Dinner for Breakfast

In the wake of my recent bout of cabin fever, I find myself slowly potting plants and seedlings around my house and placing them in sunny windowsills. Waiting for spring has always been one of the biggest challenges for me as a small-scale gardener with limited space and time. Only 24 years old I find myself already challenged by the balance of life; friends, family, work, boyfriend, writing, garden? Prioritizing doesn't get any easier the older I get because it seems that the number of things on the priority list only continues to grow. I believe more than ever that the more you expect out of life, the more you are likely to find lying in every opportunity. In short, there is no excuse to stop writing, because even if I have to write about what I had for breakfast yesterday, it's always better than nothing. Each time I put something on a page it's an opportunity to share.

And so I present to you, Breakfast Carbonara! Spring time makes me awfully stir crazy and nostalgic of those days in school when all you wanted to do was play outdoors. Digging in the dirt and plating seeds is about as close as I get these days, but with the onset of an early heatwave, I find myself tricked into believing Springtime was actually here to stay. SO I resorted to the kitchen...

In my nostalgia I remembered the shear joy of having breakfast for dinner and began to wonder why it wasn't the other way around. Quiche is as close as it gets, but still, I've had quiche for dinner more times than I've had pie for breakfast... Always a fan of leftovers and their innate potential I created a brunch dish to thrill and satiate everyone:

1 box pasta (cooked)- I use whole wheat spaghetti but anything will work!
1 lb breakfast meat (cooked) bacon, sausage, or meatless sausage all  taste great, esp. the maple
3 eggs (whisked well with salt, pepper, shredded cheese, and seasoning to taste)
1 bag frozen peas (or equivalent fresh peas once in season!)

I cook the meat in a large, deep skillet then drain the fat. Adding a few tablespoons to the same cooled skillet I heat all of the prepared ingredients over medium heat. By first adding the egg mixture (I prefer Romano or Parmesan cheese, BTW) it gives it time to set, then add the meat and epase to coat them lightly in the same flavor. I keep the recipe simple to accommodate whatever may lie in your fridge. Ham would be a fine and economical substitute for bacon or sausage, as I'm sure turkey bacon would be a very healthy choice. I think adding a hint of maple and a fresh garnish of basil, cheese or parsley is a great touch for a potluck brunch or just to feed the family!

Be sure to accompany this with fresh fruit or crispy fried hash browns. Mimosas and juice are a must for any complete breakfast as well... Cheers!