What’s for Lunch? Breakfast!

As the semester grinds to a close for many of us, the thought of preparing thoughtful, healthy, and easy-on-the-budget meals disappears.  We have papers to grade, exams to give, meetings to attend, decisions to make,  all before a date that is fast approaching.  We are tired and we are stressed.  But we still have to eat.

This is not the time to skimp on how we fuel our bodies.  We still need healthy foods.  To that end, today we have two options for interesting and healthy lunches:  breakfast foods.  Breakfast (or brunch) foods can be nutritious, tasty, and are (to many) comfort foods in the time of stress.  These are two dishes that can be prepared for breakfast and if you make full recipes, you can also have some for lunch.

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Salmon and Spinach Quiche

Ingredients

• 7-1/3 oz canned red salmon, drained and mashed
• 1/2 lb sour cream
• 1 small bunch spinach, lightly steamed
• 4 eggs, lightly beaten
• 3-1/2 oz Cheddar cheese, grated
• 1 bunch chives, chopped
• freshly ground black pepper
• 2 sheets pre-made puff pastry (or pie shell)

Directions
Preheat oven to 350oF.  Combine the salmon, sour cream, spinach, eggs, cheese, chives, and black pepper.  Mix gently.  Line four individual-serving springform pans with pastry cut to size.  Pour in quiche mixture.  Bake for 20 minutes.  Serve with green salad.

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Tofu Scramble

Ingredients

• 6 button mushrooms, quartered
• 1/2 red bell pepper, finely diced
• 1 tsp. olive oil
• 1/2 bunch chives, finely chopped
• 1/2 cup parsley, finely chopped
• 350g firm tofu, drained and crumbled
• 1 Tbls tamari
• freshly ground black pepper and salt to taste
• 4 slices buttered toast

Directions
Lightly fry the mushrooms and pepper in the olive oil for three minutes, then add the chives and parsley, crumbled tofu, tamari, salt and pepper to taste.  Stir-fry gently for about three minutes.  Serve on buttered toast.

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In this time of overwork, how to feed your bodies?  What kinds of foods do you turn to sustain your health and strength?  Please leave suggestions in comments below.

[Image by Flickr user ::: M @ X :::.  Licensed under Creative Commons.]