The rentrée (back-to-school in French) in France is kind of like New Year’s.  Stick with me, this will make sense in a minute.  For last part of July and most of August, life slows considerably in France.  Many families leave for vacation for a few weeks.  But even for those who stay put, the slower pace of life is undeniable.  (This can also be very very annoying because nothing can get done “until so-and-so is back in September”.)  As the month comes to a close, and the regular pace of life threatens to resume, there is an overall sense that people that feel rested, rejuvenated and ready to embark on the adventures September promises.  As part of this “new” feeling, I often find myself making resolutions much like for the New Year (hence the comparison).

• I will start waking up earlier.
• I will start running again.
• I will start waking up early to run.
• I will stop procrastinating.
• I will get more sleep.
• Etc, etc, etc

Part of my unofficial resolutions this September is: BREAKFAST!  Now that Mister Mister has started school, I want the kids to have a couple of nice minutes in the morning, eating breakfast together.  Eating a healthy, nutritious, good-for-you breakfast.  This is a big deal for me because one of my most marked personality traits is my need for sleep.  Lots and lots of it.  I’m the girl who negotiates with herself to sleep for 3 more minutes (self, it really makes no sense to get out of bed at a non-round number –  no one gets up at 7:07 you should wait until 7:10), or starts accepting totally absurd truths in order to score 15 more minutes (today I’m sure there will be no traffic, I’m going to have a naturally really good roll-out-of-bed hair day, I am going to look so well rested I probably won’t even need make-up, oh the kids are totally going to be in good moods and cooperative I can get them both ready in under 10 minutes).  This list is mostly endless.  For any French readers, I didn’t invent this concept.  She did, and I still fall on the floor every time I watch it.

So: BREAKFAST.  Two tricks: 1) plan ahead  2) make it look fun.  I asked Sweet Yummy  if she had any thoughts on the breakfast subject, and this was her suggestion which I loved.  It took less than 10 minutes.  Seriously.

Brilliant she is!

Breakfast Brochettes and Chocolate Dip

For the brochettes

Skewers

1 apple

1 banana

1 peach

1 pear

A few big grapes

A couple of Reine Claude Plums

For the dip

I container of goat’s milk yogurt

2 Tbsp. Cacao powder

2 Tbsp. Maple Syrup (the real kind, just the syrup, no added sugars: when in doubt, read the label).

Having the skewers on-hand is the hardest part of this recipe.  By chance, I had some  in the back of a drawer from ages ago… I’d forgotten about them, but Sweet Yummy recently came across them.  And who doesn’t love eating food off skewers!? (See rule 2)

Cut fruit (any fruit you have on hand!) into small pieces and alternate on the skewers.

I made the dip the night before (see rule 1).  Dump the yogurt into a bowl.  Add the cacao powder and the syrup and whisk vigorously to get a smooth chocolate texture.  Refrigerate until the next morning.

Now Stick a Fourchette In It, ‘Cause You’re Done!