Preparing for the menu plan service each week has given me ample opportunity to make extra special breakfasts for my family. And they’re loving it! This morning we’re eating a 5-spice baked oatmeal; last week we gobbled up this easy baked omelet. Because it is baked, this is an “omelet” you can’t screw up — that’s why I like it so much.

I wanted a granola recipe that combined the benefits of soaked grains and soaked nuts. Soaking the grains neutralizes phytic acid, a mineral absorption blocker. Soaking the nuts starts the process of germination, de-activating enzyme inhibitors. A raw granola that does this is a highly nutritious and a great source of digestive enzymes!

Mikah has been allergic to eggs since birth, so it has been a loooonnnnggg time since I’ve made a quiche. We used to love them. Now Mikah can eat eggs again, and this week I guess I overbought on local, pastured eggs. So for a quick lunch when Jeff was home working on the barn, I made a quiche from odds and ends of local vegetables.

I’m sure I’m not reinventing the wheel on this oatmeal – but here’s how we’re eating our oatmeal lately. It is sweet from the milk, raisins, and a bit of stevia. Depending on how sweet you like your oatmeal, you may want to add raw honey, too. Soaking the oats the night before in an acid medium ensures maximum benefits and assimilation of nutrients. It is not hard to do, just needs to be done ahead of time. It is a good job for kids to do before bed! Beyond nutritional benefits, you’ll find that the soaking decreases the cooking time necessary in the morning – thick rolled oats take just 5 minutes to cook!