Breakfast is an important meal. It gives you a mental and physical boost, making you more alert in the morning.

If everyone in your house like being lazy and sleeping in on a Saturday morning, then try this delicious Saturday morning breakfast. The best way to pry open the eyes is with steaming mugs of hot cocoa, whipped up in minutes, thanks to a make ahead mix.

Try some broiled tomatoes topped with some delicious toppings and some grilled ham. You can keep the tomatoes and the ham warm while you make the German apple pancakes.

These pancakes are baked in the oven and only take about 15 minutes. And these pancakes supply a healthy dose of vitamins and fiber as well as a nutritious helping of complex carbohydrates.

German Apple Pancake

Ingredients

3 medium Golden Delicious apples, peeled and cored
2 teaspoons lemon juice
Vegetable cooking spray
2 teaspoons unsalted margarine
2 eggs, lightly beaten
½ cup skim milk
½ cup unbleached or all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ teaspoon grated lemon rind
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon sifted powdered sugar

Cut each apple into 16 pieces. Combine the apples and the lemon juice in a small bowl, tossing well. Coat a large skillet with cooking spray, add the apples. Cover and cook over low heat 5 minutes or until the apples are tender. Uncover and cook 2 minutes or until lightly browned, set aside, and keep warm.

Place the margarine in a 10-inch skillet coated with cooking spray. Bake at 425 degrees for 4 minutes or until the margarine melts and the skillet is hot. Combine the eggs, the milk, the flour, the vanilla, the lemon rind, and the cinnamon in a medium bowl. Beat at medium speed until smooth. Pour immediately into a hot skillet. Bake at 425 degrees for 12 minutes.

Remove from the oven, top with the apple slices, and sprinkle with powdered sugar. Cut into 6 equal wedges and serve immediately.

Grilled Ham

Ingredients

Vegetable cooking spray
1 ham steak, ½ inch thick

Coat a large skillet with cooking spray. Place the skillet over medium heat until hot, add the ham to the skillet and cook 3 to 4 minutes on each side. Cut the ham into 6 equal portions to serve.

Broiled Tomatoes

Ingredients

3 tablespoons fine, dry breadcrumbs
2 teaspoons dried whole basil or 3 tablespoons minced fresh basil
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon chopped fresh parsley
¼ teaspoon pepper
1/8 teaspoon dried whole thyme
2 tablespoons unsalted margarine, melted
6 medium tomatoes
Vegetable cooking spray
Additional fresh basil leaves for decoration

Combine the first 6 ingredients in a small bowl, mix well, and set aside. Cut off the top of each tomato, sprinkle 1 tablespoon of breadcrumb mixture onto the cut sides of the tomatoes. Place the tomatoes on a broiler pan coated with cooking spray. Broil 6 inches from the heat for 3 minutes. Garnish with additional basil leaves, if desired.

Hot Cocoa

Ingredients

¾ cup instant non-fat-dry milk powder
¼ cup sugar
¼ cup Dutch process or unsweetened cocoa
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Boiling water

Combine the first 4 ingredients in a small bowl and stir well. Store this mix in an airtight container.

For each serving, place 2 tablespoons of the cocoa mix in a mug. Add 1 cup boiling water, stirring well.

And if this breakfast menu made you hunger, you can find more great breakfast ideas at Best Breakfast Ideas.