Creamy ricotta, rustic whole-grain bread, the sweetness of fruit and warmth of cinnamon make this speedy breakfast a sensual feast. To best enjoy the flavor and the health benefits of the orange zest in marmalade and anthocyanins in cherry preserves, look for chunky, organic fruit spreads. As a friend’s five-year-old says, “This tastes too good to be healthy.”
Note: Toast the almonds on a baking sheet at 325 degrees F. for 6 minutes, stirring them once. Make 1/2 cup and store unused nuts in a sealed container for up to 5 days.

Fast Fact: Natural cocoa powder has a stronger flavor than Dutch-processed.
Quick Tip: Slicing the bread on the diagonal makes picture-perfect bruschetta and provides a maximum of chewy crust.

This high high-protein breakfast is ready in mere minutes using a toaster oven and the preservative-free cooked chicken and apple sausage sold at most supermarkets and natural food markets. The ideal bread to use is a whole-grain oatmeal or soft multi-grain loaf with wide slices. You can take this portable meal on the road.
Fast Fact: For true whole-grain bread, whole-wheat flour or another whole-grain should be the first ingredient on the label.

Orange juice and zest balance the natural sweetness in this dairy-free smoothie with refreshing crispness. Using frozen fruit eliminates the need to add ice. A hard-cooked egg or cup of yogurt and a slice of whole-grain toast plus this fruit treat are a smart start for the day.
Fast Fact: Mangoes are rich in vitamin A.
Quick Tip: Keep sliced bananas in a resealable plastic bag in the freezer to use in smoothies.

I also use this dough recipe to make bread, raisin bread and pizza crust.

If you are making a HUGE pot….hot Italian sausage (Kroger brand is just as good as Johnson Brothers)
If you want to tone down the spiciness, use half hot Italian and half mild Italian sausage, ground beef or ground chicken.

Popeye would approve of my version of Dr. Seuss’s favorite dish, which includes spinach and green onions. To avoid cancer-causing nitrites, choose uncured ham. It is sold at natural foods markets and many supermarkets. If you do not eat pork, use turkey bacon instead. A one-dish meal, these colorful eggs make a hearty breakfast accompanied by whole-grain toast.
Fast Fact: Spinach is rich in beta-carotene as well as folate.
Quick Tip: For chopped spinach in seconds, grab a handful of raw leaves or cooked spinach and snip it into strips using kitchen shears.