I just think Paula Deen is the best. She's sweet, funny and the epitome of southern charm. It's a rare day that Paula claims any of her recipes are light and healthy -- after all, butter is The Lady's favorite ingredient. But I'm OK with that. I've tried a few of her recipes, and so far they've all been yummy; they just need to be served in small portions and paired with very light and nutritious sides.

But Paula really takes the cake with her recipe for Brunch Burgers. Or should I say she takes the doughnut? She makes a basic burger and tops it with bacon and a fried egg. It's a little non-traditional, but I can get on board with that. In fact, it might be quite tasty. But then she pulls out glazed doughnuts and uses them in lieu of a hamburger bun. I swear to the Gods of Food Network, my arteries started to clog just watching her do that.

If you're a fan of burgers, try some of these healthier burger recipes.

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One of my favourite things to do on a lazy Sunday morning is head out for brunch with my friends. The way I see it, it's the perfect way to start a day because not only do I get the company of my closest pals, I get to eat a yummy, reasonably-priced meal without having to worry about cleaning up the kitchen afterwards.

But although brunch at a restaurant is oh-so-convenient, it's also important to most of us to have healthy options available, options that won't mean having to starve ourselves for the rest of the week to break even on the caloric intake.

What's a healthy brunch option? Pancakes and waffles are questionable -- too much sugar in the syrup and whipped cream. Eggs Benedict is far too rich, and bacon is far too fatty. Cottage cheese, fruit and/or oatmeal is a good choice but not satisfying enough, especially when everyone else at the table is having a feast. What about ... an Omelet?

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Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, right? Most people will agree, but there are two side to every story. Diet Blog recently discussed the other side to the breakfast debate, based on the fact that most research on the importance of breakfast is funded by companies with a vested interest in your early AM food consumption -- namely companies who sell things like cereal, orange juice, frozen waffles and so on. They give a number of reasons why breakfast might not be as essential as we think -- you can check them out there.

I'm a staunch breakfast eater, if for no other reason then I am really freaking hungry when I wake up. I don't eat a lot -- a protein smoothie or a bowl of cereal will do -- but I have to have something or I won't be able to concentrate on anything for the first few hours of the day because I won't be able to hear anything above the growling of my stomach.

What about you? Is breakfast essential to your morning? Do you think we're being misled on the breakfast front?

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My ideal Sunday starts off with a leisurely brunch with the girls, gossiping and sharing news and giggling over this and that. And in this perfect brunch, the meal is pretty much always the same: Eggs Benedict, either the traditional kind or a different version with smoked salmon, brie mushrooms .... my mouth is watering just thinking about it. It's definitely my favourite way to have eggs. And I rationalize my choice by telling myself that eggs are good for me, English muffins are fairly low-cal, ham is a good source of protein and the hollandaise is ... well ... a source of calcium, I guess.

I'm going to hate myself for not allowing ignorant bliss when it comes to brunch, but I have to know. Am I right to rationalize, or is my favourite breakfast food terrible for me? Does traditional Eggs Benny have:

a) 968 cal, 65 g of fat
b) 892 cal, 71 g of fat
c) 642 cal, 43 g of fat
d) 550 cal, 26 g of fat

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Mother's Day and Brunch go together like salt and pepper, or cats and milk. It's ideal, really -- enjoying a lazy Sunday morning with one of the most important women in your life. Brunch is a dangerous, dangerous meal though, especially if it's a buffet. To prove my point, there's this, an article from eDiets on how much of an impact popular brunch foods will have on your diet. The prognosis is not good. My favourite egg dish, Eggs Benedict, averages out to 900 calories and serving, and *gasp* 70 grams of fat! My second favourite, a croissant, is 240 calories and 14 g of fat, without butter. Which would be tolerable on it's own but does a single croissant ever really fill someone up? If it does for you, I am green with envy of your teeny tiny stomach.

Um...I'll have the fruit cup please. What are you ordering?

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