The Perfect Breakfast

It's true, breakfast really is the most important meal of the day. I can really tell if I haven't had a proper breakfast: I'm usually starving by noon, and may not make the best lunch choices because of it. I also tend to get crankier and more sluggish by evening. So, I combat this by starting each day the healthy way (or at least, I try to!).
I have come across the perfect solution to breakfast, and I'd like to share it. It's called the Protein Pancake. We all know and love the pancake, especially when it comes from a fabulous pancake house such as Butterfield's. But the traditional pancake, although delicious, is seriously lacking in nutrition. The Protein Pancake, however is not! And it is completely scrumptious, just like a pancake should be. Even my skeptical husband, breathe, has given his stamp of approval on this recipe. It fills you up for the duration of the morning, provides lots of lean protein and whole grains, and afterwards, you might not even be hungry for lunch. I must give credit where credit is due, and I got this recipe from Skwigg, whose blog I read pretty faithfully.

Protein Pancake (serves 1)

1/2 cup McCann's Quick Cooking Irish Oatmeal (I'm sure other oatmeal brands will work just fine, but this is my favorite)
1/2 cup egg whites (about 4 egg whites)
1/2 cup lowfat small curd cottage cheese
1/2 capful of vanilla extract (although I tend to add a bit more)

Directions:
Place the oatmeal in a blender (the Magic Bullet works best), and blend about 45 seconds. Add the remaining ingredients and blend for another 45 seconds. Pour batter into heated 9 inch non-stick skillet (spray first with PAM). (Its best to just make one big pancake, as the batter tends to be runny. ) Cook on medium heat for about 3-4 minutes per side (takes longer than a regular pancake to cook). Flipping a pancake this large can be challenging, but I bought this huge spatula and it works great. Remember to spray the spatula with PAM prior to flipping.
Make sure to top your pancake with plenty of something delicious, which to me is Earth Balance spread. This butter-alternative gives the pancake a nice, buttery taste, but better. Trust me, try it. Or you can top it with blueberries, pancake syrup (careful or the nutrition factor will go down), strawberries, apples, etc. Use your imagination! Or you can bake blueberries right into the batter. I have tried this, and it works wonderfully.

There you have it: A low-fat, high-protein morning meal alternative. The Perfect Breakfast.