A good start to a working day

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34097, 8 March 1976, Page 6

A good start to a working day

(By CELIA TIMMS) Dietitians say breakfast is the most important meal of the day. ißut it is not easy to make it varied and interesting. Eggs are easy to serve — boiled. fried, poached or scrambled — but it is good to have a change. Here are some quickly-prepared breakfast dishes that could be tempting. PANCAKES WITH CORN i Com pancakes are served jwith grilled bacon or tomato I—or alone. For 4 servings [you will reed: I large can cream-style sweetcorn i teaspoon mixed herbs ! Paprika Salt and pepper Flour 1 egg 1 teaspoon baking powder Bacon Tomatoes Method: Mix the corn to a thickness of medium batter with sufficient plain flour; add salt, pepper and paprika Ito taste, and herbs and beat in egg. This can be left to stand overnight. Heat 'sufficient butter or oil in frypan to cover base. Add baking powder to batter and j drop mixture from a table--spoon into hot oil. Fry over slow heat until bubbles form jon top then turn and cook on [other side. FISH CAKES

I Fish Cakes are a different dish easily made, [and good when served hot for breakfast. They can be accompanied by grilled tomatoes or bacon, or served plain. Tinned or cold cooked fish may be used. Flake sufficient fish for your requirements (if tinned, drain well) season to taste with salt, pepper and nutmeg, and

work in some softened butter with a fork. Add sufficient fresh breadcrumbs to form a dough-like mixture. A beaten egg or a little milk may be added. Fill greased patty tins with this, brush lightly with beaten egg or , milk and bake in a hot oven (400) for about 1.0 minutes or ' until browned. Fish Fritters are quickly and easily made. Left-over i cooked fish or well drained tinned fish can be used. For 4 servings you would need: 1 egg 1 1 small cup milk 1 teaspoon finely chopped parsley i. 2 heaped tablespoons flour j )| 1 teaspoon baking powder I Salt, pepper, nutmeg Fish Method: Make batter by beating egg with milk, stir-; iring. in. flour and baking I powder, salt, parsley and nut-| meg. Flake fish and add to ! batter, sufficient to make a i fairly stiff mixture. Just grease a heavy-based fry I pan as you would for ipikelets—the drier the better I —and cook as ordinary frit(lters. , For those cooks who have [difficulties with the ordinary i omelette, this method should [prove easy and excellent —it is a Tomato and Breadcrumbs Omelette sufficient for 3-4: 3 slices bread (crusts removed). • 4 cup warm milk 4 eggs 1 1 teaspoon salt; pepper 1 tablespoon butter Tomatoes, fresh or canned Method: If canned tomaJtoes are used drain 14oz can [and chop tomatoes. Heat in ; pan over slow heat season- ■ I ing to taste with sweet basil land sugar and leaving to I [cook until thick. If fresh litomatoes are used, skin then :jchop roughly and cook them |in their own juice, seasoning with salt, sugar and sweet I basil. .1 Crumb the bread and let! [stand in the warm milk for 10 minutes. Separate eggs I and beat yolks lightly with ■ salt and pepper; add to j crumb mixture. Beat egg l whites until stiff and fold in.( Melt butter in a medium-size fry pan, turn in the mixture' and cook gently until browned. Set in oven under i grill until top is firm. Spread ! with a cupful of the stewed j tomatoes, fold at right angles [ to the handle and turn out.! Serve with extra tomato i mixture poured over and [ sprinkled with finely-chopped I parsley. Mince Patties are easily : and quickly made for breali-1 fast, and make a good start I to the day for schoolchildren or working men. For four servings you will need: 8 oz minced steak 1 finely chopped or grated onion 1 egR I 4 cup milk 4-1 cup flour ; 1 teaspoon baking powder ’ I teaspoon salt. Method: Beat egg with i milk and add sufficient flour to make a thick batter. Add baking powder and salt and stir in mince and onion. Mix well and drop by spoonfuls into hot fat. turning only once.

A Savoury Mince and Bean mixture served on toast is another good way to start the working day. To serve 3-4 you need: 1 onion Boz minced steak Boz baked beans 4 teaspoon curry powder 1 tablespoon flour. Method: Chop onion finely and fry until soft in oil or butter. Add minced steak and the liquid drained from the beans which has been mixed with the curry powder. Stir for a few minutes over heat to brown the steak then leave to simmer until meat is cooked — about 10 minutes. Stir in beans and flour and cook for a further five minutes. Serve on toast sprinkled with chopped parsley.