Sausage Gravy with Buttermilk Biscuits

Here in the U.S. we often favor those sweet breakfast recipes. There's pancakes, waffles, crepes and French toast all drowning with syrup, then muffins, scones, donuts, sugary cereal, granola, sweet yogurt and even our oatmeal is often sweeter than it need to be.

But what about all those incredible savory options? Bagel sandwiches (with microwave eggs even), breakfast tacos, a loaded breakfast casserole, breakfast hash, eggs benedict and then of course there's the Southern staple biscuits and gravy that deserves more attention.

It's the ultimate homestyle breakfast and just stick to your ribs good hearty food. And when it's made from scratch it's as scrumptious as it gets!

I've shared a simple version here including square cut homemade biscuits (no specialty cutter required). Once baked they're served warm and polished off with a this classic, flavorful sausage gravy. It's a meat lovers breakfast paradise.

The Best Oat Flour Pancakes!

These oaty pancakes have been a go-to breakfast for us on weekends, holidays and lazy days. We have even started freezing them so we can have them during our busiest days.

Chances are they'll be a breakfast you crave all the time! They make a great dinner or midday snack too.

Just like most other pancake recipes these are a breeze to make. Just whisk the dry ingredients, followed by the wet ingredients, combined the two mixtures, then pour portions onto a hot griddle. And after a few short minutes you've got a perfectly cozy and comforting breakfast!

What to Serve Over These Pancakes

There are endless ways to top them but here are a few ideas to get you started:

• Blueberry syrup with whipped cream (my favorite pancake toppings!)
• Strawberry syrup
• Real maple syrup
• Butter, cinnamon and sugar
• Freezer jam
• Nut butters
• Nutella

Breakfast Egg Muffins

Welcome to what may likely be your new go-to breakfast! Our family loves these egg muffins for a quick before school and work breakfast (we serve them with freezer friendly healthy blueberry muffins or oat flour pancakes with blueberry syrup).

They are a nutritious option to start out the day, and there are countless ways you can make them by swapping in your favorite mix-in blends (see some ideas below).

They also store well in the fridge and freezer making them such a tasty make-ahead side dish. In other words it’s a good time to swap out those boring granola bars for this flavorful homemade breakfast instead!

Refreshing Blueberry Yogurt Parfaits

These simple yogurt parfaits are the perfect way to start any day. They are fresh and fruity, sweet and tangy, and you'll love the hints of spice in the granola.

And who can resist all that pretty layering?

There's a nice blend of textural contrast in them between the juicy sauce and blueberries, the thick and creamy yogurt, and the crisp granola. It's a highlight of a parfait.

Try them soon while sweet summer blueberries are in season!

Homemade Iced Coffee

Making iced coffee at home is such an easy process and you only need a few ingredients. The key is just using robust, richly roasted coffee beans and allowing a generous soak time.

When you make at home you get to make it as mild or intense in flavor as you'd like, and adjust it to be as sweet or creamy as you'd like as well. You've also got the option to make it with regular or decaf coffee as well.

No need to leave the house early to take the extra time to stop by the coffee shop when you can make it at home in minutes (just plan some extra time to let the ground beans soak overnight).

Plus you don't need any fancy equipment here. You have the option of using store-bought coarsely ground coffee beans or grinding whole beans on your own.

Then from there you just need a sieve, and cheesecloth or a coffee filter to strain it.

It's a delicious iced coffee that's equally as good as you'll get at any coffee shop and you can make it for a fraction of the cost!

Homemade Breakfast Tacos

Breakfast tacos are best when they're homemade and made fresh from scratch! Beginning with fresh tortillas and piled high with plenty of meat and eggs, and loaded up with all the best breakfast taco toppings.

Yes making them from scratch is more of a labor of love but easily worth it in the end. Once you get the hang of homemade tortillas they are a breeze. And fresh pico de gallo easily beats out bottled salsa.

Weekends and even weeknight dinners were made for these breakfast tacos! They may even take the place of your favorite pancake breakfast that many of us have on repeat. So much to love about these hearty, flavor packed tacos!

What are Johnny Cakes?

Johnny cakes (hoecakes) are soft and tender cornmeal flatbread or hot cake made from a quick batter that's cooked in a skillet on the stovetop.

They are made with finely ground cornmeal and often flour, then mixed with a liquid such as buttermilk, milk or water. A fat such as oil, bacon drippings, lard or butter are also included to keep them rich and moist. And eggs are included to bind ingredients.

They were an early American, inexpensive staple food and they are popular in regions from Canada, the Unites States and down to Jamaica and other islands coming in many different variations.

To give you comparisons to foods you may likely be familiar with, they are like a cross between pancakes and cornbread. In other words they are the perfect homestyle comfort food and are absolutely delicious!

What is Porridge?

Porridge is a soft food with a creamy or mushy consistency that's typically served warm. It is made by boiling together any chopped or crushed grain or starchy plants with a liquid such as milk or water.

The most common versions (at least here in the U.S) are served for breakfast but different variations are served for other meals.

Porridge is ancient dish that has been around for thousands of years and has been a cheap and comforting dish that has fed many civilizations.

There are many variations, a few of the most well known types are made using rice, cornmeal, oats, and wheat.

I have tried several different grain blends for porridge and this was my favorite blend including the steel cut oats, farro and amaranth.

I think you'll love this version of porridge too! It's something the whole family can enjoy (even my kids love it!).

Our Go-To Blueberry Muffins!

Is a blueberry muffin healthy?  While the obvious answer is no a traditional blueberry muffin is definitely not healthy, we can however make a few simple modifications to make them quite a bit healthier.

And sure I have a not-so-healthy sugar packed blueberry muffin we love and enjoy sometimes but this recipe below is something I feel better about serving my family more often.  These have actually been one of our go-to breakfasts before school for quite some time.

It's something we can take on the go, they are such a tasty morning treat, and it's so convenient that they can be made ahead.

For the kids we usually just pair them with milk and a hard boiled egg for another make ahead option (we aren't morning people and appreciate those few extra minutes of sleep). And if you like them warm you can heat in the microwave briefly.

These blueberry muffins freeze well for several months (though you'll probably have them polished off much sooner), and you don't even need a mixer to make them!

They have a soft and moist crumb, plenty of blueberry flavor, and they are sweetened just enough.

If you are looking for a smarter way to enjoy a muffin without all the refined sugars and unhealthy fats I highly recommend trying these. You may likely agree muffins can still be delicious without all that extra stuff.

Our Favorite Chia Pudding!

Chia seed pudding is a healthy pudding made with rich in fiber chia seeds, some type of milk, a little sweetener, and optional flavorings and toppings. It is usually made from vegan ingredients and it's easy as can be to make!

All the ingredients are simply mixed together in a jar or bowl then rested overnight in the fridge so chia seeds have time to plump and soften. Then the next day it's ready to enjoy and you end with the perfect consistency and texture.

I didn't used to care much for chia pudding but that was until I started adding canned coconut milk (in addition to a non-dairy milk) for an extra boost of creamy richness, and also I added some flavorful extract (my favorite is coconut here).

I found it doesn't need a whole lot of either to really take it from bland and boring to something you'll actually crave.

Then of course, to really highlight it, I recommend finishing it with fresh diced fruit (or puree). My favorites are peaches or mangoes, especially with this coconut vibe we have going.

But truly it's a blank canvas, start with the main base then finish it off with toppings to your hearts content. And for more of a dessert, be sure to try the tempting chocolate variation as well!