Right before my wife puts our daughter to sleep, I am the lucky dad who is asked to read her a pile of storybooks.  One such favorite is: “Goodnight Moon”.  As we say farewell to the cosmos at the end of the day, it has led me to consider the importance of how we greet the new day in the morning.

Who has time to prepare a decent breakfast?  With the average person’s busy schedule, most of us turn to empty carbs when we crave a snack early in the day, i.e. bagel, muffin, granola bar, frappuccino.  Since we all have a lot of thinking to do in one day, we must seriously consider the nutrition needed to enhance our body, and especially the brain. Today, we now understand that the brain continues to grow and develop throughout our life.  Regarding brain health, here is an interesting conclusion from biochemist  Evelyn Strauss: “The human brain is particularly rich in cholesterol: around 25 percent of all body cholesterol is accounted for by the brain. Every cell and every structure in the brain and the rest of our nervous system needs cholesterol, not only to build itself but also to accomplish its many functions. The developing brain and eyes of the fetus and a newborn infant require large amounts of cholesterol.” (E. Strauss, Science) So, maybe the fear-mongering about cholesterol and the statins suggested for lowering it, are in reality stunting our ability to learn.

In this historical moment of confusion regarding fats and cholesterol, as well as the pressure of trendy “plant-based diets”, where can we turn for balance?  Let us turn to our illuminated elders of ages past: “many delicious traditional dishes provide the synergistic combination of the omega-3 family with the omega-6 family and short and medium chain fatty acids—lox and cream cheese, caviar and sour cream, liver and bacon, salmon and Béarnaise sauce, dark green vegetables with butter, cream cheese and flax oil …[offering] renewed vitality and vibrant health.” (Enig, Fallon, WAPF)

In order to kick-start the day with a REAL and balanced “brain food”, try this easy, delicious recipe for a morning snack or a crowd pleasing hors d’œuvre:

Wild Salmon & Cream Cheese Rolls

Ingredients:

• 1 quart of Whole Milk Yogurt
• 8 oz package of Wild Smoked Salmon, and/or Wild Salmon Roe (These fish eggs contain the highest level of cholesterol of any food!)
• 1 bunch of scallions or chives – minced
• 1 handful fresh dill – minced, or 1 tablespoon dried dill
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest
• sea salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

• Start this first step in the evening
• Line a colander with a clean kitchen towel, place on top of a 1 quart glass measuring cup or mixing bowl.
• Plop the 1 quart of Yogurt into the towel lined colander, then cover with another towel, plastic wrap, or large plate
• In the morning you will have fluffy cream cheese on top and liquid whey in the bowl.  Carefully remove cream cheese into another bowl and set aside. Then pour whey into an airtight container and store in fridge for other fun recipes.
• That was all the hard work!  Now mix into the cream cheese:  scallions, dill, lemon zest, and salt and pepper to taste.
• Lay out a slice of Smoked Salmon and spread the mixture on top, then roll it up into a swirly snack.  Bon appetit!
• Another variation is to blend the Smoked Salmon into the cream cheese mixture to create a lovely spread that can be smeared onto sourdough toasts, cucumbers, etc.