February is National Hot Breakfast Month—one of the 115 breakfast holidays of the year. Before the month runs out, we made this special recipe, a skillet scramble with potatoes, bacon, and sausage.

The recipe was developed by Love Keil of Munchkin Time and shared with us by the Idaho Potato Commission.

> The history of breakfast.

> 115 breakfast holidays.
 
 
RECIPE: SKILLET BREAKFAST SCRAMBLED EGGS,
FRIED POTATOES, BACON & SAUSAGE

This dish is actually an entire skillet breakfast complete with golden fried potatoes, scrambled eggs, smoky sausage, and crispy bacon—all topped with melted cheese!

It’s a whole breakfast made in one pan—you can think of it as a scramble with potatoes, sausage.

Not only is it an easy meal, it’s hearty and delicious.

The recipe was developed by Ms. Love Kyle of Munchkin Time, and shared with us by the Idaho Potato Commission.

If you want to read more than we have in this post, you can read her entire article with step-by-step photos.
 
Ingredients For 4 Servings

While this recipe allows for one egg per person, we used to eggs.

In the past, we happily used the Litehouse brand of freeze-dried herbs specified below. But since we have a burgeoning herb garden on the kitchen windowsills, we used them in this recipe.

TIP: In general, if you want to use fresh herbs instead of dried, there is a 3:1 ratio of fresh:dried, i.e., 1 tablespoon of fresh herbs = 1 teaspoon of dried herbs. We’ve noted the equivalent measures in the ingredients list.

 
Preparation

1. COOK the bacon in a non-stick skillet on medium heat until crispy. Remove from the skillet and drain on a plate lined with paper napkins.

2. ADD the sliced sausage to the skillet and sauté for a few minutes, or until the slices are a nice golden color. Remove to the plate with the bacon.

3. MELT the butter, add the sliced potatoes, and cook on medium heat until cooked through and a nice golden color, about 10-15 minutes. Flip a few times using a spatula. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

4. ADD the eggs, parsley, chives, and half of the bacon and sausage. Stir and cook until the eggs are cooked through (scrambled), about 1-2 minutes.

[1] Except for the toast and coffee, here’s an all-in-one skillet breakfast (photos #1 and #2 © Love Keil | Munchkin Time | Idaho Potato Commission).

[2] Adding the eggs, with Litehouse freeze-dried herbs.

[3] Instead of smoky kielbasa, we used this chicken-apple sausage from D’Artagnan. It adds a subtle note of apple to the dish (photo © D’Artagnan).

6. GARNISH with a sprinkle of chives and parsley and serve while warm.

CHECK OUT WHAT’S HAPPENING ON OUR HOME PAGE, THENIBBLE.COM.

[1] Like Air Puffcorn, our Top Pick Of The Week, was featured on Shark Tank (photo © Shark Tank Products).

[2] You can a large-size (4-ounce) combo pack on Amazon (photos #2, #3, #4, and #5 © Like Air Snacks).

[3] Pancake is a delicious flavor of popcorn, with far fewer calories than eating pancakes!

[4] Cinnamon bun is the closest to kettle corn, without the calories.

[5] You can buy a variety pack of the four flavors, in either family size or individual size, on the company website (we recommend it!).

Like Air Puffcorn is our Top Pick Of The Week: popcorn with a melt-in-your-mouth texture that is made without the popcorn kernel hulls that can stick in your teeth.

Yes, that makes it better than traditional popcorn in our book. (A tiny kernel stuck in our tooth* sent us to the dentist for a $300. He said, “Next time skip the popcorn.”

We were bereft because popcorn is a high-fiber, low-calorie snack we relied upon.

Then, on Shark Tank, we discovered Like Air Puffcorn.

Mr. Wonderful, Kevin O’Leary, exclaimed that it was the best-tasting low-calorie snack they’ve had in all 15 years of Shark Tank.

The company got a deal from deal from Mark Cuban and Lori Greiner.

We were so excited that, rather than write for editorial samples, we quickly purchased three boxes: three flavors of the individual-size packages.

We now must go back for the fourth flavor, and hope that the fifth, the limited-edition Pumpkin Spice, comes back this fall.
 
 
LIKE AIR PUFFCORN FLAVORS

There are both 4-ounce bags and .65-ounce individual portion bags.

The individual size is a perfect school-safe snack, party favor, stocking stuffer, Easter basket treat, and so on.

 
Like Air Puffcorn is:

 
 
FOOD FUN: CUSTOMIZE YOUR CORN!

While popcorn is just 50 calories per cup, you can enhance your snack—still without getting anything stuck in your teeth.

With the Classic and sweet flavors, we add some extra calories by:

 
With the Classic and White Cheddar flavors, we add:

 
 
GET YOUR LIKE AIR PUFFCORN

Like Air is sold in 3,500+ stores across all 50 states, including larger retailers like HEB, Kings, Kroger, Meijer, Sam’s Club, ShopRite, Stop & Shop, and Wegmans.

E-tailers include Amazon, Fresh Direct, Instacart, Sams’s Club, and the Like Air Snacks website.
 
 
October is National Popcorn Poppin’ Month.

> The history of popcorn.

> The history of popcorn salad (and recipe).

> 20+ popcorn recipes.

> Popcorn trivia.

> Popcorn, a whole-grain food.
 
 
________________

*Popcorn kernel hulls are the ideal size and shape to get caught between gums and teeth. We may not even realize we have a stuck particle until our gums become sore a few days later.

†The “Big Nine” allergens: eggs, milk, nuts, fish, peanuts/tree nuts, sesame, shellfish‡, soybeans, and wheat.
 
‡Shellfish include mollusks and crustaceans. Mollusks have a hinged, two-part shell, such as clams, mussels, octopus, oysters, and squid. Crustaceans, on the other hand, have exoskeletons, such as crabs, lobsters, and shrimp.

Congress passed the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act of 2004 (FALCPA), citing eight foods as major food allergens: milk, eggs, fish, Crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, and soybeans. Here’s more about it.

CHECK OUT WHAT’S HAPPENING ON OUR HOME PAGE, THENIBBLE.COM.

If your breakfast is a cup of coffee and a bagel or doughnut, that does not count for The Big Breakfast Day, February 27th. There are better breakfast foods to be had for this most important meal of the day.

Why is breakfast the most vital meal of the day?

Physicians and nutritionists recommend that consuming a substantial, nutritious breakfast determines how energized and alert you are to start the day.

It will also help you feel full until lunch—no growling stomach.

> The history of breakfast.

> 115 breakfast holidays (yes indeed!).
 
 
WHO INVENTED THIS HOLIDAY?

According to Days Of The Year, The Big Breakfast Day was invented in 2020 by a man named Jeffrey Arnold. But we can’t find any more information about him or why he picked February 27th for the holiday.

If you know anything else, please let us know (write to editors at TheNibble.com).

Days Of The Year opines that the holiday “offers an opportunity to slow down a bit and enjoy more than just a quick cup of coffee on the run.”

Another goal: to encourage a healthy start to the day.
 
 
WHAT IS A GOOD BREAKFAST?

The USDA recommends that a “balanced breakfast” should be one that is nutrient dense (that is, high in nutrients and low in calories).

A balanced breakfast should be a mix of:

 
Notice that bacon, sausage, and other breakfast meats are missing. Why?

Too much fat and salt! See more about it below.

On another note:

Can you have a Bloody Mary, Mimosa, or Screwdriver with your breakfast?

Sure: It’s a holiday. But just one.
 
 
AMERICA’S FAVORITE BREAKFASTS

Given all this nutritional advice, what are America’s favorite breakfast foods?

Per Yahoo Finance, An online survey commissioned by General Mills, Inc. (NYSE:GIS) Foodservice in 2021 revealed the affection Americans have for breakfast.

1. Pancakes
2. Bacon (see why bacon should only be eaten occassionally, below)
3. Eggs
4. Avocado toast
5. Cereal
6. Sausages
7. Waffles
8. Sandwiches
9. Home Fries
10. Wraps
11. Fruits
12. Grits
13. Doughnuts
14. Oatmeal
15.Hash Browns

 
 
WHY BACON & SAUSAGE SHOULD NOT BE AN EVERYDAY BREAKFAST CHOICE

Bacon, sausage, and other processed meats should only be consumed in moderation. Why?

Saturated Fats: They are high in saturated fats, which, when consumed in excess, have been linked to elevated levels of LDL cholesterol (the “bad” cholesterol), which can contribute to an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases.

Processed Meat Risks: Regular consumption of processed meats has been associated with an increased risk of certain health issues, including heart disease and certain types of cancer.

High in Sodium: Bacon is typically cured with salt, making it a high-sodium food. Excessive sodium intake can contribute to high blood pressure and increase the risk of cardiovascular problems.

Calorie Density: Bacon is calorie-dense, meaning it provides a significant number of calories in a small serving size. For those watching their calorie intake, this can be a concern.

Nitrate and Nitrite Content: Bacon typically contains nitrate and nitrite preservatives, which can form potentially harmful compounds when cooked at high temperatures. While the evidence is not conclusive, some studies suggest a link between processed meat consumption and certain health risks.

It’s worth noting that moderation is key, and enjoying bacon occasionally as part of a balanced diet may not be problematic for everyone.

However, for those with specific health concerns, such as cardiovascular issues or high blood pressure, it’s advisable to limit the intake of high-saturated-fat and processed meats and other high-saturated-fat foods.

These include:

CHECK OUT WHAT’S HAPPENING ON OUR HOME PAGE, THENIBBLE.COM.

[1] Pancakes are America’s favorite breakfast food. To get real nutrition from them, buy whole grain pancake mix (photo © D.K. Gilbey | Dreamstime).

[2] Second choice is bacon. We love it, but it should only be consumed occasionally. Here’s why (photo © iGourmet).

[3] Eggs, the third most-mentioned breakfast food, deliver lots of protein. Serve them atop spinach and sweet potato hash and you’ve hit a nutrition home run (photo © Sunbasket).

[4] You can combine, ranked #4, avocado toast, with #3 ranked, eggs (photo © California Olive Ranch).

[5] A bowl of cereal (ranked #5), especially whole-grain, plus lowfat milk and fresh fruit, kicks off three boxes (photo © Preserve).

[6] Combining #3, eggs, with #13, grits. Here’s the recipe for these cheesy grits with spinach (photo © The Baker Chick).