Slow Life Down On Saturday Mornings

Do you ever feel as though your kids are growing up too fast, that life is so crazy it’s just passing you by, and you’re worried these precious early years of parenthood will be over before you know it? You’ve got a lot on your plate and you’re rushing around trying to make sure it all comes together. Sometimes though, it’s just as important to take a step back, slow things down, and soak it all in.

If you have the feeling that you’re stretched thin and you don’t have enough time to slow down and spend some quality time with your kids, it might be time to make Saturday mornings part of your “relaxation routine.” As crazy as it sounds, penciling in time to relax is one of the most effective ways to make sure you actually get a chance to recharge.

Saturday Morning Time Out

Saturday mornings are made for taking some time out: they’re your first chance to sleep in all week (although that may depend on your kids), you still have all afternoon and Sunday to run errands and do chores, and you don’t have to worry about rushing anyone off to school. What better way to enjoy Saturday morning than with a traditional pancake breakfast with fluffy, fruit-filled flapjacks and real maple syrup? (Hotcake tip: out in the country, light maple syrup is considered the superior stuff since it’s more refined and sweet, but at farmer’s markets across Ontario there’s been a big growth in the dark stuff, which is richer with maple flavours.)

Another way to enjoy Saturday morning breakfast is to whip up a classic recipe from Getcracking.ca/recipes/ like sweet potato pancakes and poached eggs, making thick, hearty, orange-coloured flapjacks and topping them with perfectly round poached eggs. Watch as the golden yolk soaks into velvety pancakes as your fork glides through this healthy but savoury dish.

If making dinner (and the kids’ lunches, and acting as official cereal-box-opener) is regularly your job during the week, let your partner take over Saturday morning breakfast duty. After all, according to The Art of Manliness, pancakes are a man’s job – or at least, breakfast seems to be the one meal that even the most kitchen-averse husband is willing to tackle, as long as you let him go hog wild with the bacon and sausage if he wants to. Show him the nutritious breakfast recipes from the Egg Farmers of Ontario and the tons of inventive ways to make a lavish breakfast for you and the kids.

Don’t Forget The Eggs

Eggs are a natural source of protein and vitamins that improve eyesight, reduce your risk of heart disease, and reduce your risk of future cardiovascular, neurological, and liver diseases. They are also often used as an effective weight loss food because they make you feel full after eating far less than you would if you were filling up on toast. You may be surprised how well they keep, too; according to Egg Farmers of Ontario, the “best before” date on a carton of Ontario eggs refers to how long they are considered “Grade A.”

A Grade A egg has an intact yolk that’s identified in a process called candling; as they pass their best before date, they remain safe to eat.  But the yolk will not hold together if you crack it into a frying pan. These are better used as an ingredient in baking or pancakes.  That’s a handy trick that will help your family cut down on food waste. Make eggs part of your family’s Saturday morning routine, whether they’re poached, fried, scrambled, or whisked into a pancake batter.

 

 

 

Image: Saturday.