My Alarm Clock

I'm not a morning person. I don't jump out of bed ready for the day. I don't wake up with a smile on my face. I don't feel like I could run a marathon.

I toss and turn and pull the covers up tightly over my shoulders and stretch. I lament having to get up and out of bed casting off those heavy comforting blankets. I try and fall back asleep. I grab my phone and I text in bed prolonging the morning.

In an effort to be healthy and more productive I've employed a routine: Wake up slowly, eat breakfast, read scriptures, exercise... in that order. But what to eat for breakfast? Short of a bowl of cereal or a piece of fruit, breakfast takes time and preparation. Even oatmeal requires effort - and yet despite the effort, breakfast is so rewarding. More so than dinner or, gasp!, dessert, because it starts your day. It gives you energy to accomplish your tasks and jump starts brain function. Breakfast is my alarm clock.

I only start smiling after breakfast.

Banana Coffee Cake

This is an excellent dense morning cake with a sweet, salty and crunchy texture. Served warm with a dab of butter, this breakfast will get you rocking and rolling.

¾ cup canola oil
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
Beat together for several minutes

Add
2 mashed bananas
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 ½ cups flour
1 teaspoons baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
Stir just to incorporate flour

Add
¼ cup buttermilk
¼ cup sour cream
½ cup whole or crushed pecans

Pour batter into 8x8x2 greased pan
Top with strudel
Bake at F350°, 45-55 minutes

Yields 1 square cakes, 8-12 pieces

Strudel
½ stick butter
¼ cup pecans
½ cup oatmeal
¼ cup brown sugar
¼ cup flour
1 teaspoons cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground ginger

One Year Ago: Happy Birthday Melinda, Chocolate Almond Cake with Vanilla Mousse Frosting and Vanilla Walnut Frosting