When it comes to preparing a feast of thankfulness, your focus is usually on the afternoon or evening meal.  As you work hard prepping this meal, your little ones (and big ones too) are still hungry for breakfast and need something to tide them over until the main event.  Building a breakfast board is easy to do, and with a little bit of prep ahead of time you can keep everyone satisfied.

HOW TO BUILD A BOARD

First choose your board. This can be a cutting board, a serving tray, a sheet pan, or even a large serving platter. The key is to spread the food out in a pleasing way. Your family can pick and choose and nibble on whatever they feel like eating throughout the morning.

Be sure to include your family’s favorites—here are a few suggestions.

• hard-boiled eggs
• donuts
• French toast sticks (see recipe below)
• banana muffins (see recipe below)
• fresh fruit: strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, peaches, pears, grapes, cherries, kiwi, figs, nectarines, mandarin oranges, apples
• cheese: cheddar, brie, gouda, blue cheese
• meat: prosciutto, bacon, salami, smoked salmon, Canadian bacon
• nuts: pecans, walnuts, almonds, cashews
• crackers
• jams and jellies

Make-Ahead French Toast Sticks

YIELDS: 24 French toast sticks   PREP: 10 min. COOK: 25 min.

* For an easy metric conversion chart, search the Internet for “metric kitchen.”

WHAT YOU’LL NEED:

• 6 slices Texas toast (or other hearty, thick-cut bread)
• 3 eggs
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 tablespoon melted butter, slightly cooled
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar

WHAT YOU’LL DO:

1. Preheat oven to 350° F.
2. Spray a baking sheet with nonstick spray and set aside.
3. Cut bread slices into fourths and set aside.
4. In a large shallow dish, whisk together eggs, milk, melted butter, vanilla, and cinnamon.
5. Dunk bread sticks into batter, let excess drip off, and then place onto prepared baking sheet.
6. Sprinkle 1/4 cup granulated sugar on top.
7. Bake for 25 minutes.
8. To freeze: Let French toast sticks cool on the baking sheet and freeze in the freezer. Transfer to a freezer bag or container when hard.
9. To reheat, microwave for 30–60 seconds.

Banana Muffins

YIELDS: 3 loaves or 36 muffins COOK: 65–70 min. for loaves or 20–25 min. for muffins

* For an easy metric conversion chart, search the Internet for “metric kitchen.”

WHAT YOU’LL NEED:

• 3 1/2 cups flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 3 cups sugar
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 4 eggs
• 2/3 cup water
• 6–7 frozen ripe bananas

WHAT YOU’LL DO:

Encourage your child to help you!

1. Preheat the oven to 350° F.
2. Grease the bread pans or line the muffin tins.
3. Thaw bananas and squeeze all the juice into a large mixing bowl. This helps makes the richest and moistest banana bread.
4. Combine all the ingredients with the thawed and juiced bananas and beat until mixed well.
5. Pour the mixture evenly into multiple bread pans or muffin tins without overfilling.
6. Bake bread pans for 65–70 minutes or muffins for 20–25 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean.