When a holiday feast is in the making, the thought of having to fix other meals hardly crosses one’s mind—especially when cooking more than necessary feels overwhelming. However, with Thanksgiving feasts making an appearance only around dinnertime, keeping oneself fuelled and energetic enough to get through a full day of chopping, roasting, braising and baking means that breakfast must be simple, satisfying and still delicious. Using Usha’s Infrared Cooktop to whip up comforting meals that are effortless, seasonal and taste great means that making breakfast for a few people or a large group encourages ease of function, without taking up a considerable amount of space within a bustling kitchen.
Pumpkin Pancakes
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The classic breakfast staple gets an autumnal twist with the use of cooked pumpkin mixed into pancake batter, along with a whiff of pumpkin spice that makes these soft, fluffy pancakes extra flavourful. Serve them warm, with a generous drizzle of maple syrup and toasted walnuts for added texture. Experiment with a variety of mix-ins such as chocolate chips, nuts, freeze-dried fruit to introduce variations as per personal preferences. Make the plate extra festive with the inclusion of a homemade compote, made using seasonal fruits and brown sugar for a caramelised note.
Chicken Sausage-Hasbrowns
A homemade version of the chicken sausage is reminiscent of the mince kebabs that are made at home—seasoned well, patted flat and fried in a skillet. Adding spring onions, red chilli flakes, garlic powder, herbs and an egg really helps bring the sausage patties together; and while the mince is busy marinating, take the opportunity to make some crisp hashbrowns that pair perfectly with the sausages. Simply grate potatoes and combine them with sliced onions, salt, pepper and some flour before adding them to a buttered skillet and cooking them on both sides, until golden-brown. Serve the sausage-hashbrown combination with a dollop of chive-flavoured sour cream and some leftover guacamole.
Breakfast Burrito
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A versatile recipe that utilises all the components of a classic breakfast—eggs, cheese, bacon, avocado—to be wrapped and toasted inside a tortilla, the breakfast burrito is filling, checks off all the requirements of a breakfast and is easy to carry around while inspecting saucepans and baking dishes. The delightful part about making these burritos is that they can also be assembled and frozen in advance, taken out just in time to be toasted before eating. Serve with a side of hot honey syrup, hot sauce or any condiment of choice.
BLT Omelette
While adding lettuce to an omelette might take away from the experience of enjoying a breakfast, replace it with baby spinach leaves to maintain the integrity of the leafy component. Fry up some strips of bacon in an induction cooktop-friendly pan before using the rendered fat to cook the tomatoes and spinach slightly and pouring an egg mixture all over the surface of the pan. Place the crisp bacon strips on top of the omelette and cover it with a lid to cook throughout. Add some cheese if needed and serve it with a slice of sourdough toast or a salad on the side.
Maple-Brown Butter Oatmeal
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Aside from making pancakes seasonal, the usual oatmeal can also be upgraded to match the festive fervour with the use of brown butter and maple syrup. Cook the oats in some milk or alternate dairy of choice, before adding in the sweetener, a dusting of pumpkin spice blend and chopped nuts like pecans or walnuts. Top it up with granola, a drizzle of brown butter, fresh fruit and chia seeds. Balance health and taste perfectly, along with a variety of textures which make breakfast look and feel just as special as the grand meal.