Oven Omelette

After finally starting to workout again this morning, I made what I like to call an oven omelette.  Pre-heat the oven to 400 degrees and put about 1 1/2T olive oil or canola oil in an oven-safe skillet.  I like to use a small cast iron skill because of the even heat distribution and the extra iron I get in my diet from cooking with one.  I beat two cage-free, organic eggs with a small amount of milk (organic, of course).  Once the oven is heated I put the skillet with the oil in the oven for 3-5 mins to get the oil hot.  This makes it easy to distribute the oil around the skillet.

Take the skillet out of the oven and pour in the eggs.  Put the skillet in the oven for about 5 min or until the edges of the eggs start to cook but the middle is still slightly wet.  Now spinkle in your favorite fillings and some freshly ground pepper and sea salt.  For a little spice I add some cajun seasoning or cayenne pepper.  I use baby spinach, avocado, roasted red peppers, asparagus, fresh garlic, etc.  Be creative.  I top it off with grated/shredded cheese (cheddar, fresh mozzarella, and/or parmesan).  If you choose cheddar, go easy because cheddar is high in the 'bad' fats.  Remember this is supposed to be a healthy breakfast.  Place the skillet back in the oven for about 5-10 mins until the eggs are cooked through and the cheese has melted.  Times will vary depending on how your over cooks.

When it is done, loosen the eggs around the edges and underneath with a spatula and slide it onto a plate.  Garnish with orange slices (Vit C and fiber) and have a nice cup of green tea with fresh lemon.  Yum!

I can't stress how important it is to start each day off with a good breakfast.  People always tell me they don't have time to eat breakfast.  Make time!  Get up 30 mins earlier.  When I say "good breakfast", that does not mean donuts, pastries, lots of coffee (that's for another blog).  Each meal should contain a serving of a quality protein, fruit, veggie, and WHOLE grain.  Multi-grain is not the same as whole grain.  Read your labels.  Always include 8oz of water with your meal.  It keeps you hydrated and aids with digestion.

I remember the days when I would grab a toaster pastry with frosting and call it breakfast.  At the time I couldn't figure out why I would crash and burn way before lunch.  What I figured out through my research is that sugar gives you that quick burst of energy, but it also gives you that very unpleasant crash.  Quality proteins will give you energy that will sustain you over a much longer period of time without the unpleasant crash.