I love mornings and I enjoy breakfasts. I know that some people don’t eat breakfast, and I feel that they are missing the boat. I want my car to have adequate amounts of gas, oil, and water to ensure peak performance. By the same token, I want my body to start the day with what it needs to operate properly.

I’ll have to admit that 99% of the time, my breakfasts are not too exciting. For the last 8 or 9 years, I’ve had Cheerios for breakfast. They are quick and easy and though bland, I don’t get tired of them. The “flake” cereals taste like cardboard and are pretty disgusting. I ate oatmeal for 3 or 4 years, but got tired of it. When I fix them, it’s just Cheerios (1/2 cup) and milk. No sugar or sweetener. Part of the reason for my regimen is that I have been a Type 1 diabetic for 55 years, and I got tired of figuring out how much insulin I would need to cover the different breakfasts if I ate a varied diet. I’ll have to admit that when Pat fixes my Cheerios, she adds blueberries and bananas, and it’s mighty good.

When we go out for breakfast, I go for the whole shot. I order 2 eggs, bacon, hash browns, toast, and coffee. The exception to the aforementioned comes when we are going to a Mexican restaurant. Then, it’s “Huevos Rancheros!” For those of you who haven’t been fortunate enough to have them, the term means “ranch eggs” and is the name for the breakfast. Here’s the way the meal is fixed: A tortilla is warmed or steamed and placed on the plate. Two fried eggs are added (I like mine over medium) and placed on the tortilla. Next, the whole thing is covered with fresh salsa. The salsa should be “mild” or “medium.” If the salsa is too hot, you can’t taste the eggs. Next, add refried beans and rice on the side. There you have it. You can use flour or corn tortillas. The only way you can improve this fantastic meal is to use organic corn tortillas.

Since we are discussing Huevos Rancheros, I must confess that I have them for lunch once a week during normal (no Covid19 virus) times. My wife, Pat, and her friend, Judy, like to drive up the coast and have breakfast. They look at the ocean and the surfers and the people on the beach and relax and enjoy themselves. On those days, our daughter, Terri, comes over and takes care of me. My vision is impaired and though I can walk around the house without bumping into anything, that’s about it. Terri drives over and picks me up and takes me to one of our favorite Mexican restaurants. When we get there, she goes in and orders Huevos Rancheros “to go.” Then we return home for the feast. That way, I’ve got something I like to eat, and I’ve had an outing, too.

I’ve never been a brunch guy. That’s mainly because I’m too cheap. They charge you 4 or 5 times what a regular breakfast would cost and it doesn’t seem worth it. I’ve only attended one brunch that I really enjoyed and thought was spectacular. Terri and our son-in-law, Steve, and the grandkids, Christie and David, had invited Pat and I to go to Maui with them. I think we were staying at the Westin. When we came downstairs in the morning, we were greeted by the most amazing tropical spread you can imagine. Besides the normal scrambled eggs and bacon and sausage, there was a complete array of fruits and juices and anything else you can imagine. We sat on the patio and happily gorged ourselves as we enjoyed the Pacific Ocean and the tradewinds.

Dave Thomas

5/6/2020