If I don’t eat enough protein for breakfast, there’s trouble later. Long about 10:30 a.m., I’m up from my work, hunger pangs clanging, searching for something to eat. And all too often that “something” might not be the best choice.
Oh look, there are those cookies calling my name from the cookie jar. Or that leftover piece of pizza from Friday night. Or something salty from the cabinet, like pretzels. If I’m out, 10:30 might find me rummaging in my wallet for quarters for the vending machine, and you know that isn’t going to end well. Breakfast of a piece of toast and cup of juice isn’t going to cut it, folks, for me and probably not for you, either.
And I don’t even want to hear about it if you’re skipping breakfast, because that’s just a terrible idea.
This is a better idea.
So my challenge is to make sure I get enough protein starting first thing in the day, and to eat some protein with every meal. So I went searching for help, and found it on the Beef website. Yeah, we’re used to hearing “Beef, it’s what’s for dinner,” but I want to say, “Beef, it’s also for breakfast.” On the beef site I found several useful resources:
- a 30-Day Protein Challenge, which is a step-by-step guide to getting an optimal amount of protein throughout the day. (And remember folks, as always, we’re trying to do this within our own personal calorie goals.) Once you sign up, you’ll get a short email reminder for 30 days, telling you a helpful hint — for a meal or snack idea, how to include more protein naturally in your meals, etc. I have been doing the protein challenge for the past 30 days, and I feel better! I have no crazy cravings mid-morning, and I am better able to withstand the siren call of the kitchen in a mid-afternoon slump, as well.
- a single sheet you print that tells you how to stock your protein pantry, so you always have what you need on hand (there is nary a cookie on the list!). It includes the protein counts for meat/eggs/poultry, fish, grains, dairy, beans and nuts/seeds. There are 50 different ideas on this list, so no chance for food boredom. I have it printed out and taped to the inside of my pantry door.
Today I’ve joined with 19 other Sunday Supper bloggers to help you get your protein deliciously. We’re offering recipes and ideas for breakfast, lunch and dinner, to make every meal count. I’m offering Beef Migas, a shaggy, raggy, rustic breakfast that normally uses up leftover tortillas and pairs it with scrambled eggs. I’m making it more beefy, of course, and we’ll cook it with onions and peppers for flavor, and cheese and pico de gallo for a garnish. It’s basically a delicious excuse to use stuff up. (Hmmm, isn’t that what most good recipes are?) I took a bit of a shortcut today by using prepared fajita mix and prepared pico de gallo. And I got them both on markdown, so score! Let’s get started by charring the tortillas first. You can skip this step, but it adds so much interest and flavor, don’t skip it unless you are pressed for time. All good beef dishes start with onions and peppers, don’t they? That was a rhetorical question. Rise and shine, and dig in!
For more protein, add ground beef to Beef Migas, a shaggy, raggy, rustic breakfast that normally uses up leftover tortillas and pairs it with scrambled eggs. Hot sauce and pico de gallo spice it up!
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 3 cups fajitas mix (or a mix of sliced onions and colored bell peppers)
- 1 pound ground beef (I used 92% lean beef)
- 10 eggs
- 3 tablespoons water
- Kosher salt
- Ground pepper
- Grated cheddar cheese (optional)
- 1- 1 1/2 cups Pico de Gallo (chopped tomatoes, onions, jalapeno and cilantro)
- Hot sauce (offer a selection)
Directions
- Using a metal tongs, toast tortillas one at a time over an open flame, letting the edges get just a bit charred. Set each one aside before you begin the next one. When done, stack them and cut into wedges. Set wedges aside.
- Heat oil in a large non-stick skillet on medium heat. Add fajitas mix and sauté, stirring often, for about 5-7 minutes. Add ground beef and sauté, stirring often to break up clumps, for 5-10 minutes, until beef is browned and cooked through.
- Add tortilla wedges to the skillet, separating them with your fingers so they aren't clumped up. Cook and stir for 2-3 minutes. If there is any liquid from the beef, the tortillas should help to absorb it.
- Crack eggs into a large measuring cup, add water and whisk. Lower heat on the skillet and pour eggs evenly into the skillet. Sprinkle with a big pinch of kosher salt and a few turns of the pepper grinder. Allow to cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally as you would for scrambled eggs. When eggs are cooked, the dish is done.
- Remove from heat and portion onto plates. Top with a pinch of grated cheese if you wish (optional), and a spoonful of pico de gallo. Offer hot sauce options at the table so each person can add their own.
- Note this dish is deliberately under-salted and under seasoned, because the pico de gallo and hot sauce are going to take care of this at the end.
- Serves 4-6.
Notes
Recipe source: Recipe by Dorothy Reinhold | Shockingly Delicious
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I would just LOVE that for breakfast and so would my whole family, what a great idea! Bring on Breakfast 🙂
Oh man, that’s good food!! Just what I need for brinner!
Yummmmm!! I would welcome this breakfast ANY day of the week!
Bobbi,
Or for brinner!
I always crave a b-fast like this, but never have the energy. Aha! #SundaySupper. GREG
Greg,
I like making a big skillet of something like this, and then I can eat it for breakast, lunch or dinner, as needed.
This looks so good! I’d eat that any time of day!!
Me too, Marion!
This looks like the perfect breakfast to serve kids on a school day, particularly at the end-of-year testing time!
Cali,
Good thinking! Our teachers always advise a good protein-y breakfast on testing days.
I LOVE this recipe and your tips are so helpful! Happy to hear you enjoyed the Protein Challenge 🙂
I feel so inspired for breakfast! I can’t wait to try these! I know the kids would love your beef migas too!
Serena,
You’re right…it was a family-friend dish!
Wow. I wish I was eating that for breakfast. My bowl of cereal is not getting it done. Need more protein!
Great tips, Dorothy! Also this breakfast sounds like a great way to start the day!
This delicious protein-packed breakfast will help me reach those protein goals!
Cookies can call my name about 3:00 almost every day. Love this breakfast scramble.
Love that you charred the tortillas, and that they are corn tortillas for a great gluten free breakfast!
Brianne,
Charring adds so much flavor!
I love this protein packed breakfast. Great way to start the day!
These look fabulous and just what I need for breakfast because my oatmeal for breakfast just doesn’t seem to do it any more!
Marjory,
I know what you mean. I love oatmeal, but it doesn’t stick with me until lunch.
I love the twist you gave to the migas recipe!! love it!
Thank you Gaila!
Your breakfast screams my name! It is everything that I love!!
I can hear it… “Jennifer…Jennifer…JENNIFER!”
I love migas for breakfast. What a fun dish.
I adore migas—and yours provide a fabulous double dose of protein to get me through the morning! I never skip breakfast, but I DO need to up my protein 🙂
I never skip breakfast either Liz. I don’t get how people can even do that.
I’ve never heard of migas before and I see they need to be in my life soon.
Renee,
Different cultures make migas differently. This is sort of a Tex-Mex version.