Are you a fan of carrot cake? Do you love pancakes? These carrot cake pancakes might become your new obsession and your new favorite breakfast recipe.

Brunch doesn’t have to mean endangering your diet -- at least not when they come in the form of these super-satisfying brunch bowls that feature ingredients fit for making a healthy start.

Old-fashioned oatmeal, slow-cooked for 20 minutes or longer to a smooth and creamy consistency, is a significant upgrade over a pouch of flavored instant oats. Unfortunately, many cooks can't afford to stand at the stove, stirring, for 20 minutes.

Where you'd have 16 to 20 slices a pound in a package of regular, thin-sliced bacon, you'd have half as many slices in a thick-sliced package. Thick-cut bacon is roughly one-eighth of an inch thick with 10 to 14 slices per pound. Needless to say, even one slice of thick-cut bacon will pack a lot of fat and calories.

If you are going to go through the time, effort and mess it takes to make crepes, go ahead and make extra ones that you can refrigerate or freeze for later use. Then when you have a craving for a crepe, simply reheat it and add your choice of toppings or fillings.

Oatmeal is a great way to start your day. But a bowl of hot porridge isn't the only way to enjoy this highly nutritious grain for breakfast. It also makes a fine addition to a morning smoothie. You don't have to cook oatmeal before adding it to a smoothie, but you can.

If you've forgotten to thaw frozen sausage in time for the breakfast rush or to cook a hearty dinner, your options depend primarily on the brand of sausage you're cooking. Some manufacturers specify that the sausage must be thawed before cooking, while other brands can go straight from the freezer to the pan.

Sausage isn't exactly a health food; it's filled with fat, preservatives and fillers, and it's a relatively high-calorie item. Opting for turkey sausage over a more traditional variety made with pork or other red meats is healthier since turkey is leaner and lower in calories.

If you're accustomed to eating oatmeal made from rolled oats, you may be surprised at the chewy texture and nutty flavor of steel-cut oats. Steel-cut oats are made from the whole oat, which is cut into small chunks. Because the oats are a whole grain, the cereal is rich in vitamins, minerals and fiber.

Like oatmeal, cooked barley is a healthy and versatile way to begin the day. Barley has been shown to reduce blood pressure and cholesterol, and may reduce the risk of heart disease. It's also an excellent source of fiber. Barley takes a while to cook, but fortunately it reheats beautifully.