Breakfast off the Beaten Path

I love breakfast, always have.  I start out the day hungry, which I know not everyone does and that first cup of coffee is something I look forward to and I always want to eat something I enjoy, not just fill my stomach  Also, in late winter, post-holidays I am always resolved to get closer to the "five a day" recommendation and up my fruit and vegetable servings.  Here's a couple of good health recipes we've been enjoying around here that are a nice change from the bowl of cereal or egg breakfast ruts one can fall into.

I should give a nod to Molly Katzen's "Pretend Soup" for the noodle kugel idea, although I've tinkered with it a bit.  This is a really delightful cookbook for pre-school age kids.  It gives picture instructions for vegetarian recipes.  We aren't vegetarian more than a night or two a week, but I love that there are no convenience or processed foods in the recipes.  So many "kids" cookbooks are thinly disguised promotion for cartoon characters or dubious food brand names.  This is a great cookbook for any little person in your life.  

Winter Muesli
(1-2 servings)
1 good crunch apple, cored and chopped
1/4 cup chopped toasted almonds
1 cup unsweetened yogurt (you could substitute vanilla, then just leave out the sugar)
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 tablespoon flax seed
pinch of cinnamon or cardamom

Mix all the above in a bowl and enjoy.  I love the crunch and energy all the nuts and apples give to an otherwise mellow serving of yogurt.

Noodle Kugel in a Hurry 
(about six servings)

1 lb Trader Joe's whole wheat pasta
1 lb cottage cheese
3 tablespoons sugar (brown or white, as you please--turbinado would be yummy too, now that I think of it, because of the extra crunch)
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 tablespoon butter
a good handful of dried cherries, cranberries or raisins

Cook the pasta according to the package instructions.  Drain, put the warm pot back on the burner and add the butter, sugar and cinnamon.  Melt and combine, then take off the heat.  Add the cooked drained pasta, cottage cheese and cherries to the pan.  Stir and serve.