Healthy shake means never having to say you're sorry

Greet the morning with buttermilk goodness in a glass

I love dessert but who can wait until the end of the day to have it? Not me. I refuse to live that way.

That's why I love having this Buttermilk Citrus Shake for breakfast. It tastes like you are having dessert and I am all about that kind of livin'. I love tricking myself into thinking I am getting a treat before 9 a.m. With this shake, it's not far from the truth.

As we were high-tailing it out of town Sunday, I made these to celebrate the beginning of our vacation. Of course, it delayed us from leaving for about three hours, but who cares, right?

These shakes are a wonderful combination of fresh orange and lemon juice. The buttermilk not only gives this shake a zippy-tangy flavor, but it makes it low in fat. What could be more perfect?

The citrus zing really gives you the get up and go you need in the wee morning hours.

It is super easy to make and tastes like an Orange Julius. Does anyone remember those?

Anyway, let's make these delectable breakfast desserts and put your morning coffee to shame! (OK, I will never dis my morning java again. It was a mistake. O Great One of Coffee, if you heard -- just forget what I said).

Cathy Pollak is a contributor to the Los Angeles-based Web site, One For The Table (www.oneforthetable.com), and author of the Noble Pig blog (www.noblepig.com), where this first appeared. She lives in Oregon.