When one of our too-few long weekends finally arrives during our too-short summers, we’re too busy firing up the grill, enjoying the water, or hitting the beach with a cooler full of chilled Coronas to be bothered with preparing a big breakfast.
Fortunately, there are some genius breakfast hacks out there to make your mornings quick and tasty. To make long-weekend mornings at the cottage a cinch so you can find your beach, we’ve compiled 20 breakfast hacks that are easy to make and easier to enjoy.
“Grab & go” muffins
Make these “muffins” ahead of time, and you’ve got a quick, protein-filled breakfast for a crowd. (Recipe)
Waffle maker hashbrowns
Use your waffle maker to make crispy hash browns in about half the time it would take in a skillet. (Recipe)
Crock pot breakfast casserole
A crock pot and a pile of traditional breakfast ingredients are all you need to make an overnight breakfast casserole. You can also assemble the ingredients and bake them in the oven as well. (Recipe)
Pancake apple rings
Dip apple rings in pancake batter. You can make the batter from scratch if you’re feeling ambitious, but otherwise, use the boxed stuff. (Recipe)
Simpler scrambled eggs
Make scrambled eggs in the microwave. Not so great for a crowd, but if you’ve only got one or two people to feed, simple’s the way to go. (Recipe)
Crock pot French toast
If you’ve got a crock pot at the cottage, you can use it to make eggy, bread pudding-y french toast. (Recipe)
Crispy microwave bacon
Cook your bacon in the microwave. Yes, it really works. Yes, the bacon turns out crispy. You can also use a panini press, but this is easier. (Recipe)
Re-heatable pancakes and waffles
Make a double batch of pancakes or waffles, then freeze the extras. Next time you want breakfast, pop a couple in the toaster. (Recipe)
Easy-to-peel hardboiled eggs
Hard boil at least a dozen eggs at a time. Instant high-protein breakfast. (Recipe)
Protein-packed ricotta
Use ricotta instead of cream cheese for an extra protein boost. To class it up, spread it on crostini with fruit preserves.
Dippable pancake pops
Stick a lollipop stick into pancakes for easy dipping (no cutting required). (Recipe)
Homemade smoothie packs
Pre-make frozen packs for quick morning smoothies. (Recipe)
Assess your eggs
Wondering whether your eggs are still fresh? Fill a bowl with cold water and submerge them. If they sink, they’re safe. If they float, it’s time to toss them. And if they stand on one end at the bottom of the bowl, time’s running out.
Big-batch bacon
Need of make a massive batch of bacon for guests? Try making it in the oven. (Recipe)
No syrup, no problem
If you wake up with a craving for pancakes but you’ve run out of maple syrup, here’s a quick-fix solution that will save you from running all they way into town. (Recipe)
Shredded butter
Few things are more frustrating than spreading rock-solid butter. If your butter is too hard, use a grater to shred and spread.
Boil-in-a-bag omelet
Boil-in-a-bag omelets are perfect for low-tech cottages and camping. (Recipe)
Stuffed French toast
Stuff your french toast for a little extra specialness. (Recipe)
Bacon egg cups
Got eggs? Got bacon? Then you’ve got bacon egg-cups! (Recipe)
Poach eggs in olive oil
For a decadent treat, poach your eggs in olive oil instead of water. (Recipe)
