Some easter painted eggs my mom got me from Austria…
Dear Friends,
Happy Saturday, and more importantly: Happy Easter! I don’t know about you, but when Easter Day comes I feel a palpable lightning of my spirit. Lent and its asceticism are over, and with them winter and its last rasping gasps seem also to be on their way out. The weather in Scotland has been truly and deeply dreadful this week, but on Easter the sun was out enough to sit on the patio without a coat on. Glory! In my memory, Easter Sunday almost always has good weather, even if the surrounding days are shrouded in rain and snow. I almost don’t know what I’d do if there was a rainy Easter. It might bring a crisis of theodicy!
This year we decided to do something unorthodox: rather than an Easter lunch, we opted for an easter brunch! We had spicy Huevos Rancheros and coffee and glasses of champagne! It was thoroughly satisfying and reminded me of a fact I need little reminding of: I love breakfast!
I thought I’d dedicate this week’s Saturday missive to breakfast. And I also thought I’d share pictures of my breakfasts throughout the week.
I eat breakfast for pleasure, well-being, and health. I love breakfast foods. Almost all of them to be honest, and to miss out on breakfast feels like missing out on a small portion of enjoyment that could make my day that much better! But I also need breakfast. I (and the other people in my life) become a victim of hanger, which is to say low blood sugar. When I don’t eat breakfast I feel pessimistic, faint, and annoyed. Food brightens, energises, and stabilises me. And lately, I’ve also been trying to pay attention to nourishing myself with fruits, vegetables, and healthy sources of fibre. A piece of toast will bring me out of hanger, but I like to think that a piece of toast with an egg and spinach is both more interesting and more nourishing. I also find that thinking of ways to add fruits, vegetables, and fibre usually makes the meal more interesting. A warm bowl of sweet oatmeal? Pleasant. But add to that oatmeal crisp apples and chopped almonds? Elevated delectable, delightful. Breakfast taco with eggs and hot sauce? Pretty tasty. But add some spinach to the egg, avocado, and red onion for crunch? Life changing!
Tuesday Breakfast: fried egg and parmesan on bagel with red onions and rocket.
Not all figures in history have been so focused on health, however. Take for instance these famous daily breakfasts from various historical figures. I learned about these from The Guardian and Mental Floss. I rate by health and tastiness:
Winston Churchill: Toast, poached eggs, grapefruit, juice, coffee, meat.
“Churchill’s intake of both food and booze was legendary and he liked to start things early, finishing his breakfast – in bed if at all possible; he also travelled worldwide with his favourite pillow and silk eye mask – with a cigar and whisky soda. According to a menu from a transatlantic flight, annotated in his own hand, he had precise tastes. Orange juice should be from a bottle, not fresh. He liked coffee, accompanied by a jug of cold milk. Drinks must be served on a separate tray, with a halved grapefruit and a sugar bowl next to it. On the other tray, there should be plenty of hot buttered toast, with jam. And if he was eating hot food, like his favourite poached eggs, he expected cold meats – chicken, game or ham – alongside.”
Health: 7/10
Tastiness: 6/10
Given his reputation for smoking like a chimney, I’d say this is a surprisingly healthy sounding breakfast! Some protein, some fruit, some good fibre. Of course, the whisky and soda is probably not the most healthy way to start the day.
Wednesday breakfast: almond croissant and a latte. a treat for finishing a project.
Maya Angelou: corn bread and cheese
Alongside poetry, memoir and essays, Maya Angelou also published two cookery books. One of the most popular of her recipes is for all day and all night cornbread, which for breakfast she served warm with cheese sandwiched between two toasted layers. This recipe is adapted from Great Food, All Day Long.
Health: 6/10
Tastiness: 8/10
To be honest, I could happily eat cornbread and cheese every morning (though I’d add a little bit of honey). And it’s not terribly unhealthy! Some energising carbohydrates, a reasonable amount of protein and fat to feel full, more finer than a slice of toast. I was also delighted to hear about her cookbook! I want it!
Thursday Breakfast: whole wheat sourdough toast and fried eggs with something fresh (apples and rocket). and of course… tea!
Walt Whitman:.oysters and red meat
“Walt Whitman was notorious for indulging in a meat-heavy diet throughout his lifetime. Even first thing in the morning, the American poet was known to enjoy a protein-rich meal of oysters and red meat. This was prior to the Paleo diet, when Whitman's belief that rare beef was a health food capable of curing pimples was far from mainstream.”
Health: ?/10
Tastiness: ?/10
Walt Whitman would have fit in with the carnivore instagram influencers! I think most people would not consider this healthy— no fibre, no fruit or veg, high fat, and no healthy carbs. But of course oysters and red meat can be healthy. I’m just not sure I understand the kind of subjectivity which desires rare meat before 1PM.
Mahatma Ghandi: porridge, goats milk, cocoa
“While Gandhi is most famous for fasting for long amounts of time, when he was living in London—several years before he began fasting—the civil rights leader started his day with a well-balanced meal. According to his journals he enjoyed a simple breakfast of porridge, goat's milk, and cocoa.”
Health: 6/10
Tastiness: 7/10
To be honest, this one is pretty great. a good bowl of porridge is a staple— reasonably healthy though lacking in protein (though I assume a little in the milk!), and no fruit. But topping it off with cocoa really makes it for me.
An astonished shoutout has to go to the raw egg crowd. Especially Victor Hugo, Marilyn Monroe who drank two raw eggs with milk or coffee for breakfast. Not that nutritious and disgusting. Terrible combo! No thank you!
Friday lunch: breakfast tacos! eggs scrambled with tomatoes, avocado, red onion, and Cholula (hot sauce). And of course… tea!
Finally, I thought I would end with one particularly delicious and abundant sounding literary dinners. The first is from The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien:
“One question at a time—and none till after supper! I haven’t had a bite since breakfast.”
At last Gandalf pushed away his plate and jug—he had eaten two whole loaves (with masses of butter and honey and clotted cream) and drunk at least a quart of mead— and he took out his pipe.
How would you like to have not one but two loaves of bread for breakfast!
So, friends. Tell me: what is your favourite breakfast?
Come to my UK book launch!
On April 19 in St Andrews, Scotland Toppings & Company Booksellers (@toppingsstas ) is hosting an event for the UK launch of my book! I hope everyone who is in the area will join me!
There will be chat, time to wonder around the bookshop, and a short conversation + Q&A about the book. The ticket price goes toward the price of the book. Make sure to reserve your spot ahead!
As far as author dreams go, seeing a pile of my book in the window of one of my favourite bookshops is pretty high on the list. Can’t wait to see some of you there!
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