Hello, It All Changes readers! I’m Alexa, and I blog over at Simple Eats, where I blab on and on about my cooking adventures (and disasters), fitness and every day life.

I don’t know about you, but when it’s cold and snowy out, the idea of a smoothie doesn’t exactly drag my butt out of bed in the morning. If old man winter is knocking at my door, I want something warm and delicious to fill my belly. And no, coffee doesn’t count! Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, after all.

Oatmeal is awesome, but sometimes I’m craving breakfasts with a little more pizazz, ya know what I mean? Here’s some cold winter breakfast ideas to put some pep in your step:

Chocolate Peanut Butter Breakfast Bake

Breakfast bakes are a great way to get carbs, protein and fruit into one compact meal! The possibilities are endless; you can add nuts, dried fruit, extracts, etc. But really, isn’t the combo of chocolate and peanut butter the jackpot combo?

Granola

I know, I know, cold cereal isn’t a warm meal, but I snack on it by the handful and even pour milk on top and heat it in the microwave for a minute. It’s amazing!

Fake-Baked Apples

These little gems are seriously the easiest thing ever. Wash and core and apple, and place in a small ramekin. Mix together one tablespoon of butter with ½ tsp. cinnamon and ½ tsp. pumpkin pie spice. Spoon mixture into apple and on top. Cover with a paper towel and microwave for 3.5 minutes, or until apple is tender.

Your house will smell amazing and these are the perfect quick breakfast topped with yogurt, nut butter or as a topping for pancakes/waffles!

Pumpkin Parfait

Nothing says cold weather to me like pumpkin and what about…pumpkin bread?! Take that up a notch when you crumble your favorite pumpkin bread over pumpkin yogurt. To make pumpkin yogurt, simply mix a container of vanilla yogurt (Greek or regular) with ¼ c. pumpkin and add 1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice. Then, layer pieces of pumpkin bread with yogurt, top with more pumpkin bread crumbles and a shake of cinnamon!

Happy eating, everyone!

How about checking out :

Light It Up Blue for AutismThen I met George* in the foreign language elective I was teaching. He wasn’t required to be there. He had Asperger's Syndrome and could ... Healing Winter Skin–Product ReviewBut my kind has led to an addiction to lip balm and keeping my hands covered whenever possible or slathered in lotion. I’ve almost ... One Lie.This is a fun twist on two truths and a lie. I’ll give you 15 things about me…only one is a lie. Don’t let ... Happy Birthday to You…uh I Mean Me!I’m excited for today…a day I didn’t think I’d see. I’ve already received some pretty awesome gifts from friends and family who know me ...