Daddy- O’s

         To celebrate Father’s Day, I am creating a new breakfast cereal in memory of my dad. My dad ate the same breakfast every morning. The menu never varied and although my mother was a working executive, she dutifully made and served him his breakfast. Shocking? We didn’t give it a second thought.

 What did he eat every morning? Was it cereal? Eggs? Cereal was a minor part in a meal that began with half of a grapefruit, then corn flakes to which he added a tablespoon of wheat germ, then a soft-boiled egg, toast and of course coffee.

            It has been said that how you start your day is important. Breakfasts are important. They set the tone and the energy level for the day. With that in mind it is time to rescue breakfast from the world of flakes, and pop tarts. I plan to create a breakfast cereal that will start each day with a blast and will keep the energy going well past three, four and five p.m. My product will be nutritious, wholesome and I refuse to acquiesce to circles, squares, or flakes. Should I go with mush? No. I love oatmeal but let’s be honest, oatmeal lacks the desired 'blast' element. I have it ! Mini - Omelets that come to life when milk is added. Voila ! I can work on the recipe later. The important marketing plan comes first.

            A successful blast into your day cereal needs a name that will propel it from the shelf to the grocery cart and that name is.... drum roll please, …or better yet, spoons tapping cereal bowls … the name will be SUNRISE SURPRISE. No. That sounds like a cheap motel. The name will be … Daddy-O’s, and each box will be packed with a special treat. Each box will have a teeny, tiny book to read while eating the cereal. This is part of my anti-electronic diversion plan. Too many breakfasts are spent staring at cell phones and scrolling emails for that all important message. The teeny tiny book will have READ ME on the cover inspired by the classic Alice in Wonderland and inside there will be a motivational verse or thought for the day. My dad was an avid reader so including a book is a fit.

      “Nice, Miss Pat. Will the thought for the day be a quote from a famous historian or philosopher, or perhaps a Bible verse?" Well, not exactly, I was thinking of something a little more contemporary. "Oh? I thought you were very conservative, what are you thinking?" True, but I am open to certain ideas as long as they are not day to day trash. "Such as?" Maybe... Don't Worry Be Happy or Alfred E. Newman's classic: What Me Worry?  

As for the recipe, I’ll go with chocolate. Chocolate is always a winner. My Dad loved peanut brittle so I will work that into the recipe too. I expect Daddy-O’s to revolutionize the American breakfast experience, especially for the 21st Century father’s who make their own breakfast and pour their own cereal.