The Hangover Aid:
English Breakfast (Serves 1)
Feeling downright terrible after the night out? Along with drinking plenty of water, the best way to replenish your health and get rid of your horrible hangover is to enjoy a good hearty breakfast, however hard it may seem to stomach.
2 Rashers of Bacon (50p)
1 Free Range Egg (23p)
50g Mushrooms (30p)
100g Baked beans (20p)
2 slices of Wholegrain bread (18p)
A Tomato (17p)
Twinings Peppermint Teabag (6p)
1) First of all, I’m hoping that everyone actually knows how to make an English
breakfast, so this should be irrelevant!
2) Grill your bacon (it’s healthier) and grill the tomato.
3) Cook your egg as you choose: fried, poached, scrambled – whatever you can stomach with your splitting headache and possible nausea.
4) Fry your mushrooms, heat up your beans, put your toast in the toaster or under the grill, and boil the kettle for your tea. It’s that easy.
How does it work?
Eggs and tomatoes provide you with glutathione, which helps counter the toxin causing your hangover and mushrooms provide you with selenium and vitamin B, which aid the liver in the detoxification process. Added to that, the carbohydrates from the bread will give you the energy for the day of lectures ahead. Finally, the peppermint tea helps to relieve the feeling of bloating, and the bacon will not only replenish your depleted salt levels, but also tastes good after a heavy night.
The Healthy Option:
This fresh fruit salad can easily be made in advance, and then you can help yourself to a portion each morning. Use whatever fruits take your fancy, but here’s a pick of my favourites.
1 Avocado (£1)
1 Kiwi (35p)
1 Mango (£1.50)
1 Lemon (30p)
1 Lime (30p)
1 Papaya (£1.50)
1 Pineapple (£1)
500ml Tropical Fruit Juice (70p)
500g Greek Yoghurt (£1)
Glass of skimmed/semi-skimmed milk
1) Peel and chop the avocado, kiwi, mango, papaya,
and pineapple, removing any seeds or stones where necessary.
2) Grate the rind of the lemon and lime onto a plate, and extract as much juice as possible from them.
3) Pour the fruit juice into a large container, and add the lemon and lime juice.
Throw in all of the chopped fruit and stir together.
4) Add the grated lemon and lime rind to the Greek Yoghurt to enhance the
flavour.
5) Serve a portion of the fruit salad with a dollop of Greek Yoghurt.
Why is it healthy?
Fresh fruit contains a multitude of different vitamins and minerals, which will be beneficial for your eyes, skin and body as a whole. Consuming this first thing in the morning is a perfect way to start the day, and help you on your way to your five-a- day. The glass of milk meanwhile will provide you with an effective form of protein and calcium for strong bones and teeth, and since it is semi skimmed or skimmed it will be lower in fat.
The Bright Start:
American Pancakes (Serves 3-4)
A perfect way to start the morning is by indulging in some delicious American pancakes, topped with whatever tickles your fancy. Cheap, tasty, and easy to make: three brilliant reasons to treat yourself to a beautiful breakfast.
135g Plain Flour (10p)
1 tsp Baking powder (n/a)
½ tsp Salt (n/a)
2 tbsp Caster Sugar (5p)
130ml Milk (15p)
1 Large Egg (30p)
30g Butter (18p)
1) Melt the butter in a pan, and meanwhile sift the flour, baking powder, salt and caster sugar into a mixing bowl, and stir together.
2) In a separate bowl, lightly beat the egg, add the milk and then gently whisk together, before whisking in the melted butter.
3) Combine the contents of the two bowls and stir together with a fork until the mixture resembles a smooth batter. Leave to stand for a few minutes.
4) Heat a frying pan over a medium heat and add a little butter. When it’s melted, add a ladle of batter.
5)Wait until the top of the pancake begins to bubble, then turn it over and cook until both sides are golden brown and the pancake has risen to about 1cm thick.
6) Repeat until you’ve used up all the batter and then serve.
What to serve them with?
This is where you can be creative, and it’s really down to you and your personal preferences. The traditional accompaniment is a drizzle of maple syrup or honey, but you can alternatively serve with jam. Another appealing option is to serve it warm with some fresh berries, a delicious combination which can provide you with one of your five-a-day. If you fancy something heartier, then you can always serve them with crispy bacon, or if you’re feeling more upmarket, then how about cream cheese and smoked salmon? The beauty is that it’s up to you.
The Posh Nosh:
Eggs Benedict with Smoked Salmon (Serves 2-4)
Sometimes you have to spoil yourself or someone else, and this is definitely the breakfast or brunch for a special occasion. Much more upmarket than your normal bowl of cereal, this is a perfect way to treat a loved one to breakfast in bed.
4 Eggs (92p)
2 tbsp White wine vinegar (9p)
2 English muffins (40p)
A little butter for spreading (n/a)
100g of Smoked salmon slices (£3.69)
Chopped chives (10p)
To make Hollandaise sauce:
2 tsp Lemon juice (2p)
2 tsp White wine vinegar (3p)
3 Egg yolks (69p)
125g Unsalted butter (75p)
1) Start off by making the Hollandaise sauce. Put the lemon juice, vinegar, and egg yolks in a bowl and whish together until light and frothy.
2) Place the bowl over a pan of simmering water and continue to whisk. Dice and then add the butter gradually, season and whisk until thickened.
3) Boil a pan of water and then add the vinegar. Lower the heat until the water is simmering gently, then stir until you have a small whirlpool. Add the eggs and poach for about four minutes.
4) Halve the muffins and lightly toast before buttering. Place a couple of slices of smoked salmon on each half, and top with a poached egg. Spoon over the
Hollandaise and then sprinkle with the chopped chives.
Why go to the effort?
The question is whether I’m giving culinary or relationship advice. In culinary terms, this is quite simply a tasty breakfast made from fine ingredients, which will hand you a perfect start to the morning. It may seem like a lot of effort, but if you’re making it for a loved one, then it’s time to spoil them. This is a breakfast which is perfect for birthdays, anniversaries or any other special time of the year.