cups quick or old-fashioned oatmeal, 1 cup slivered almonds, 1/2 cup sesame seeds, 1/2 cup flaked coconut, and 1/2 cup wheat germ. Stir until small pieces begin to color lightly, remove from heat, and continue stirring until cereal is uniformly lightly toasted. Stir in 1 cup raisins and a pinch of salt. Cool completely and store in a tightly closed container. Eat as is or in a bowl with milk. This makes 5 1/2 cups or about 8 servings.
Enjoy your first most important meal of the day and be energetic all day!!