by Charles Hicks-Moore

Created on: January 19, 2007   Last Updated: May 04, 2007

Recently through trial and error at our house, we've discovered [or rediscovered] a low carb breakfast we like. Scrambled eggs with stuff in it. Some might call it a fritatta and I think they would be close to right. I don't know the exact definition. I'm not giving exact measurements in most cases and I think that keeps it from becoming boring because each time it's a little bit different than the last.

Melt enough butter to cover the pan to within 1/2 inch of the rim by swirling it around after it melts. Make sure you don't leave it unattended too long or the butter will start to turn brown. Or use your favorite butter substitute. While the butter is melting, cut 1/2 a medium bell pepper into pieces no more than 1/3 of an inch on a side. I actually prefer to almost mince my bell pepper and my sweetie likes the bigger pieces. So we compromise and most of the time she gets her big pieces of bell pepper. Make sure and try the different colors of bell pepper to see if you prefer red or yellow or whatever. Green is less sweet and some people do prefer a less sweet breakfast. If you add the bell pepper sooner, you can prevent the butter from burning at the same time. We use an electic stove set at 3.75. We don't have that exact setting, so we eyeball it.

I like to add shredded cheese right after the peppers. My sweetie likes to add cream cheese, too. Again, when we compromise, the cream cheese [a double dollop] goes in right after the cheese. I first discovered cream cheese in scrambled eggs while living with a family from church during my parent's divorce many years ago. I am still amazed how fluffy the cream cheese makes the eggs. Regular cheese has the effect of hardening the eggs, so you may find the cream cheese fluffiness makes it yummier.

As soon as you've added those ingredients, you can crack five eggs and scramble them. Next, pour the raw scrambled eggs over the ingredients in the pan and mix thoroughly to prevent melted cheese from sticking to the bottom of the pan. If you truly mix, you'll find those cheesy ingredients completely mixed [infused?] within the eggs. Some people might prefer to add ingredients later so they can actually see and taste those ingredients separately from the eggs. I prefer the completely mixed taste.

We have also added onions with the bell peppers. And sausage. Some may find the onions an acquired taste. I like the onions minced and my love prefers the onions in big chunks. So we "compromise". If you're using the proper knives and forks, you'll find this takes about 30 minutes. I like fixing breakfast before anyone else is up these days. Vegetable chopping, cheese spreading therapy. All the ingredients are "more or less".

1 tablespoon butter
5 eggs
1/2 medium bell pepper, chopped
3/4 cup cheese [I like cheddar, she likes colby jack]
2 tablespoons cream cheese

optional
1/3 medium onion, minced
1 small sausage, thin

Skip the toast, you'll be surprised how you get used to this protein/fat/low carb combination. You probably won't get hungry anyime soon and you may find yourself switching to 4 eggs at some point and maybe adding more stuff. Serves two.

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